Springfield Township.

figures, "Rebuilt 1738." The latter building was stone, with a hipped roof and pent-roof over the doors and windows at the ends, such as the projection over the windows of the old City Hall in Chester. Tradition has also recorded that in this building in 1754 a meeting was held to consider what ought to be done with Benjamin West, whose father was anxious to settle his son in some established business, while the latter was desirous of being an artist, although the society, to which he was a birthright-member, was averse to such occupation, it being purely ornamental. Although the alleged special meeting of Friends to consider the matter was never held, yet, as the statement has gone into history, it is deemed proper to quote the incident as related by an eminent writer:

"The assembly met in the meeting-house near Springfield, and after much debate approaching to altercation, a man of the name of John Williamson rose and delivered a very extraordinary speech upon the subject. He was much respected by all present for the purity and integrity of his life, and enjoyed great influence in his sphere on account of the superiority of his natural wisdom; and, as a public preacher among the Friends, possessed an astonishing gift of convincing eloquence. He pointed to old Mr. West and his wife, and expatiated on the blameless reputation which they had so long maintained, and merited so well. 'They have had,' said he, 'ten children whom they have carefully brought up in the fear of God, and in the Christian religion; and the youth whose lot in life we are now convened to consider, is Benjamin, their youngest child. It is known to you all that God is pleased from time to time to bestow upon some men extraordinary gifts of mind, and you need not be told by how wonderful an inspiration their son has been led to cultivate the art of painting. It is true that our tenets deny the utility of that art of mankind. But God has bestowed on the youth a genius for the art, and can we believe that omnipotence bestows his gifts but for greater purposes? What God has given who shall dare to throw away? Let us not estimate Almighty Wisdom by our notions; let us not presume to arraign his judgment by our ignorance; but in the evident propensity of the young man be assured that we see an impulse of the divine hand operating towards some high and beneficent end.' The effect of this argument, and the lofty commanding manner in which it was delivered induced the assembly to agree that the artist should be allowed to indulge the predilections of his genius, and a private meeting of the Friends was appointed to be holden at his father's house, at which the youth himself was requested to be present in order to receive in.form the assent and blessing of the society. On the day of meeting the great room was put in order, and a numerous company of both sexes assembled. Benjamin was placed by his father, and the men and women took their respective forms on each aide. After sitting some time in silence, one of the women rose and addressed the meeting on the wisdom of God, and the various occasions in which he selected from among his creatures the agents of his goodness. When she had concluded her exhortation John Williamson also rose and resumed the topic which had been the subject of his former address. At the conclusion of this address, which is described as having been in a strain of extraordinary eloquence, the women rose and kissed the young artist, and the men, one by one, laid their hands on his head and prayed that the Lord might verify in his life the value of the gifts which had induced them in despite of their religious tenets to allow him to cultivate the faculties of his genius."¹

The old building serving as a meeting-house for one hundred and thirteen years, when it was taken down and the present structure erected to supply its place.

Lownes Free Church, or Protestant Union Church. - In 1832, George Bolton Lownes set apart a tract of land on his farm, situate on the Philadelphia, New London and Westtown turnpike, for church and burial purposes. On this lot he erected a church, and furnished it, which was free for all denominations to conduct religious services therein. The pulpit has been supplied from time to time by Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist clergymen, but mostly by the Baptist ministers who were in charge of Ridley Baptist Church. Occasionally the members of the society of Friends have held religious exercises in this building. George B. Lownes lived but a short time after the church was founded, his death having occurred Feb. 22, 1834, and was buried near the entrance to the church. By will he bequeathed four hundred dollars, the interest of which was to be applied annually for the repairs of the church and keeping the grounds in good condition. The principal sum was placed in the control of a clergyman of Philadelphia, who invested it in securities which ultimately proved to be worthless. In 1870, the church having become dilapidated, Mrs. M. E. Parker exerted herself in raising a fund to repair the old church, and so earnestly did she labor that sufficient means were secured to thoroughly repair the building at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. The church was rededicated on Sunday, Jan. 8, 1871. Rev. Henry G. Weston, of Crozer Theological Seminary, preached the dedicatory sermon, and the Rev. James W. Dale. Since that time services have been occasionally held in the Lownes Free Church. A recent writer gives the following description of the Blue or Lownes Church:

"The building in which this assemblage was held is worthy of brief notice. It was erected by one of the numerous descendants of Jane Lownes, and set apart forever to the worship of the Almighty without cost or let to any of whatever denomination, with one important exception. Just in front of the pulpit hangs a framed card, on which the patron's wish is printed, with this proviso: That no one who denies the proper divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ or the doctrine of the Atonement shall ever be permitted to preach in the place. The house was built at the time when the conflict was at its height that divided the society of Friends into the so-called 'Orthodox' and 'Hicksite' camps. The feelings awakened by that controversy are crystallized in this proviso, and the 'Lownes Free Church' is free only to orthodox preachers. However, as there are very few persons of a different religious bent in the whole country-side, the prohibition has not proved of much practical disadvantage.

"The house is built of a blue limestone, which, in spite of the ill-fitting coat of whitewash that now covers it, shows plainly enough the reason for its popular name, 'The Blue Church.' It is a plain rectangular edifice, with a pitched roof, without spire or belfry. There is a door at either gable, over one of which is placed a rude water-shed. A plain porch covers the front door, which is shaded by a horse-chestnut, upon whose lower branches hangs a hornet's nest. On either side of the door is a marble tombstone. In the north tomb repose the ashes of the venerable builder of the church. A plain slab rests upon low marble walls, and bears the name, age, and following inscription: 'Where he was born, there he lived and died. An honest man and a useful citizen.' There is added the familiar passage from Job, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth.'

"A fine large willow-tree stands in front, and overhangs this grave. The tomb on the opposite side is a slab raised upon six marble pillars, and bears the name of a favorite cousin of the patron. Those tombs serve as seats for the rustic congregation while waiting for the commencement of service, and tramps who camp of summer nights in the horse-sheds play cards upon them in the moonlight.

"The entrance to the church is from the Baltimore pike, by a large wooden gate hung in the stone wall that encloses two sides of the lot. One corner of the churchyard is devoted to burial purposes. Here stands