Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-08-18


stay Il, Alexandra. D. c., in August last
This visit on the Sabbath. TO "old Chis
Church, generally knewn as the Old Wash
iDgton Church, where George Washing
ton used to worship" is described ii
manner which does honor to the head an,
heart of the writer. We commend iht
letter to our readers. as worthy anaatea
tive perusal. Patriot.
| "Atthe summons of the bell, / wendea
my way to the venerable pile. plain oil,
fashioned building of antique appearance
both inside and out. The interior of thu
| building has an air of neslness and clean.
ness. that corresponds well with its COO
| and shady location in large grave yard
| deeply shaded by venerable trees, and
thinly in.erspersed with ancient. tomb
stones. Us lovely spo. where this
twice consecraed pile stands. AS you
walk up the long brickpaved pathway, VA
der the deep shade of the ancient trees,
and enter the time honoreJ old building,
you cannot but feel tina. you are among
The scenes Of other days. With almosI
noiseless step lest you disturb the repose
of the sained dead. you pass over this
spot beholding the simple yet deeply in>
teresting me.nen.oes Of the past.
l entered the church jus, as the solemn
tones of the organ proceeded the appfopri-
ate and beautiful exercises Of the church
service. Always disposed to respect a
place Of religious worship Of the Creator.
| could not but be inspired by the grand
associations of the spot, and filled with
emotions Of awe, devotion, and praise, |
surrendered myself entirely to the hallow-
ed and hallowing influence of the place,
almos, forgetful tina. there were other wor>
shippers beside MYSELF:
You may visit the blood-stained fields
of Europe. or the ruins of Italy, or the
monuments of Egypt, and yet where amid
the sad mementoes of CORY ambition and
relentless war, or the melancholy relics of
the arts and the grandeur of other days, or
the crumbling and aged witnesses of indi-
vidual or national power, are to be found
-oenes sacred to the good man as those
beaSed ey A k &
and the temple where Washington wor-
shipped! How many of the sainted dead
had worshipped there in simple faith and
purity, and received light and divine aid
to lead them to their blissful and eternal
home. There Washington sat under the
sacred teachings Of holy truth; there ne
knell in holy prayer: there he engaged IN
singing the praises Of our common parent!
| could aImos. hear the tone OF his voice
and see his commanding form. There the
Father of his Country held converse with
the Father Of Spirits. There, under the
sacred and sanctifying influences OF our
most holy religion, was his faith strength
ened, his heart improved, his character
beautifed. his patriotism inspired with an
holier ardor. and his aspirations warmed
into holier feryor for the glory of his
God and the welfare of man.
know not what hallowed communlngs
he there had with the Spirit Of Truth, how
his heart was purified, his judgment invi-
gorated, and his whole mind improved.
/ know not what supplies Of heavenly in
fiuence he received, what holy aid was
ministereJ to him, what ever>renewed
pledges Of divine favor and protection he
there received. how as his mind and heart
were more elevated by the heavenly teach
ings and holy influences of the sanctuary,
he was led to do more for the great cause
Of humanity how. in hours Of gloom and
dependency. he there struggled with the
God of Jacob FOE blessing upon himself
and his country, and what bright and sig
nal answers to his prayers IN that sanc!u-
airy are yet to be revealed I'D the ever-en-)
during and charging prosperity and free1
dom Of his country, and in the triumphant
progress Of the great principles OF htmaf
liberty throughout the world -what brlgttI
and redeemed and sainted spirits hoverer
in that sanctuary when he was Worship
per, sen. to commune with him and Inspirtl
him with purer desires and more clevasep
purposes, and TO encourage him IN tlH
grea. work of his country's glory.
After the services Of the honr were end
ed, | wandered brief time among tle
,ombs, and returned once more and entel-
ed the walls of that sacred edifice The
sexton had nearly completed his DUTY IN
closing the windows and locking mp the
house. Whilst he was engaged in the
gallery and some three or four young la |
dies and gentlemen Of the choir, who TAR
RED, were still engaged at the organ. uIt
observed in The new deeply shaded lig8
of the lower part of the church, wen'
the very pew Of Washington, and tn
seating myself, INDUCED in the strong !
thrilling associations that crowded I'm
me. sat where the venera,ed and n
mortal Savior of his country used TO VI
shp-where one of the greatest OF eap
and mos. favored OF Heaven used to e
In the now darkened church, ! could II.
cy that the spirit Of Washington hoven /