Arkansas intelligencer. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1842-1859, 1844-04-13
For the Arkansas Intclligencer.
TRINITY CHURCH.

For the Arkansas Intclligencor
TRINITY CHURCH.
MR. EDIToR Tho propriety Of the ceremony
used in laying the cornerstone of this iptendid
ed6ce, will not fail to be admitted by any one
who considers the nature Of the work then com.
menced, the consequences that may possibly flow
from It, or the circumstances that accompanied
its performance. The object of the undertaking
IS to raise Temple for the worship of God.
whose spIro, pointing upwards to the heavens,
shall tell the hardy emigrant, who has travelled
over the wide waste of waters that separate the
Old from the New World, in search of another
home :; or the enterprising inhabitant of the East
who has left its crowded towns and extended com.
petition, to seek out a moro encouraging sphere
for his industry, or better investment for his ca
pital which shall tell tho merchant, who brings
with him tho rich spices of India, and the finest
iabrlcs OF the loom-that hero all may find
place Of refreshment for the spirit-that they may
hear the words Of peace in the everlasting Gospel
that the faith once delivered to,the saints, pure
from every dross of human corruption, here lives
and increases in the fruits of blessedness. And
while they survey tho outward dimensions of the
building, its order. regularity, and beauty, will
forbid them to sigh for those things they have left
behind, or TO envy their brethren the advantages
thoy possess. Its outward proportions, tho scale Of
its construction, tho uniformity Ct its parts, will
declare the proportionable fitness, and beauty,
and convenience of the spirited edifico of the
Church promising TO those who 20 up to servo
therein, that they shall have joy and comfort
and tranquility, amid the storms of a disordered
world. Then, on tho return of each succeeding
Sabbath, the dovout worshipper may join in offer
ing up the sacrifice Of prayer and praise to God,
forgctful of the tumult and the cares, tho ankle.
ties and apprehensions that crowd around our
varied life; while the soul, bowed down to the
low things Of Garth, may DO elevated to the lofty
contemplation of things celestal-and the voice.
long engaged in discussing only worldly concerns,
may be nuuned to that divine psaimody that
breathe only love to God and charity 10 man.
But there is another view, MIR. Editor, in which
the propriety of tho ceremony may be seen. 1t
has ever boon an Oh ject of solicitude among mon
to preserve the memory Of past transactions, and
to transmit to posterty the examples of the great
and good, and the principles that have guided their
lives. Hence the stately py ramd raises its head,
and tho pillar is reared to the heavens having in
scribed on its base tho nobls deeds of tho valiant,
who have shed their l;fe's blood on tho field of
battle, or who, having survived its periIs, have
ended life crowded with glory, and COMO down
to the grave with tho blessings and the best affoc
lions Of those who remain after them. Does not
Religion then, we may ask, demand q similar
carer IL is well known that human affairs arc
scarce ever stationary, tho circumstances of man.
kind are always chang ing. The manners, and
the religious opinions of many, ever in a state
of fluctuation to maintain an ontre uniformity
amidst such changing scenes, though it be task
we'll nigh hopeless, yet it can novor be pronounced
useless or unimportunt work, to preserve the 70.
cord of those leading principles which have exer-
cisod so beneficial an influence over the whole
face Of the moral world, and which have brought
in their train, life and liberty and happiness
wherever they have leen received.
Should intidolity sweep, like a tornado, over the
land in which, as ii has done over portions of the
earth as fair and promising-should tho sancturv
be overturned, and the word Of truth be defaced
and changed,so as to induce perversion over tho
fair spirit of Christianity, and by swapping The
foundations of Christ's doctrines, TO DESTROY the
exercise of those active virtues it develepes. still;
thefe might DO found in the upheaved Foundations
-four Churches, an evidence against the foul WORK
of The interpolator or tho corrupt of Gods bo,,
wofd-still there would be found in the Book ~
Common Prayer, the truths taught by the Re-.
d9 mer and his Apostles, embodied from The Now
testament by men of God. In it would bc nro.
served the order Of administering the sacrnnsn,.
ordained by Him as means of grace, and nroct;sed
ik his Church during the long lapse of centnr;aS1
I've agency Of unbelief would DO arrested1a
M TX would be placed on errors which lonvprc-
sciiP'ion might nave strengthened, tho dHrs Of
evil would be COMPOUNDED, and the ligx would
again break forth to cheer the heart ofihan, and
gladden. his existence.
Need refer for additional prooFo the atten.
dance of Society on the occaso,, who came TO
honor HIM "whose service is pedoct freedom"-(
Society, which have confesodly contribute
much by their influence, to improve and exit
mankind, or still more to ne good.y array of,a.
dies, who came to cheer by their presence theap-
parontly small beginnings of Religion, their mm-
bers, their responsibility, and their at,cpon to
the words Of truth and wisdom, as thew f,l from
the lips of the learned divine who add Isod his
prayers to the Deity, and his feryent ihrilinp
discourse to the assembly, showed tina Zion, too,
had share IN that sanction which very good
work is sure to find in the breast Of vn,an.
Yours worry truly