Polynesian., 1844-06-15
COM UNICA TED.
FROM OUR AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT.
NUMBER 3.
New YoRK,---
NJ NJ b ER 3.

cOpal church 1.-THE Trinity ,-now In the
course of erection in Broadway. The plates
Off will give you a better idea of its exter-
nal appearance, than any description of
mine. For this country it is a splendid edi-
fee, and will form quite an era in our church
architecture. 1t is a miniature cathedral.
| have seen larger in Peru and Brazil, but,
without exception, this will be the best spe-
cimen of church architecture on our conti-
nent. The church possesses immense wealth
and is able to build even more magnificent
ly, but it is at the expense of many charities
to which its resources were formerly direct
ed. This fact causes the building to be an
eye-sore to many,-they thinking that money
can be more ~usefully employed in sustaining
their missionaries, and destitute churches,
than in sculptured stone, rich carvings, and
stained windows. There is certainly some
strength in this objection, but there is an ar
gument to many men, cogent, and which lies
behind the first. Too little attention has
heretofore been paid to beauty and durability
in our temples of religion. The most of
them are architectural excresences, and
convey to the mind no sentiments in unison
with the purposes for which they were erect
ed. Their appearance affects the eye as
wretched music does the ear. In either case
a feeling Of disappointment and even disgust
is inevitably mingled with the desires of wor-
ship. Those forms and sounds which most
favorably dispose the sentiments towards de-
v%otion, are certainly to be encouraged.
The Professionals, in reforming from the Ro-
man church, have in this respect reformed
too far. This they are now conscious of,
and in their present church structures, they
seek to combine a harmony of artificial eff
feet with the designs for which they build.
/ am of opinion that the best of mems pow
ers should be devoted to the service of his
Creator. His temples should correspond
with the grandeur, purity and holiness, of
the faith they represent. When age has
spread its hallowing influence over such
walls, and centuries of worshippers have wi
thin them prayed, repented and adored, their
influence over the living will be as deep and
firm as their own massive foundations. AS
sociations strong as the divinity that stirs
within men, will cluster around the temple
where their fathers, and their fathers fathers
knelt in alteration, and the mind will rejoice
in the thought, that where they humbly bow
before the ~footstool of their God, their chill
dren will likewise. There are some minds
SO indoctrinated as to view things with no
further reference than to their immediate
and personal use-indifferent alike to the
past and future. But there are far more
who cherish the holy associations of the past;
with them the happiness arising from such
"reminiscences is actual. A nations faith is
best kept active by memorials which speak
as loudly to one generation as TO another.
The Romanists fully appreciate this princi-
pie, and their ecclesiastical ediices are
built for effect and durability. The Protest.
ants will do we'll to initiate them. So for
one, hail the rising of those walls:-may
the worship that shall arise within them be
ever that and that only of "the faith once
delivered to the saints"
After its completion divine service is to be
held in it twice a week. If with this thew
adopt the Catholic principle of no pcws, but
nave seats common to all without distinction.
It will be a true Church to Jehovah. 1t is a
beautiful and effective truth of the Roman
Catholic Hierarchy that before God, rich
and poor, noble and ignoble, humble and dis
tinguished, are all alike. Worldlv d;st;,c-