Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-01-23
A Beautiful Kmcident.

Messrs. Editors The following beautiful in
cident occurred few weeks since in a village in
one of the Southern counties of our State 1t was
a warm Sabbath afternoon, and the doors of the
village church were thrown open to let in the
balmy air from the fields without. The cOngre
CATION had assembled, and whilst the minister was
reading the first hymn, a beautiful dove entered
the door and came walking up the isle.
Such visiter drew of course universal atten-
ton. But the choir rose TO sing, he was star
tied, and lifting himself on his wings, alighted
the stove pipe above him, where he sat bending
his glossy neck and turning his head to catch
the harmony as it swelled through the temple of
God. Whether it was the chorus of voices, or the
full-toned notes of the organ that captivated him,
cannot tell; but he sat the perfect picture of ear
nest attention till the music ceased.
Waiting moment as if to hear the strain COM
mence again, he started from his perch and sailed
to the top of the organ, where he iurled his PIN
ions and sat and looked down on the audience
The young clergyman arose to pray. He is dis
tinguished for the earnestness and feryor of his
invocation, and as he stood with his hands around
the Bible which lay clasped before him, humbly
beseeching the Father of all good to send his Ho-
" Spirit down, that beautiful bird pitched from
his resting place on the organ, and sailing down
on level wings the whole length of the church,
perched on the Bible directly in front of the cler-
gyman
Ii was merely a natural occurrence, but how
beautiful the picture. There stood the messenger
of God with his face towards heaven pleading for
heavens blessings-the Bible before him. around
which his hands were reverently clasped, while on
it stood that beautiful and innocent dove. The
three thus together formed group full of interest
and symbolising all that is beautiful to man. The
Word of God was before the people with Gods
chosen emblem upon it, and Gods herald clasping
them he prayed.
What wonder is it if superstitious feeling ran
through the house the people watched that
dove-the emblem of innocence and purity and
the divine spirit understanding on the Bible and
looking down on them. Beautiful bird, 1t centered
for time the affections of all on it; and he who
could have injured it there, would have injured
hundreds of hearts at the same time. The pres,
sure of its tiny feet was no sacriege there. for the
expression of its soft eye was innocence and love.
The clergyman feeling the presence of the bird.
and fearing it might distract the attention of his
hearers, gently passed his hand over the Bible
The dove, unstarted, merely hoped over it on the
cushion where it sat till prayer was ended. 1t
then rose and sailed away. In former times the
dove would have been regarded as spiritual WIS.,
liant from the unseen world. sent on special mis-
sion in answer to prayer, and awakened feelings
ofawe and reverence.
To us it was only natural but unusual occur
renee, awakening simply the sentiment of beauty.
It was new aud accidental figure introduced sud-
denly into beautiful picture, giving greater har-
mony and perfection to what we deemed perfect
before.