Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-02-12
COMMUNICATIONS.
iron the srEcrAron.l
TO THE MAYOR OF srAUNToN.


Sir.2-Although your public Institutions, which
ore the glory OF the State, have been the subiec,
OF my first communications to you, they are not
the first objects which attracted my attention on
my arrival in your valley town. AS religious
being, the spires that point to heaven, and the
places where men assemble to pay their pous
devotions, engaged my first enquiries.
There is something in these "6nger boatds,''
the Church spires, which we need as travellers
through ''this vale of tears.' They seem to
say-"This is the way, walk ye In it," | sem
sibly feel this. When have travelled long and
FAT, way-worn and often modified in my feelings
and depressed by bad company-of which have
found enough in my day-ihe village steeple,
which points up,cdrd has a soul-inspiring effect,
and makes me feel as il were near home, Like
the fence Of his fathers farm TO the boy who has
returned from his first absence-or like the north
star in the horizon, which meets the eye after, in
his manhood, he has chased the whale for years
in the Pacfc-the steepe associates me, with
my own native village, and with the first im-
pressions OF my maternal Education, which rem
dered that sublime object almost sacred for il
taught me to look upward and say my prayers.
AS my mother led me to Church, she said
must do as she did, be silent as went, and ask
Gods blessing on the minister and the people
and myself. These feelings abide with me i'm all
my gOings, and when--aS 1 contest have
wandered too far, and mingled too ardently i'm
the conflicts of men-of bad meh-I never see
a Church steeple but am made i'm some degree
as little child, and seem to be led by the hand
of my mother again. These are hallowed assoc
Citations, and would as soon renounce my birth
right as a man and Q christian as 10 do them
violence. They hold me by cord, which binds
the heart, and influences powerfully, if it does
not control, the affections.
Then the "Church going beIl''-it strikes up-
on my ear like the sweet tones of my mothers
voice, that seems TO come by electric light from
t,nrI tcsn 4
controlled by that call. Be it on the Sabbath's
still morning, or amid the tumultuous conflicts Of
the week, am accustomed to obey its voice.
leap from the stage-coach TO hasten 10 Church,
or renounce the pleasures of the social circle,
great though their charms are to me-to obey this
my mothers voice. Whenever / take my seat
In the sanctuary, feel new current of moral
life-bood impelled from the deep heart-pulses
and giving new vigor to my almost parayzed
energies. l resume, then, my connections with
the world more thoughtful and composed, better
prepared for its conflicts, and armed with new
panoply to meet its temptations.
Although often far removed from religious
friends, and lacking the deep movinss of that
principle of religion in the heart which is divine,
and associated with business and political rela-
items adverse to a religious temper, still have
heen led as it were by a cord which my mother
bound around my young heart amid prayers and
tears, and which her hand now holds i'm heaven.
acknowledge it. Is ii a weakness No! In
hdelity, which once assailed me successfully,
may say so. But 1t is stronger, sometimes, than
my passions. 1t overpowers me. ! yield to il.
seek your religious assemblies, and am not a
shamed TO listen to the instructions of the pulpit.
Twas attracted first TO the PRESBYTERIAN Church
by the celebrity of the gentleman who occupies
that pulpit. He did not fall below his reputation.
Simple, direct, logical, evangelical, his doctrines
are scrlptura, his styl argumentative rather than
popular, and his arguments demonstration.
perceive he is not merely moral lecturer. He
comes with authority, bearing the messages of
God. To these he challenges attention, not to
himself-and while l admired the man, l lost
sight, In great degree, Of the agent, in the eff
iuigence OF truth scintlliated by an intellectual
percussion, which seemed 10 kindle a continuous
blaze of thought.
cannot say was less entertained at the Epis-
copai Church. listened here with delight to
an eloquent preacher, truthful, evangelical, ear
nest and bold. His heart is in his work. and
there is an JUNCTION, which secures the attention
of his hearers, and sends glow of feeling
through the channels in which the affections
move.
lnthe Methodist Episcopal Church, last thourb
not least in my estimation, found young man,
grave, solemnly devout, and laborous i'm his pro-
fesslon. Although in feeble health, he performs
great and efficient service. Entering into the
short but impressive labors of one who has, with
In the past year, gone to final rest, he has reaped
"iseS "hicii may wen pe regarded as the
richest reward of a faithful ministry. The pre-
siding Elder is a man of strong mind, order and
efficiency, often eloquent, laborious and ardently
devoted to his masters cause.
With such ministry your people ought to be
very good people, fruitful in good works. | do
not say they are not so. When l have duly exa-
mined the state Of the congregations, may have
more to say-and if should deal somewhat
more in criticism, it may be my right and my
duty, which have delicaiely waived in regard
to the ministry, of whom as of the dead, would
say-"nothing but good" 1t gives me pleasure
that in the present there is so little call for
saying any thing else
UNUS POPULORUM.