Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-12-25

4 Crack Church" in New York.
Old Knick's correspondent Henry,
thus describes what is meant by being a
member Of s'crack church," in Goia-
am:
Those who caa's pay eigh. hundred
or thousand dollars in fashionable or
'.crack church" are obliged to stay ai
home, unless they are humble enough to
goto some of Gods temples where Chris
iianity is nol only preached bu, prac,is-
ed. We found our way into ..crack
church last Sunday, in the upper part
o. the city. Casting our left eye, as we
entered, on magnificent prayer book. we
observed in gilt letters the tame Of mil
l,onaire with whose early history we
were fully conversant. He started in
life as clam-boy, and the old clam boat
TO which he belonged used to be station.
ed near Washington market until all its
cargo Of clans were sold out. He first
acquired few dollars capital. TbA, he
invested in The fish trade; specuidkd in
GELS, porgies, and other fish; made a
large sum Of money. and finally, succeed
cd in "cornering on shad;" bought up all
the stock Of lhe season, both in and out
OF The water, and sold them afterwards
al hia own prices. and made fifty .hous-
and dollars. He cut his market associ-
ations. bought lots up town, now lives in
the Fifth Avenue, and is "bg dog. -
As wealth increased, he found himself at
the head OF the .'cod FISH aristocracy," to
which OF course, he had access, from his
former business. Pha!on, the barber,
was sent for; his daughters had their
hair csmbed out and dressed for the first
time; teachers of music. drawing. Italian,
French, etc., were hired; aud old Mr..
Porgie joined the church, and took cost
ly pew. We happened to ge, in,o il;
but We no sooner discovered where we
were. than we made up our minds TO va
cate. We were too late. Old Mr.. Por-
gle came sailing UP the aisle with his wife
and daughters, dressed as though they
had known ..wha, was what all their
lives. To our as.onishmen,, instead of
shutting the pew-door in our face, be
asked us keep Your seat" And didn't
we have nice time Of il! The mo,her
looked al us--so did The daughters; and
they snuffled, and smell, their salts, wig
gled about as though one Of their fathers
shad was in the slip. We felt annoyed,
provoked; forgot our prayers; didn't hear
blessed word of the sermon, and came
away disgus,ed with hypocrilical up
starts. and with determination next
Sunday TO go TO free church. Our ideas
Of pure. indebted religion are drawn
from the recorded life Of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. He was living
example of humility, charity. love; in
fact, Of all tina, was good and lovely
Some Of his chosen disciples were close
imisalors Of their Lord and Masters; and
though they were by profession fish
catchers 1--WE are not aware that they were
clam catchers or fish speculators) like
Mr.. Porgie, they were not above other
men because Of their success or money.
We wonder whether there will be any
upper places. best seats, private pews, in
,he great temple above. where The souls
Of rich people may be .. their ease, and
where poor folks can't in.rude! Chris
,ian churches! Christian rich men!--
We viii say nothing more. and then we
shall have less idle words 70 answer fol
at the day Of judgment. Our costly
churches are filed with Diuers sort O.
people, and are no places for the poor
Lazarus"