The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-21

guilty of the folly of talking lightly of dollars
They are very necessary in the world made up
as it is and rejoice to know that there are some
who regard the wealth with which they are
Entrusted and endowed as the means of advanc.
ing the cause of God and Truth at home and
abroad and such merit all the consideration
they receive
There was one little matter which. by fire.
quent recurrence, fixed my attention, and made
a strong impression upon my memory, and
about which | have had sundry cogitatons
lately, aud which have determined 10 send TO
you for such explanation as may be in your
power to give. 1t was the costly and heavy
ornaments set over the entrances to the pal
aces of the Fifth avenue, of shields wrought
in stone over the doors bearing the strange
and unusual indication of the bar or bend SIMS
ter! And this brought to my recollection the
hatchment with the bend sinister thereon, |
saw some seven years since affixed to Grace
Church, then Just opened in memory of a MIR
John Brown, undertaken and pew-opener of
that splendid church. He was most amiable
person, though unfortunate in his birth, and
very discriminating after. the manner OF Fal
staff in scenting out Prince hal so Mr.. Brown
knew by instinct how TO rank men at sight
and he won my heart completely, for he doubt
less took me for some person OF high rank the
first time | presented myself to his considera-
ton. and put me in a pew high up in the
broad aisle of that famous lighthouse Of the
skes," to use Mr. John Quincy Adams's famous
phrase. Now by surprising coincidence, as
was riding down in an omnibus after taking
a walk up town, where had been gazing at
row of splendid mansions in the Fifth avenue,
distinguished (shall say by these illbodng
shields, when passing by Grace Church,
thought saw-indeed it must have been him.
self-the veritable Mr.. Brown, sexton walking
in the grounds attached to the church, az fat
and as fair as ever The illusion was wonder
full He seemed to be alive, the very person
whose hatchment was made memorable by the
bdr-Sinister seven years ago Perhaps his re-
sentiment at such an insult to his memory has
made his rest unquiet.
But to return to the subject of this letter.
These shields, then, borne 50 brazenly before
the world and the ghost Of MIR. Brown, have
dwelt upon my mind, and have asked myself
what do they mean Can it be these people
glory in their shame Could the like be found
in Paris Berlin. or Vienna, where from third
to a half of all the children born are father
less! Are we then to infer that the domestic
relations of our metropolitan city are in a worse
condition than those corrupt and corrupting
capitals of France, Prussia and Austra?'
These are the queries submit to you for a So
luton. Ii "he IS arise son, in the land in
which this prOverb originated, " nhO'k noloS has
o,o3 father" what must be the precociousness
of the child who can give M like information
in city where bar-Sinister shields are worn
unblushingly on the homes of lie beau monde of
the Fifth avenue and 22d street But my dear
sir, this is not all. During my visit ! went
into the interior of many church edifces, and
was panied to see baby houses for pulpits, and
the walls, especially behind the preacher
painted in fresco-long vistas of pillars, reach
ing half mile or more-which distracted my
attention, and doubtless the attention of thou
sands, by vain attempts to study the light and
shadows, if perhaps they.could in any way be
reconciled with the laws of Nature Now
these vile violations of all the laws of perspec-
tive act upon me like hateful noises upon
the nerves of the Enrnged Muacidn,' as
depicted by the famous pencil pf Hogarth
The last Sabbath morning ! spsnt in New
York, said to myself, as rose, To-day will
go where shall hear the pure Gospel, where |
shall see no frcsco pictures, hear no opera-sing.
ers, but where all will be as primitive as the
doctrine taught To-day will 60 to *****%
street Church, and hear DR.. - ! knew
him thirty-ive years ago, when he loved tc
visit the Blue Ridge mountains, and preach t.
us beneath the old oak trees of Poverty Hol-
low, under hanging ceiling of pendant
branches, painted with the azure Of the skies
There his rich tones rang round and round an
amphtheatre whose Architect built the world
an amphithcatre crowded with the children of
God sitting and gladly 80, upon felled tim
Der hewn for seats; seats squared for the COM
fort of tho w0rshippers of this forest sanctua-
ry, by fathers who have long since been called
up higher to sit with the elect of God in a
temple not made with hands eternal in the
heavens. "Yes,' said to myself, =" | will once
more listen to those glorious tones, and while |
listen will forget the changes which the boar
frost OF years has passed upon his head and
mine" Aud with such thoughts entered the
spacious meeting house in ****** street.
My heart sunk rs | entered The pulpit
was after the playhouse model believe it
il called the medieuai age And there were
other signs which attracted my attention, which
looked very odd to me- but these were all swal-
lowed up, like the rods of the Egyptian magi-
clans, by seeing over the chair designed for the
seat of the pastor, carried and giited, shield
bearing this fashionable and disreputablc sign
of the bar sinister "Alas!p thought |,
what does this symbolic! Is the old Bible,
as well as the old Bible Society, put out of
doors' or has the disciple of old Father Frstoe
become Campbellte There was no one
to solve these enigmas, for the pulpit was sup
piled by stranger, and the next morning left
for home
confess such a symbol in such place still
amazes me- Here | am at home. We have
no churches in Virginia. but those built of
" lively stones" Our meeting houses need no
symbols pine box serves for the pulpit, and
a pine table, usually surmounted with bucket
of water and n gourd, serves for communion
seasons; and we find it no unplcasng task to
go down to the water-side, u witness the bap-
tism of those who confess Christ. Indeed, are
are very simple folk, and we love the OLD paths
and the old Bible.
Once more, repenOnS ra0la0n. II you can
solve the enigma Of the shields please to do
80 and if anybody else has seen the ghost Of
Mr.. John Brown, who died seven years ago,
don't forget to write me. With all respect,
your friend, PETER