Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-02-12
a "Crack Church" i'm New York

"A "Crack Church, i'm New York.
A correspondent of the Knickerbocker,
thus describes what is meant by being a
member of "crack church," in New
| York:
"Those who can't pay eight hundred
or thousand dollars for pew in a FASH
ionable crack church are obliged to stay
at home, unless they are humble enough
to go to some of Gods temples where
Christianity is not only preached but
practised. We found our way into a
crack church last Sunday, in the upper
part of the city. Casting our left eye
as We entered, on a magnificent prayer
book, we observed in gilt letters the name
of millionaire, with whose early history
we were perfectly conversant. He start
ed in life as clamboy, and the old clam
boat, to which he belonged, used to be
stationed near Washington market until
all its cargo of CLANS were sold out. He
first acquired few dollars capital. This
he invested in the fish trade speculated
in eels, porgies, and other fish; made
large sum ofmoney, and finally succeeded
in cornering shad )" bought up all the
stock of the season, both in and out of
the water, and sold them afterwards at
his own prices, and made $50, 600. He
cut his market associations, bought lots
up town, now lives in the Fifth avenue,
and is /" big 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
Phalon, the barber, was sent for; his
daughters had their hair combed out and
dressed for the first time teachers of
music, drawing, Italian, French, etc.,
were hired old Mr.. Porgie joined the
church, and took a costly pew. We hap
pened to get into it; but we no sooner
discovered where we were, than We made
up our minds to vacate We were too
late.
Old Mr.. Porgie came sailing up the
aisle with his wife and daughters, dres-
sed as though they had known "What
was what" all their lives. 10 our aston
ishment, instead of shutting the pew
door in our face, he asked US to "keep
our seat" And didn't we have time
of it? The mother looked at us-so did
the daughters and they snuffed, smelt
their salts, and wriggled 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 disgusted
with hypocritical upstarts, and with de-
termination next Sunday to 90 to free
church. Our ideas of pure, undefled
religion, are drawn from the recorded
life of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
He was living example of humility,
charity, love; in fact, all that was good
and lovely. Some of his chosen disciples
were very close imitators of their Lord
and Master; and though they were by
profession fish catchers, Eve were not a.
ware that they were clam catcherS or
speculators) like Mr.. Porgie, they were
not above other men because of their sue
cess or money. We wonder whether
there will be any upper places, best seats,
private pews, in the great temple above,
where the souls of rich people may be at
their ease, and where poor folks can't
intrude? Christian churches! Christian
rich men! We will say nothing more,
and then we shall have less idle words
to answer for at the day of Judgment
Our costly churches are filed with Dies
sort of people, and are no place for the
poor Lazarus.