The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-01-01

| We give The following piece ''Iift" BE-
| cause We likeit, and not because We deem il
appropriate to any church north OF west
lof St. Louis.
/ A acRAcK CHURCH, IN NEW YORK.
| Old Knick's correspondent Henry, thus
describes what is meant BY being mem
ber Of ! s.crack church" !" 10 Gotham:
.Those who can't pay eight hundred OF
thousand dollars in . fashionable or
sscrack church" are obliged to stay at home,
unless they are humble enough TO 60 TO
some or Gods temples where Christianity
is not only preached but practiced. We
found our way into "crack church" last
Sunday in the upper part Of the city
Casting our left eye, as 70 entered, 90 =
magnificent prayer-book, We observed IN
gill letters the name Of ! milIionaire with
whose early history we were fully conser-
SAINT. He startedin early life ~ clam boy
and the old clsm-toat 10 which he belonged
used 10 be stationed near Wsshiugtou mar
ket until al his cargo Of clans were sold
out. He first scquircd few dollars esp
|ital. This he invested in the fish trade;
speculaled in eels, poriges, and other FISH;
made large sum Of money, and finally,
succeeded in "corneTing on shad;" bought
Up al the stock Of tho season, both 10 and
out Of the water. and sold them afterwards
at bis own prices. and made fifty thousand
doliars. He cut his msrket associstions,
bought lots up town, now lives in the Filth
Avenue. and is I ssbip dog Az wealth
increased he found himself At the head Of
the .cod fsh aristocracy," TO which OF
course, be had access, from his former bus
siness. Phalon, the barber, was sent tor;
his daughters had their hair combed out
for the first time: teachers Of music; draw
ing Italian, French, etc, were hired; and
old Mr.. Porgie joined the church, aud took
costly pew. We happened 10 get into II;
but we no sooner discovered where We
were than we made up our minds 70 Va
cate. We we're too late. Old Mr.. Por-
gle came sailing up aisle with bis wife and
daughters, dressed as though they hsd
known awhat was what" all their Hves.-
To our astonishment, instead of shutting
the pew door in our face, hc ssked u eskeep
our seat.n Aud didn't we have . nics
time Of ii! The mother looked st us-so
did the daughters; and they snuffied, and
smelt their salts, wigeled about % though
one Of their fntber's shad wns in tho ship.
We felt annoyed, provoked; forgot our
prayers; didn't hear blessed word Of the
sermon, and came away disgusted with
|hypocrilical upsterts, und with . deterni-
nation next Sunday to 60 TO free church.
Our ideas of pure, undefled religion sre
drawn from the recorded life Of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. He WAS living
example Of humility, charity. love; 10 fset,
of all that was good and lovely. Some Of
his chosen disciples were very close limits
tors Of their Lord aud Master; and though
they wero by profsssion 6sh cstchers I've
are not aware that they were clsm catch
ers or fish rpecuiatorsl like Mr.. Posgie.
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 the great tenn
Pile above, where the souls Of rich people
nav be Il their ease. md where poor folks
cant in,rudef Christian churches!--
Christian rich men! We win say nothing
more. snd then No shall have less Idle
words to answer for u The day Of jude-
ment. Our costly churches are filled with
Dipes sort Ct people, and there are no pla-
ces for the poor Laxrsus.