Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-05-28
Theodore Parker In The New Music
hall. Boston,

Hall. Boston.
Do You Gull this II church 7 Well
I heard a prima donna here q few
nights ago. aud blight eyes sparklcd'
and waving ringle,s kept time to mo-
wing funsiandopera glasses and og''ng'
and fashion and folly reigned for the
nonce triumphant. / can't forget III
I can't get up any devotion here' r,''
der these latticed balconies, with their
fashionable freight. fit was good
old country church, with q cracked
bell and unhewn rafers, a pine pull
pit, with the honest sun staring IN
through the windows, Pitch:pipe III
tho gallery, and a few hob.nailed rus
tics scattered round in the uncushion'
ed seats, | should feel all right; but
my soul is in fetters here; it won't
soar-i,s wings are oarth.clipped'-
Things are all too fine! Nobody can
come in at that door, whose hat and
coat and bonnet are not fashionably
cut. The poor man minus Sunday
suit) nigh, lean on his staff. in the
porch, a long while, before he'd dare
venture in, to pick up Ais crumb Of
the Bread of Life. But, thank God,
the unspoken prayer of penitence may
wing its way to the Eternal Throne
though our mocking church spires
point only with aristocratic fingers to
the riich mans hcaren.
That hymn was beautifully read ;
there's poetry in the preachers soul. %
Now he takes his seat by tho reading
desk; now he crosses the platform
and offers his hymn.book to o female
who has Just entered. What right has
he to know there is a woman in the
house2 'Tisu't clerical! Let the
bunnets find their own hymns.
Well, l take aIlistening attitude, and
try to believe am in church. hear
great many original, a great many
startling things said. see the gauns-
let thrown at the dear old orthodox
Calyinistic sentiments which nursed
in, with my mothers milk, and which
(please God) I'll cling to till | die. l
see the polished blade ofsasire glitter.
ing in the air, followed by curious, ea,
ger, youthful eyes. which gladly see
the searching Sword of the Spirit,
parried. Meaning glances. smothered
smiles and approving mods follow the
witty clerical sally. The orator pau
ses 10 mark the effect, and his face says,
That stroke tells! and so it did, for
she, Athenians" are not oil dead, who
"love to see and hear some new thing.'
But he has another arrowin his quiv'
er, How his features sofen-his
voice is low and thrilling, his imagery
beautiful and touching. He speaks
| of human love; he touches skilfully
chord to which every heart vibra,es ;
and stern manhood is struggling with
his tears, ere his smiles are chased a
way
Oh, there's intellect there-there's
poetry .ltere-therc's genius there {;
but remember Gethsemane-1 for
get not Calvary! know the "rocks
were rent" and tire "lieayens darken:
ed" and "the stone rolled away and
| a cold chill strikes to my heart when ]
hear "Jesus of Nazareth" lightly
mentioned.
Oh, what are intellect, and poetry,
and genius, when with Jewish voice
they cry, Aaoay ~itA HlM!"
With MARY" let me "hathe hi
feet with my tears, and wipe them
with the hairs ofny head"
And SO, | "went away sorrowful, !"
tha, this human preacher, with such
great Intellectual possessions, should
Yet "lack the one Ting ncedfal."
FANNY FERN.
Ollie Branch.