The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-05


ceremonies and gorgeous displays of any form
Of religion. calling itself Christian, without
amusement. instead Of reverence and protest |
alton in place of prostYation Of soul-remem-
herring the sublime simplicity, the bare, msjes-
rio truth, the grand poverty which marked the
NC. ON earth of the Divine Founder Of Christi
anitv In waters 30 mired by the vice and
crime of the world, 80 covered by the argosies
of ira riches and the armadas of its power
who can taste the first sweetness, who can be-
hold the fresh parity, of The river of life, which
burst from the Rock of Ages" for the saliva
tion ofsthc nations !!
Who in listening to the Latin ritual Of this
Church of Rome, can believe that he hears
that gentle voice which taught the poor by the
lakes of Galee and Genesaret, on tho mount
ain, and by the way side? Who, on behold
ing the Pope in oil his magnificent state, seat
ed on Il throne, propped up by the great des-
potisms of the earth, grit about 10y foreign
bayonets and hireling spears, can for one be-
nighted moment believe him the true repre-
sentative and high priest of the meek and
lowly Jesus, martyr divine, preacher of free
dom, prophet Of democracy, and prince of
peace
But difficult as it is for me to comprehend
the moral and mental state Of the devout and
all-believing Catholic, ] yet have daily proof
that these ceremonies, rites, and relics, VAN
unsubstantial, and unreal to me, are to him
:" the substance of things hoped for, and the
evidence of things not seen"-proiound and
blessed realities-and when in the temples of
his worship endeavor by deep seriousness to
show respect for that which, of all the attr-
butes of the human soul, is most to he rever-
enced-taith. | regret to say, that too many
10 otr OF
Grafton for the feelings of Catholics, and even
of common courtesy by displaying mere idle
curiosity, or cOntemptuous carelessness, in
times and places of worship. Indeed it is only
when removed from the spell of its magnid-
cence, and the magnetism of its mystery, that
| am able to smile at the incongruities, absurd
ities and childish supersttiOns of this form of
religion whenever in the immediate presence of
its glory and state, am deeply sadly impressed
by its power, antiquity, and universally. As to
tho indignation to which I am perhaps too
often moved, it all springs from my intense
love of freedom; and from my conviction that
the Church is the great enemy of n true and
large hberty-that her atmosphere has for
ages stitled the highest and freest aspirations
of humanity-that monstroas forms OF bigotry
and superstition, spiritual tyranny and political
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT nurtured at her bosom, have,
vampirc-like, sucked the life-boOd of the world.
March ed have just returned from wit
Messing the services called Tenebrde, in the Sis.
tine Chapel, and from hearing the M,Srere.
Though these functions do not commence until
four o'clock in the afternoon, we were obliged
to 60 at two, so small is the chapel, and so
great the rush for seats. Even at that early
hour we found large crowd on the stairs,
awaiting the opening of the doors; but through
the influence of Mr.. Cass, small party, among
whom was, were admitted by a private pas
sage-tius being mcrcifuIy saved the ordinary
crush and scramble When, at length, the
doors were thrown open to the impatient out
sders, the scene but for certain ludicrous
points, would have been fearful. They came
rushing and rolling and tumbling in, like great
waves Of q boiling, black sea-beating on
either side against the Swiss guards, who stood
like rocks, to oppose all unlawful inroads.
Among the men, there was great trampling,
and raising Of dust and voices, and losing of
hats and tempers, and sharp but vain conten-
tons with halberded harlequns in authority
terrible fellows, who in their uniform of striped
red, yellow, and black look like hugo spiders,
and pounce upon hapless heretics as though
| they were flies. Among the women there was
fierce elbowing and passionate pushing and
crying and mon Dieuing, and tearing OF wells
and dishevelng of tresses. Most entered with
tremendously accumulated velocity rs though
shot in some were tossed in some borne tr-
umphantly above the crowd, some, with laces
and fringes entangled in the buttons of ener-
getic strangers, were dragged I'D, struggling
and expostulating.
This rush and tumult and confusion of
tongues lasted about five minutes, then subsi-
ded into comparative quiet--every available
place, every unsanctiied niche and corner Of
the chapel being filled by the eager toiers and
fighters after the most recherche Of religious
pleasurc3--thc elect few comfortably seated
the unfortunate many standing amid the crush
and heat of the crowd. sat near the railing
and must confess tothe heartlcssncss of smiling
ut the pathetic expression and melancholy con-
dition Of some of my male acquaintance. A
Young German amused me much by his comi-
cal complaints At one time he exclaimed, ~
shall be twice as long tomorrow rs ! am dis
evcning--dey squeeze INC So At another time,
as tall, stout woman was leaning on his
shoulder he looked up piteously, saying, "Ah,
| am very fast becoming pancake" But for
tunatey IA we were situated, we were not en-
trely without annoyanccs--our peculiar iribu-
| laton consisting in being seated near party
OF restless and senscless young ladies, who
! could not or would not be quiet, but chartered
like magpics far into the service.
| One of the peculiar ceremonies Of the Tene-
| brae is connected with certain tapcrs, which
stand on a triangular candlestick. These
| lights fifteen in number, are extlngulshed one
| by ono, after the psalms to the last and high
est, which is hid behind the altar just before
the singing of the Miserere, and brought forth
| at the close. In this process OF extingusbment
the party of which have spoken seemed most
profoundly interested-you would have thought
that they were there simply and solely to see
the putting out of those candles. Through all
the solemn chaunts and pathetic lamentations,
they seemed intent on nothing else and If by
any chance they missed seeing one extinguish-
ed, they lamented it as serious loss.
The Pope of[ciated, or rather presided, at
this ceremony, as there WAS very little done
beside chanting The royal box was occupied
by the King of Bavaria and his suite.
OF the Miscrers ITSELF despair Of conveying
to you the iaintest conception. 1t was to me
new revelation of music Never had | heard
anything at the same time so solemn and no
tender, so grand and 40 sad ID was the sigh,
the wall the suppication, of mortality unto
God, yet breathed the profound sweetness Of
his eternal harmonies. II did not come in
bursts and gushcs and sudden floods OF melody,
but in grand, waillike volumes, calm and
dcep--now swelling softly toward you - now
slow rocedng-ovcrfowing tho soul and float
| ing il out into the infinite. Never had immor-
tally, holiness and heaven been more eloquent
" proclaimed TO Inc than through that cry of
the human for mercy and redemption-neye
had bowed before God with more lowly pros
tratons Of the heart and the spirit, than in
obedience to that divine evangcl OF music.
felt as all must have felt who heard, that that
mournful and pleading voice of confession and
| mpplicntior calling from the deepcst depth of