The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-06-10
From the Monthly IN. Y, Musical Gazette
a THEODORE PARKER ~ 7s
In the New Music Hall, Boston.

Do you call this church2 Well, heard
prima donna here few nights, ago: ant
bright eyes sparkled, and waving ringlets kept
time to moving fans; and opera glasses enc
ogling, and fashion and folly reigned for the
nonce triumphant. can't forget it; I cam,
get up any devotion here, under these latticed
balconies, with their fashionable freight. II
it was a good old country church. with a
cracked bell and uahewn rafters, pine poi-
pit, with the honest sun staring in through the
windows, a ptch-ppe in the gallery, and o
few isob-uaiied rustics scattered round in the
uncushioned seats, / should feel all right; but
my soul is in fetters here; it won't soarH-its
wings are earth-ciipped. Things are too fine!
Nobody can come in at that door, whose hat
and coat and bonnet are not fashionabiy cut.
! The poor manl( (minus a Sunday suiD might
lean on his staff, ia the porch, long while,
before he'd dare venture in, to pick up his
cramb 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 arts
tocratic fn9ers TO the rich mars heaoeR. aa .-
THAT hymn was beautifully read; there's
poetry in the preachers SOUL Now he takes
his seat by the reading desk; now he crosses
the platform, and offers his hymn-book to a
female who has Just entered. What right
has he to know there is a woman in the house!
Tisn't clerical! Let the bonnets find their
own hymns. e'J..-.r aa -r Hn.7 ...a .a s.
y Well,I take a listening attitude, and try
to believe au in church. hear great
many original, great many startling things
said. see the gauntlet thrown at the dear
old orthodox Calvinistic sentiments which L
was nursed In, withmy mothers milk, e. which
(please Cody Pll cling to till die. / see the
polished blade of satire glittering in the air,
followed by curious, eager, youthful eyes,
which gladly see the "Searc.,ing OF
the Spirit" parried. Meaning gionces, smoth.
cred smiles and approving mods follow the wit
ty clerical sally. The orator pauses to mark
the effect, md his face says, That stroke tells
and SO it did, for "the Athenians" are not all
lead, who alove to see and hear some new
thing" But he has another arrow in his quiv.
er. How his features soften-hisvo;ce is low
and thrilling, his imagery beautiful and touch
| ing. He speaks of human love; he touches
skilfully chord to which every heart vibrates
and stern manhood is struggling with his tears
ere his smiles are chased away. 1"''
Oh, there's intellect there-there's poetry
there-there's genius there; but | remember
G Gethsemane-I forget not Calvary! know
the arocks were rent" and the "heavensda
ened," aud "stone rolled away;" and a coli
chill strikes to my heart when hear "Jesu'
of Nazareth" lightly mentioned. t'7h
Oh, what are intellect, and poetry, and ge
MUS, when with Jewish voice they cry, "Aa0a.
Nth HlM!" .N.'3' 81 F' o. hna.. ai ,''l...
With "Mary," let me "bathe bis feet Will
my tears, and wipe them with the hairs of m,
head" % i''l1 'd sa JEs, i"-fa7 1.'
And sol "went away Sorrowful," that th
human preacher, with such great intellectual
possessions, should yet slack the one min.
needfua." g 20" 'Hgor' N1 Fanny FEM.