Litchfield enquirer., 1854-03-09
csrs.psnasns. q lns Enquirsr.
Nrw YoRE, March {. 1854.


 Sabbath it's fsverish pulse is calmed and the struggles of it's half million of hu- man beings for fame. wealth. and per. haps for daily bread, to all external aP- pearances ceases-to be renewed again however the following morning. The portals of the churches are thrown wide open to the throng who crowd within their sacred walls. to offer up their hearts devctions to the King of kings and Lord oflords. or perhaps for some far less holy motive.
 One class come up to the house of God tO comply with the requirements of fash ions another as matter of business. having made compromise with their conscience that by serving the Lord one day out of seven. the remaining six may be devoted to the service of the devil. and sliA a third class who come as meek and humble peni,ents, worshipping God in pnlity of heart and honesty of purpose.
 All the isms of the day here number their followers, and the man must be hard to please who cannot find his thes ological views set forth in some of our numerous churches. The architecture and decoration of our houses. of worship is as varied as the theological views which are proclaimed from their desks. Some are as plain as barn. while others are ,ich in decoration. One great truth is ss,tling down in the minds of all. that inasmuch as God is God of order and of harmony, his temples should be 6eau> tifnl and harmonious in all their parts. Association. with some minds, especially those of children. is all-powerful, and in surrounding religion with the emblems of beauty and of harmony you teach them great lesson of the purity os God and the beauty of his character.
 "The mirror of heavens most holy part
 Is sever the deep of the human heart.
 And that which plays on its awful moion,
 
 us Beduiy-the smile of Eternal Love,
 Out of the golden gates above.
 Beauty the breath and life of light
 Our spirits catch in the outward sight;
 And whether on cloud or the emerald sod
 Do know for us that it fails from God.
 How forcibly recollection recalls many a little village church in New England Des,ling among the green hills and the old trees, its sides almost covered by the green ivy, which, clingIng to the walls for support seem 10 enfold it in the fresh green verdure of perpetual Spring. And as you enter it's portals what feeling of quiet and of rest comes over you. You feel that you arc indeed in your Fathers house and can lean lovingly and con6- dingly on bis bosom and tell him all your sorrows. There are many such little churches in New England and thanks to the enlightened taste of the community they aie much more frequently seen now than formerly. The idea which was en> tertained when you and were boys that these was nothing sacred about church. that it must be like n barn, and that in- genuiiy must be taxed 10 make It uncom. for,able is very rapidly being consigned to oblivion. How well do 1 recolect those old pews and hard seats. and rat- ting windows, no fires, but little foot. stoves. which never did oar feet any good. There we sat shivering during the long sermon, with the thermometer at zelo, and am afraid not in very fit state 10 drink in the rich lessons of grace which were dispensed 10 us f'om the sa- cred desk. Often would the sinful ,ho't steal into my mind that if this is the gate of heaven it is an awful hard one, and 1 do not wonder so few go in thereat.
 But at length there is change. Some daring reprobates conceived the idea that stoves in the church, while it made them more comfortable, would not materially interfere with their growth in grace and their progress towards heaven. But when the heresy was preached, you probably reoollect the intense excitement which prevailed, for it is of the old church on Litchfeld bill speak. The parties were formed, the stope party and the anti.stove party. For time the storm ragged fear> fdliy. but the stove party at length tri> .umphed. and on the following Sabbath the stoves were in their places. A maiden lady, who had been one of the leaders of the anti stoye party determined that her opponents triumph should not be with. out alloy. During the service she com. menced flaming lp8rself and at length ap- paren.ly swoon,d away. When she re- covered she insisted upon 1t that the heat from those horrid stoves had caused her to faint. She was somewhat crest fallen however. when she was told that owing to some defect in the Hue there had been no fire in the ssoves that day.
 JErHRo.
 EAmr0ArtyRE nr MR D0uas aes - The