The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-01-27
POETRY.
From the Hartford Courant.
A CHURCH IN THE AIR.

Once wandering through the land OF dreams
In search OF something new,
A church-'twus on Sabbath morn
NV curious notice drew;
AID thinking should see the mode
OF Christian worship there,
I entered just in time to hear
The closing hymn and prayer.
The church wis rich without display;
From gorgeous colors flee,
Through unstained glass the light Of heaven
Was shining cheerfully.
And rich and poor sat side by side;
saw no cushioned pews,
Whose doors the meanest Of the flock
An entrance might refuse.
And when the hymn was given cut,
With what astonished face
watohrd lady clad in silk
Bend forward from her place.
To share her book with one whose robes
So scan,y were and mean, . ...
No maiden formed of earthly mould
To great her would be seen, ......
And yet saw nrl that the deed
Lessened single grace,
But rather that sweeter look
Deanled On the niaiden's face.
And while pondered in my mind,
How such thing could be,
The whole assembly joined TO sing
Some time worn melody.
Vainly strove with modern ear
To catch the organs tone;
These simple Christians swell the praise
OF God by voice alone.
And here no fashionable airs,
The tedium to beguile.
Are set to solemn hymns Of praise,
And sung IN opera style
And vet the music of that choir
Right easant wis to hear,
Though nothing in the strain iouIi
To please critics car;
But childhood joined its ringing tones
With those Ut ialtering age,
And rich, and poor, and old. and young
In the blest work engage.
llsteHeu, uilu H'l iuouShso iNS
To many boasted choir
In city church, who weekly meet
To praise the Lord for hire;
And well, thought J., the church Of God
This mockery might spare. ...
I ceased .-.ior every head was bowed
In reveren,ial prayer. ....... ..
And all in spirit seemed TO join,
Nor could l well forbeaI.
For Christ, and not the minister,
Was most apparent there.
Its words of charity and love
Did the whole world embrace,
Unfettcred by the lous Of sect, ,..
That modern Christian grace;
And little did Icare to know
If Old the School or New,
From whence the soul Of such u man
Its rich instruction drew.
His teacher none could well mistake;
One only can impart .a. ....... -.
Lessons of wisdom that can guide
A sinful human heart. ..L
Too soon that fervent prayef was DER,
The benediction asked,
And slowly down the spacious aisles
The congregation passed,
Slowly, as one might turn his back
Upon the gates OF heaven, ,l
Alter n taste Of angels food,
Unto his soul was given.
And now kind greetings were exchanged
With many a friendly word,
Q odebr,slans met, as Christians should,
Who serve one common Lord.
One heart, one mind, one earnest will
Seemed 10 inspire the whole,
As fin nd toiriend with freedom told
The welfare Of l'is sopl
Strange. though it seem, no single word
These curious folks didsay,
of "politic.,"of rise in stocks,
OR gossip of the day
Not only did they "-hut up shop"
And lock the Office door. T.
The, turned the key on uOoridly aaongAt',
Till holy time was DER. q. g..
The sermon, while group discussed,
listened in amaze,
And maryelled at the words they used,
"' When speaking in its praise.
' They did not call it great or "deep,"
"Inseniops," swiftly, ,"''smart."
arnhapk their stars t'ey had aman
After the peoples heart" g-
But Whispered low, with moi'tened eyes.
"How precious was the word;
How full Of hope the promises:
Their strengthened souls bad heard;-