Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-05-17
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From the Hartford Courier.
. Oh in the Air.

From the Hartford Courier.
A Church in the Air.
Once wandering through the land Of dreams,
In search Of something new,
A church. was on n Sabbath morn
My curious notice drew;
And thinking | should see the mode
OF Christian worship there.
I cntor'd just In time to hear
The closing hymn and prayer.
The church was rich, without display;
Prom gorgeous oolorB free;
Through unstuin'd glass tho light Of hoaycn
Was shining cheorfully.
And rich and poor sat side by sidej
saw no cushion'd pews,
Whose doors the meanest of the flock
An entrance might refuse.
And whom the hymn was given out,
with what astonish'd face
I watch'd a lady clad in silk
Bend forward from her place,
To share her book with one whose robes
So scanty were and mean,
No maiden forn'd Of earthly mould
To greet her would DO seen.
And yet I saw not that tho deed
Lessen'd a single grace,
But rather that n swecter look
BcaiD'd on tho maiden's face.
And while / ponder'd in my mind
How such a thing could be,
The whole assembly join'd to sing
Some timo-worn melody.
Yainly / stroyo with modern air
20 catch the organs tone;
These simple Christians swell tho praise
OF Godby voice alone.
Aud here no fashionable airs,
The tedium 10 beguile,
Are set 30 solemn hymns Of praise,
And sang in opera style.
And yet tho music Of that choir
Right pleasant was TO hear,
Though nothing In the strain / found
To please the critics ear;
But childhood join'd its ringing tones
With those OF faltring age,
And rich and poor, and old and young,
In the blcst work engage.
listcn'd, and my thoughts recurr'd
10 many q boosted choir
In city church, who weekly meet
To praise the Lord for hire
And well, thought /, the Church Of God
This mockery might spare:
ceasod-for every head was how'd
In reyerential prayer.
And all in spirit seem'd to join,
Nor could / we'll forbear;
For Christ, and not the minister,
Was most apparent there.
IT. words Of charity and love
Did the whole world embrace,
Unfctterd by the lore Of sect,
That modern Christian grace.
Aud little did / care to know
II Old the School or New
From whence the soul Of such n man
Its rich instruction drew.
Teacher none could well mistake;
One only can impart
Lessons of wisdom that can guido
A sinful human heart.
Too soon that forvent prayer was DER,
The henediction ask'd,
And slowly Town the spacious aisles
Tho congregation passd-
Slowly, as ono might turn his back
Upon tho gates of heaven,
After n taste Of angels food
Unto hs soul was given.
And now kind greetings were exchanged
With many n friendly word,
And Christians met ns Christians should,
Who servo one common Lord.
One heart, one mind, one earnest will,
Secm'd to inspire the whole,
As triond TO friend with freedom told
The welfare of his soul.
Strange though IL seem, n single word
Those curious folks did say
OF politics Of rise in stocks,
Or gossip Cf tho day.
Nor only did they shut up shop
And lock the ogice door,
They turn'd the key on worldly thoughts
Till holy time was Ger.
Tho sermon, while a group discussed,
1 listen'd in amaze,
And marvc'd at the words they used
When speaking in its praise:
They did not call il great or deep
Ingenious witty smart;
Or thank their stars they had q man
After the peoples heart
But whispered low, with moiston'd eye,
How precious was the word
How full Of hope the promises
Their strengthened souls had heard
And murmurd blessings on his head,
Who, laboring by their side,
In all simplicity Of truth
PREACHED Christ the erucifed.
heard, and could not silence keep
Thrice happy souls = l cried,
Am l in heavenY With sudden start
My eyes l open'd wide
LOokd round q moment in amaze
Saw my mistake with pain,
And never since have dared TO take
A NAP IN CHURCH AGAIN.