Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-08-22
For tie Spectator. !.
Special Correspondence.
(coNrisUED.)


sociations. never anticipated less enjoyment
than on this occasion, and was therefore never
less in danger OF a Disappointment. On inquiry
at the Brainard House, TO which had been re-
commended from the Weddel; learned that the
PRESBYTERIAN preacher was DR.. Murdock and
that his church was the nearest 10 my lodgings.
/ found it building of considerable size, which
gradually filled up as the hour approached, until
it became crowded. There vas also certain air
of eagerness and life about the people. which
have generally noted where the preacher is
popular lavorite. The worship varied somewhat
from the form to which we are accustomed The
Commandments were read early in the service,
and two Scripture lessons, as in the Episcopal
| Church; the last hymn was sung standing. aHd
all were accompanied By an Organ. The preach
er was square built, hard featured man Of mid
die age. with strong and clear; but not nelodi-
Gus voice and decided foreign, ie British accent
| His subject was the first verse Of the forty-sixth
| Psalm, or rather the whole Psalm, which he ex-
| pounded fully, though not formally. was chief
| y struck with the ibisual combination of quail
ties which are comihonly found apart in preacll-
| ing; scripture exposition; doc:rinal discussion,
practical application, and poellca establishment,
consisting chiefly Of high wroaght description,
no: always in the purest taste; but admirably
q
for the more important parts of the dscourse.-
The fihast specimen of this was passage in
which the preacher gave picture of an external
ly delightful home, and after speaking of the Val
ley of the Cbemhng (whefe we then were) and
other American localities. ne boldly but effective
ly reverted to his own native valley Under the
shadow of Ben Lomond and beside the lock
which sleeps beneath 1.-THE spot where Leigh
Richmond wept and said, 1.-The eye is not salts
fed with seeing'-the spot where Chalrrers ex-
claimed, "Resti rest will there be Loeb Lo-
mond in heaven?o The effect of this upon iha
audience was visible, and evidently aided in en-
forcing the preachers dOctrinal and practical in
srucons The sermon was read, but with
force and freedum which perhaps might give some
| faint idea Of Calmers' own delivery.
| was so agreeably surprised by this perfors-
ance that went again, but tound the church only
half filled, fact partially explained by the char
acter of the discourse, which was one Of pro.
tracicd series, on The history Of Moses able and
often startling; but not TO be compared in interest
or power with the sermon Of the morning.
At night heard The youngest OF the, famous
Beecbers, lately settled as the Pastor of tile Con-
gregational Church in Elmra. as large building
as the Presbyterian, and as well filled. The
preacher was a tall, thin man. with foxy beard.
and dressed from head to foot in white. His ds:
course was also read, and was chiefly remarkable
for an extraordinary mIxturs of colloquial famil
arity with pedantc ranscendental technieality.
| This singular fusion Of opposite extremes pro-
duced an effect absolutely lndcroUs when, after
dialoguing with his hearers in a manner almost
babyish, and Inviting their attention 10 what he
was abOut to say, he would come out with a Sc
res ofjaw- breaking words, completely uninteIi-
LII l. IL. IL.
difference between ceremonial, symbOlical, pre-
parative and educaiive worship, on the one hand;
and essential, industrial spiritual worship, on the
other. These and dozen other eplthets were
itera,ed and reiterated, ill The hhmblar class Of
hearers, whom be sesmei to have particularly in
| his eye, were perfectly dumbfoundered, asd in
some cases just around me- sought reliet in sleep.
Another funny thing about this preacher was the
calm but awful air with which he notified his
| hearers. that what he was about to say would run
/ the poughshare deep in!o their consciences and
break up all their usual ssociations-followed
again by nothing but gu,h of big words, only
half Of which had any meaning. But whatever
! may have heen the effect upon the audience, the
| man himself stood like statue of satisfaction.
lett Elmira the next morning by the lately
opened railroad to WilIiainsport in Pennsylvania.
The scenery was not unlike that which | last de-
scribed, but less wild, and softened By mora frs-
quent glimpses of cultivation and inhabtation.--
| The road is excellent; we ran the whole way al
rate not much short of forty miles an hour
| The Captain (or Condiictor) on this train was
uucommonly obliging, and materially aided me is
shaping my course so as to carry out my plan.--
| lie advised me TO stop for the night at Tamaqua,
procured me information &c the hotels there,
and attended 10 the chez king Of my baggage.
, a. r. - Is,,so
| is such difference in the temper and manner OF
these functionaries and the comfor. of the travel
! Ter depends so much upon them, that think such
cases worthy of comnemoraion.
Tamaqua is busy coal black place, hundred
miles from Philadelphia. The United States
Hotel there has very linpromising exterior, bh,
ia one Of The Most comfortable houses have via
tied. The table and the bed rooms, the landlord
and the servants, were all worthy Of the highest
commendation while the absence Of pretenson
and parade seemed to make thess exceencies
still more striking.
Between Wiamsport and this place we passed
through the fourishng towns of Milton and Dan
vile; after leaving Tamaqua the next day,
through Port Clinton, Reading: and Manayunk,
along the beautiful but sicky banks Of ScbuyI-
kill to Philadelphia again, where for the present
must drop this Correspondence. ! hope you ex-
pee, no apology for its desutory, superficial chat
acter. The exclusion Of politics will be explained
by the painfal recosclioi of our late conhic, in
Augusta the wounds Of which are rot yet cica-
tried.
would gladly have dwell, more SH traits OF
character and manners. Two occur 10 me just
now, which will jOt down in conclusion. On
the cars from Elmira to Station beyond VII
Transport, saw girl, apparently not more than
l.. L. 4 81. s.. LII
She seemed to feel perfectly able to take care Of
herself without the offered aid and protection OF
several benevolent ladies'. The care and safety
with which such passengers can travel is highly
honourable to our country as compared with 9TH
ers. This beconaes apparent as you draw near
to the British or Canadian line. On the cars
from Chester to Niagara Falls, there ss, behind
us young woman of respectable appearance, who
was going by herself 10 Detroit. Her want OF
company was soon observed by another passenger,
evidently an Euglishman. and probably military
man, as inferred from his handsome wooden fics
without the least expression. Winking at his
con- ianion he crossed over to the solitary female
took seat BY her in the most familiar manner,
persuaded her to interrupt her reading for the sake
Of converse with living companion, inquired her
residence and destination, with freedom that ne
Yankee would have dreamed Of; and after few
namby -paiOby compliments, insisted on her stop
ping at Niagara. assuring her with matcbess
ignorance or mpudence, that the shortest way to
Detroit was by Toronto and Chicago! could
not help laughing at the gross miscalcuaton OF
this cockney warrior. as to the geographical ae-
Iuirements Of female teacher in "ihe Sratss."
or such she seemed 10 be. knew that her fare
was paid and her baggage checked already to
Detroit, so that she was not likely TO accep, her
lew friends invitation. Perhaps it was only in
contempt OF his absurd abrnsiveness that the Ia
ly seemed to tolerate his presence rather more
han | could have wished for the honouy or