Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-09-25
IFrom the Boston Journal
Scene in an Old Church.

IHo sUCltL( anu ouRICSatioh
in the old Unitarian Church, North Chel-
sea, having determined to remodel their an
cicnt edi6ce, final leave-taking of the time
honored templs was had yesterday, and it is
now closed for repairs. The Church was
built, as is supposed, in the year ITO, or
the next year after. 1t is somewhat singu-
lar that no precise record of its erection is
to be found. The nearest approach to a re-
cord is the diary of an old gentleman, who
mentions having come from neighboring
town to assist at great rising" in North
Chelsea, then part of the town of Boston.
and called Rumney Marsh.
The old church had originally a little box
like pulpit. perched upon one. side Of the
auditorium, from which the preacher could
almost shake hands with the choriser. Over
the pulpit was an immense soundiug-board.
The pews we're square and the galleries lofty
and capricious. In 1886 or 1887, the square
high backed pews were removed to give way
for modern slips, and this was about all tho
improvement made at that time. The frame
of the building is immensely strong, and up.
on it a nearly new church will be construct
ed. The old sounding board will be retained
but the pulpit will occupy the end of the
church instead of its present position. 1t
will, probably cost more to repair The bull
ding than to erect new one.
Some eminent divines have occupied the
pulpit of this old church, among them whom
were Chcever, Payson and Tuckerman, the
philanthropist.
Rev. Mr.. Cudworth, of East Boston, off,
ciated yesterday at the closing services. AZ
ter the regular services of the afternoon the
congregation were invited to remain and
take final leave Of the old church when
Mr.. Cudworth made some appropriate and
interesting remarks upon the OCCASION He
mingled little playIulluess in the sober sad
ness Of the discourse, abiding to the quaint
appearance OF the old church as his old
hearers saw it in their childhood, where the
services were sure to leave an impression if
not upon the heart, upon the back Of the
neck in leaning against the balustradc OF the
pews to look up to the preacher.
The choir sang those good old tunes,
/" Majesty" and the Ode OH Science" and
after an affecting prayer and bencdicton.
the congregation slowly dispersed, many OF
them lingering tondly around the spot hal
lowed to them by so many fond recollcc-
tions.
1t was an affecting scene. Some Of the
gray haired men wept freely, as the mem
cries of all they had seen in that followed
edifcc crowded upon them. "This is none of
my work." said an old man with broken ac-
cents, d" would never have started a nail in
the good old house till it had crumblcd down
to the ground" There was pain and agoay
enough Tor the poor old veterans in the
thought that his last lux between the pres
ent and past in Chelsea, is about 10 be bro
ken, and the occasion doubtless reminded
them that their earthly tabernaces must soon
undergo their final change.
The Young people, too, who were prescnt,
looked with emotion upon the last services
as they thought how many brdals, chasicn'
ing aid funerals had been witnessed within
those walls, soon be invaded by the hammer
aud how many changes had befaIen those
who had from time to time been gathered
there for religious worship. There was in
deed many swelling breast and moist eye
over there at North Chelsea yesterday, be
, fore the old church doors were finally closed
WHAT CAN One Do AS the figure one il
, to the cyphers, few OR many. which range after
, it, so is the hero the saint, the poet, tn,
! prophet and the sage, to their species. Or
man enters, thirty-iour years ago, the western
metropolis Of Scotland, sits quietly down il
plain house in 'he northwest suburbs, auC
, writes sermons, which speedily change his pull
pit into battery, and memorize the Sabbath
|.by moral thunderstorm. Private as pesti
lencc comes another, five years later, into Lon
don, and his wild cry, lonely at first, so tina
of Johns in the desert, at least slartles thu
press, the Parliament the court, the countr,
without, the throne within, and it is felt tina
!, the one man has conquered the two millions
Nay, was there not two thousand years ago
from an obscure mount in Galiee, heard I
t voice, saying, Blessed are the poor in spir
3 it, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ant
{ has not that voice, though cloudcd by opposi
, ton, choked in blood crushed under the grave
stone, at length commanded the attention,
not yej the obedience, if the world Let n
one say despair, -" | am but one," in hi
unity, as in the unity Of sword, lies hi
might--if his mental be true, his singlencs
is strength-ho may be multiplied, indeed
but he can not be divided. Minorites, au'
f minorities of one. generally do the real wor
=. OF mankind.-Bards Of the Bible,