Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-26
GRACE CHURCH.,
rom " fashionable Life by Mrs. Eastman !
Would that | were hence.
feel as il the organ
Sthsd my breath,
As il the anthem


As IL the anthem
Dissolved my hearts core :"
Ii was Easter Sunday, aud more delightful
day never dawned. ada was up early. and
her occupations were such as the season de-
manded. After late breakfast Sophie an
the carriage was ordered.
From the time that they left their house one
of the palaces of the Fifth Avenue, until thew
reached Grace Church, Ada observed a pro-
cession Of elegantly dressed persons, on their
way to the different churches the ladies' costly
silks sweeping the pavements. Sophie recog-
niIed friend walking with some other per-
sons, and she stopped the carriage, insisting
upon her taking the vacant seat and accom-
panying them to Grace Church
impossible said the young lady Il
could not 60 to Grace Church to-day"
why not - said Mira Elwyn, entreatinply-
Mr.. Elwyn laughed. You see, Ada > he
said, "6od must be worshpped a la mode in
trace Church Never go there In a silk that
costs less than five dollars yard Your shawl
must be worth a thousand, and your handker-
chief not loss than one hundred dollars The
heart that prays acceptably must beat under
lace and brocade. Don't offer to sing; only
the choir is permitted to praise God according
TO the most approved style. A false note would
render the whole performance unacceptable
As to the prayers that the rector reads have
been going to Grace Church for two wears. and
built that only those who sit near the altar can
hear the service. That makes no difference
though, Tor who goes TO Grace Church to be
preached to- Sophie does not like me to talk
SO, and I'll allow it is beautiful building
perfect in its architectural arrangements But
there are some things must tell you before
hand, Ada, or you will be as stupid as / was
when took seat in my pew for the firstrime
When We 90 In the church, you will see per-
sons ranged on each side of the door, seated in
those little halls or ante-rOOms. These are
strangers, and they must stay there until we
who have pews in the church, have arrived
for 1t would be showing Us great disrespect to
have strangers made comfortable before we
were there to secure our own. Some of the
Pews are locked, l am told, but mine never is
When the service Is about to commence the
sections show the strangers where they NAV 20
Those who come in carriages or are handsome
ly dressed are first provided for. This is the
aristocracy Of religion! The others are seated
somewhere. You will hear good singing to-
day, and for the rest, judge for yourself
Ada had no time to reply, for they were at
the church door, and in going in Mrs Elwvn
expressed her regret that they had come too
soon, for the service had not commenced
Ada was delighted, on looking round, to gee
the exquisite taste displayed in the construc-
tion OF the church; particularly in the ar
rangement OF the light. The window at the
far end, to the left, she sat, was of stained
glass, figuring the Mosaic dispensation Clouds
shadowed the mount, and Aaron and Moses
were there, holding the tables Of stone The
painting was fine, and nothing could have ex-
eeeded the effect, for Ada felt that old things
had passed away when she saw that the church
was lighted by another window, a painting of
Christ, the Sun of righteousness The real
rays OF the sun from without, Illuminated the
pictured ones that represented the glory of
Christ-the Gospel light-within Perhaps the
light came IN too strongly, making the robes of
the Saviour look gorgeous. Yet the union of
design In the two pictures, and their good exc
cution, delighted ada cultivated taste.
From the pictures, her eyes turned to the
congregation that was now thronging in She
understood what it was to be dressed for Grace
Church The robes OF silk and velvet shone in
the dazzling light of the pictured window.
In the near pews, she observed ladies and
gentlemen cOnversing; she could not avoid
hearing good deal that they said. Two Der
sons In front OF her, were extoling the perlec-
tlons Of the concert singer, who was to perform
the Easter anthem, after the sermon. They
spoke OF the price that was to be paid her. and
ot the exceeding sweetness of her voice, as
adapted TO love sOnge, or sacred music The
gentleman said that he came to church. that
day TO hear Madame Bertini and to see the
fair lady with whom he was talking She
shook her fan at him, and called him a wretch
then, raised her glass to survey the congrsga-
ton.
The organ pealed forth, and Ada looked up
to the arches and spires through which the
grand and solemn music was reverberating
strain OF fine opera music was played, and
the grand tones became softer, until, hardly
audible, they died away. The trembling of
the instrument seemed TO be felt like echoes
that are being lost among the distant noun
tains
In the silence that succeeded, Ada waited to
hear, The Lord is in his holy temple" but
until she looked to the pulpit she did not know
the service had commenced. She opened her
prayer-bOO and tried to follow the exhOrta-
uOn, that she could not hear BY the most in
tense attention, she occasionally caught a word,
that guided her as to where the preacher was
but had ,he not known the service by heart .
she might as well have been in Jewish syna-
gogue, as here. Sie kneeled 81 the confession
Of Gins, but, though she could assume the atti-
tude OF prayer, she could not collect her wan
dering thoughts. There was but little chant
ing, but in this, Adas nice ear perceived the
harmony Of the voices. One or two verses of
psalms were sung. sermon was preached
that she could not hear, and tired t. death she
wished the service were over
Again, q brilliant prelude was played On the
organ The minister had disappeared from bis
pulpit; the people were looking towards the
choir, with eOuntenances Of pleased expeeta-
ton, and the deep notes of the instrument filled
the church, and slowly died away. As they
ceased, a voice powerful and sweet filed every
part Of the church. II was q woman's voice,
but angelic in its tones a. il mounted to the
carved spires and Windows, fed from corner to
corner, and descended to the ears Of the lis
teners.
Ada was entranced as she listened 10 the an
them that conmemorated the death and rc.ur-
reetlOn OF the son Of God. The music of the
hrst verse was slow and solemn; the words
were imPressively sung. Then the voice sweIed
and quIckened, and its notes betok ensd an xiety
Tor the second verso announced the entomb-
ment Of Him 10 whom 50 many looked a their
deliyerer. lie lays in the grave the voice
poured forth wailing lamont, loud, and then
subdued. Ada's bosom swelled as she listened.
and tears fell from her eyes lie arises and
with the loud music Of the organ the voice tri-
umphsnt mingled. Every part of the church
gave back the joyful and magnificent strain of
the singer.
The anthem appeared to close with this out
lnrsf Of u,u.ie Sfil tho dnII hlip0 Snrpd