Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-08-29
THE GAZETTE.
MONDAY MORNING. AUGUST %, 1859
SLEEPING IN CHURCH.

subject:
Il have great sympathy with sleepers'-
Not, that the tendency Is one OF my tr'ais'
but that have few times in church known
the pang of that overpowerlnS dr'"Simess ;
which is Just as irresistible us the iulr oi
opium or chloroform upon the senses. puI
it has been very seldom. go.
"Generally the tendency is within our con-
tro,-tbat il. of these of US who are not COM
nelled 10 work hard or to carry the labors of
the week almost into the Sabbath. If we
choose to break the Sabbath on Saturday by
overtiring ourselves or keeping late hours
on Saturday night, of course we must expect
to be sleeping in church. But whose fault
sit? Then with many, Sunday beinga lei
sure day, more time is given to eating and
drinking. instead of acting on the well known
principle that when we do not work We need
less food Also, those who really desire to
avoid being sleepy should take IL light meal
at noon and more food later in the day. for
1t is almost impossible to sit down quietly
after full meal, and keep mind and body
awake.
Another sopori6c is dull preaching
But frequently the fault is as much with the
nearer as the preacher-a want OF interest
apparent in the nearer discourages and
throws pail over his best efforts. Still
it must be confessed there is u soothing effect
in IA monotonOus voice, in unyarylnS tones,
which it is hard to resist.
But one of the chief causes of drowsiness
is i'm the state of the atmosphere IN the church.
The subject of ventilation is worn thread
bare and yet it is little understood. To seal
up a room almost Theoretically and coniine
people in it, is the true mode it is an eco
nomical method of manufacturing carbonic
acid gas. Finally some discover that they
suffer from it, and wake up to the Importance
of ventilation. Lo! hole is cut in the cell
ing oh! how admirably our church is VEN
tilated. How much better feel Certain
ly, II little better. but the chief point sap
ply of fresh air, has been quite overlooked
There is way of letting the air out, but
no way of letting it in. A fish suffers in
stagnant water. Give me running water,
he says So you cut an outlet to his pond,
but no inlet. What will the fish say to your
wisdom?
''In summer, when the sexton can open
the windows, there may be supply OF air,
but these arrangements are incomplete.
Either the windows will only open partially
or merely the lower part, so that those slit
ing near are incommoded by draughts. We
have had in the papers moving address to
the ''sextant of the meetin'-us, entreating
for 'pewer are but sections are much
abused and long suffering race If the
church be too cold, too dry. all the blame
lies with the sexton. But he cannot manu-
tacture oxygen to order, or send it into an
exhausted receiver without proper apparatus.
Give him windows opening at top and bot
tom for summer, and proper warming taclll-
ties in winter, and, for his own peace, ne will
do well.
Furnaces are abused. too. and unjustly.
True, there are some that cannot he too much
spoken against, but they are good and phil
osophical, .ifproperly constructed. A ullsup-
ply of ,carm air mot heat) is all that is need
ed, and church may be as well ventilated
with warm airas with cold, so that it be pure
and abundant. lfthere be way for it to
pass off, when exhausted, the process is com
pete But the usual construction of furna-
cess is faulty. Placed in the cellar, the only
supply of air to be warmed often comes from
the cellar, and the quantity is limited, so
that the air passing up is overheated and
seems already scorched and exhausted before
it reaches the people who are to breathe It,
There are churches in our city, and eve
rywhere else, in which the only supply Of
air is from small cellar, where furnace
is built without any communication with
the external air We know of one church
where there isair enough, and where a crowd
ed congregation is constantly refreshed by the
breath of life They keep awake: perhaps
they think it liz the preacher; perhaps he takes
all the glory to himself. Let him try preaching
in the black hole of Calcutta, and see if he
deserves all the credit"
MACREApy, THE AcroR.-Mr. billiard writes
to the Boston Courier. from Sherburne, Eng
land. an account of his visit to MIR. Macready
with whom he staid three days. MIR. billiard
saws of his host that he is in good health,
and that the last ten years have touched HIM
with very gentle hand. The severe domestic
affl lotions which have befallen him in that
interval he has felt like man, but has borne
like a man. He occupies himself most use
fully in promoting the education OF the com
munity in which he dwells-a work In which
the laborers are few, and the amount to be
accomplished is great.
A few days ago, bright little girl of pro
badly three or four summers, who recently
lost her father, came up to Professor Wise,
mt the Jones House. and said: "Mr. Wise,
won't YOU take me up with you in your bal
LOOM" "Why do you want to 60, my dear!
replied the Professor. Il want to see my
papa was the touching response. tear
was visible in the aerouaut'seye as be assured
her that it was impossible for him to take
her high enough to see her papa.-LGtdyeae
.IourHdi.
rss- To CoxsuMr1rvEs.-The advertiser hav-
inc, been restored 10 health in Il few weeks, by Il
very simple remedy, after having suffered several
wears with q severe Lung Affection, and that dread
disease. Consumption,-is anxious to make known
TO his fellow sufferers the means OF cure 10 all
who desire it he will send copy of the prescrip-
ton used free Of charye) with directions for pre-
pairing and using the same. which they will find
sure Cure for Consumption, asthma, Br""chtt's dc.
The only object of the advertiser IN sending the
prescription is TO benefit the afflicted, and he hopes
every sufferer will try his remedy. as il will cost
them nothing. and may prove blessing Parties
wishing the prescription will please address.
REV. EDWARD A. WILSON,
~ a6-wsw Williamsburg, Long Island.
n "a, ind