Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-02
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
The Cid Tennent Church.
They are all passing from the lahi;

They are all passing from the lai1i;
These churches old and gray,
In which our fathers used to stand,
In years gone by, to pray
Ay, preserve them now, as we'll you may,
These temples stern anil old;
They speak of those long pAss'd away,
Whose ashes now are cSS6.
Few, few, are now the strong armed men,
Who worshiped at our affairs there"
Every nation of the earth has some
cherished memorial, seme historic crown
ed structure which tells of ages gone
The dilapidated ruin, the stately and sol
itary pillar, therudely sculptured monu
ment. and the exquisitely cherished cap
ital-all speak to US alike, in voices
silent, yet impressive, of the generations
which have passed away. England has
her ancient types of Druidical reign, and
her old barronial strongholds. The
sons of Erin look with fond and admiring
gaze upon the time honored castles Of
their beautiful isle; while in the sunny
land of classic Italy, the Coliseum, the
Pantheon, and many other specimens of
architectural splendor, are the wonder
and admiration of the world. And the
ivy and moss empowered ruins of Spain,
are among the principal objects which
attract the strangss IL s.sst storied land.
1t is true America can boast of no ancieat
and crumbling castles-no massive piles
Of falling ruins; yet, she has many be-
loved and cherished landmarks; many an
ancient and time worn structure scattered
over the surface Of her broad and fair
domain, each marking the spot where
some fierce and sanguiTary contest has
taken place. Such a memorial is the
Old Tennent Church upon the battlefield
OF Monmouth. For ages past it has rem.
dered sacred this spot, and yet remains
an honored and beloved landmark. re.
miRdlng us of the times Of our forefathers,
and impressing upon our minds, more
wildly than the records of history,
the deeds which occurred in the olden
time. Around it cluster many patriotic
associations. Though now surrounded
by the smiling acres Of the peaceful agri
culturlst, it has in other years gazed upon
the scenes of devastation, war and blood
shed. AS We view fas-A eather stained
walls and messy roof, we are carried
back to the days of 1778-to that sultry
Sabbath day of June, when occurred that
fierce and bloody strife upon these ver-
dant plains of Monmouth. Here upon
one side stood the diciplined hosts of
ngland- the flower OF her army-while
upon the other hand, drawn up in battle
array, stood the Continental hosts.
We need not here depict the scenes of
that day; but as we gaze upon this
ancient chapel, they are revea ed almost
as fresh to our memories as though we
participated in the scene. For ages past
this sacred fame has braved the fierce
storms of winter, aud alike withstood the
sultry heat of Summer; and, as we gaze
upon it now, and view the many tomb
stones, cold and silent, t4at stand around
it, we are sadly impressed, and think of
the frailty and uncertainty of human life.
AS we tread the paths t4at wind through
this ancient city OF ri uead, we gaze
upon each weather bNten monument.
and as we trace tue inscription thereon,
we think of those who klnmber beneath
Us, and wonder to what hammer of people
they belonged. Many erhaps who Stun
Der be .eath these gray and moss covered
stones, have mingled with the vast hosts
that dotted these plainsbn that memora,
BILE Sabbath of 17787,many, perhaps,
who have drawn the sword in their coun
try's service, and helped to establish that
peace and prosperity which we SO abun.
dainty enjoy. Here, for ages past, the
voice of prayer and Inscriptions Of praise
have assembled to that God whom our
forefathers worshiped in simple and una
dorned religion. Here, within this ven.
Grated chapel, labored the Rev. William
Tennent, whose name aud deeds remain
afresh to the present day, though he now
sleeps so silently beneath the very roof
under which he SO long and so faithfully
labored. Faithful aad beloved" And
Whitfield and Brainerd, who broke to
their people " the bread Of life" in years
that have long since passed away. And
the Rev. John Woodruff, also, whose
marble shaft stands on the south side of
the Church, and part Of the inscription
rightly declares that the labors of
long life have ended in aSarge reward"
Here, as in the olden time, >yorship is
still conducted; and if we draw2ear, we
shall hear the voice Of praise ascending
to the vaulted roof, and the word of life
is yet proclaimed, as twas by those who
ministered here in years that have long
since rolled away. AS time rolls on, this
stored building will remain as memo
rlal-a memento, and shall remind coming
generations, as wildly as the records in
the chronicles Of history, Of the deeds
and achievements whichoccurred in years
gone by. YOUTH.