The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-08-22
Our Ghurchc. and Pn.tor.-No 4.

| 1t has been said by somebody we'll posted, ths
the character of a town may be Judged prett
= correctly by Us Schools and Churches The cha,
Gcter Of cur schools has long been matter ofiu.
pride to our citizens. They have been eulosize
As model schools tor years Our Cbprcbas ho,,
never been made the subject of eulogy or even de
scrpton that we recollec still they might deserv,
more than passing notice. We cannot claim any
very splendid church edifces though they are moi
below the ordinary standard of churches in towns
10. our size The general depression of business
in Kenosha for the past few years, consequent up
on the proximity OF those ever widening marts
OF trade on each side of us-Mwaukee and Chi
cago-that are ever drawing to themselves the
prosperity of smaller places has deprived of
one or two new and elegant church edices that
were in contemplation II few years since. The
| pending financial cloud admonished our enterpris
ing citizens that they had better worship in such
houses as they had, for few years longer, than to
attempt what they might not be able to carry out.
But to our subject.
ST. MATHEWS (EPIscoPAL) CHURCH,
This is among the Oldest, and was for number
Of years, among the leading Parishes of the State
The Church, which is centrally and very pleasant
ly located, on the corner Of Market and Ann St,
is not an imposing looking edifce, on the outside
tits low wooden building, that haq been two or
three times enlarged to accommodate the increas.
ing congregation, from time to time since the or
ganlzatlon OF the parish. 1t is neatly but plainly
hnlshed and furnished inside and conveniently
seats about 400 persons. There is little about the
church to foster the pride or van-gloriousness of
those who 20 there to worship.and we are not GER
tam that such plain, unadorned sanctuary is not
more conducive to the true worship of the Meek
and Lowly,' than the more costly and highly fin.
lshed and almost gaRdily ornamented churches
that are beginning to be the "style" in many of
our larger cities, Among the pastors or rectors
who have at different times had charge of this
parish, may he numbered some distinguished
clergymen, among whom we may mention Rev f.
w. Hatch at one time Chaplain to the U, s. SEN
ate, Rev. II. N. Bishop, rector of ST. Johns Chi.
cage Rev Alex. Capron now of Quincy. Ill and
Rev. Hugh NJ. Thompson now of Nesho:ah.
The present Rector of st. Mathews Church is
Rev. j. MCNAMARA, graduate of DIR. Mullen.
berga Theological College on Long Island He is
OF an active, sangune temperament, that forbids
his settling down into a listess performance ofthe
mere routine, Of parochial dutier, His is an active
and warm sympathy with ali the inter ests of his
people. His sermons are almost always improve |
meats upon actual and present scenes and infer |
ests OF real lite-practical rather than doctripal
And we have seldom listened to more elnouent |
earnest and patriotic sermons than the ouunrega |
uon "t ~. Mathews nus been favored with. upau |
the present was aud the sn. IF lie times. ne
arc disposed 10 .,.k .a.t mans ers Frequently
maze mistake III I-.lorin- the actual ana living
haman Interest,", ii their semlone 10 indulge in |
abstruse, metaphysical OF doctrnla dsquisitions, |
that have about az much relation to the interests
and human feelings of the people as they do to |
the Inhabitants ofsome other planet he rector
of st. Mathews seldom makes that mistake As
consequence his church is almost always crowded.
with attentive and eager listeners.
Mr. Mcnamara has well modulated pleasing
voice, aud hose unaecustoned to the Episcopal
service listen to it with pleasure as read by him.
AS a speaker, he is earnest, without being impas
stoned, sometimes warming with his subject, TO
real eloquence. Altogether he is a pleasing and
and successful preacher, and we doubt not, does
much good