Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-22
rof the Daily state Sentinel.
A visit 90 the "First Presbyterian
Church.

Church"
Mn. EDTToE: Though not usually nomadic in
our religious habits, We sometimes wander into
other pastures. both to cultivate friendly relations
with neighboring Hocks. and TO prevent our be
coming a sectarist or a bigot. And % il happen
ed that last Sabbath morn found US in the rather
gloomy fold Of the FIRST Presbyterian Church. +"
The architecture of this building IS not sufi-
GENTLY imposing to add grandeur TO its gloom
Perhaps il was to compensate for the lack OF
light. and cheerful ornament. that such a super
fluffy Of heat was obtained. Well, light and
heat are somewhat allied. but their Offices are
not interchangeable. We could not help think.
ing What an admirable place it would be to dry
fruit. or to propagate early vegetables. Perhaps
the high temperature which prevails here may
account for the gorgeous blossoming upon the
ladies' bonnets, making the sea of heads" more
like parferre of flowers, waving in pillows of
blue and purple. scarlet and gold. IL is more in
accordance. however. with the spirit of the place.
% suppose the intense heat is manufactured TO
alarm unrepenting sinners. by giving them fore
taste of the sufferings which may await them in
the hereafter-just as in Catholic churches ina
ges. crosses. paintings and shrines are employed
70 excite emotions of devotion.
IL was a sacramental occasion, and the services
though solemn, we're prolonged until Christian
endurance was taxed TO the utmost We would
scarcely have been surprised indeed, when we did
at last emerge into the damp and chilly atmos-
phere without, (doubly chill and damp by con
trast,) if We had found that Sunday was all over.
and Mondays business and hustle had succeeded.
Perhaps the services would not have seemed so
lnterminabe had not portion OF them been 50
oppressive. The sermon by Mr. Burt. of Cincin
natl, was all that could be wished Well arrang-
ed. thoroughly prepared, happily delivered. ele-
CANT in style, scholarly in matter fervent in
spirit. But fear the impression which il
might have left upon US was nearly obliterated
BY the choke damp" which succeeded it,
We have always avoided spect,cle of horror
when il has been possible We know not what
inducement could possibly tempt US to witness
the execution even OF the vilest criminal. We do
not think We could ever have enjoyed scalping
even with the advantages of an education among
the Indians nor suftes, though We had been born
the banks of the Gauges We shrink with
exquisite pain from funerals and death beds.
and could we have thought il possible that the
church initiation of twenty-one youthful con
verts could have been made painful cere-
mOny, we had not been there to witness It, No
sooner had the preacher of the day taken his
seat than up rose from the cushioned chair at his
side spectral figure, holding in his bOny fingers
paper from which he read in slow sepulchral
tones the long list OF names. sammoning each
youthful candidate TO stand before him And
they came forth. one after another, and formed
themselves into a radiant crescent. They all
young. so young, vet they confront HIM
How painful the stiffness becomes how op-
pressive the silence. Poor children. what have
you d0neI Why does your ghostly apparit0r sum.
mon you 50 solemnlyT Is it because you have
remembered your Creator in the DAYS of your
youth, and have come hither to receive the rites
of the church. that he addresses you as if about
to issue your death warrant! Can you brook the
gaze OF those eyes looking out from the skull
like face, glaring, tut not kindling? The mouth
opens - utter those measured mOnOtOnOus words,
but there Is no mobility OF LIP or feature. Poor
children, pity YOU! This is indeed terrible
ordeal. o spectral Bishop forbearl Untimely
As ''snOw in harvest mirth at a b,rial.
seems this heavy gloom. Surely smiles, and
gratulatiOns, and exuitant music would better
accord with the JOY OF the angels over repenting
sinners. lt IS over at last-exa minatiOn, ex-
hortation, admoniton-all. The lambs are
gathered into the fold, and we trust the Good
Shepherd will henceforth carrythem in his bosom.
This is an old church. this Old School First
Presbyterian, most respectable church, and well
descended. Proudlmemores cluster around its
pulpit. Here the deep thunder tones of Gurley
shook the pews, and reverberated to the light
ming flashes that cleaned from the other side of
the Circle. As in nature SO IN the organizations
OF men, the elements are ever unresting. Now
the thunder reyerberates in our country's capitol
and the lightning blinds and scathes, on the
shores of the Atlantic. But Gurley and Beecher
have had their successors. Here the eccentric
McClung, peculiar and profound. not yet silent.
though his voice seems ever To mIngle and con.
tend with the rushing waters of Niagara. There
the bury form and writhing face OF Mills. are
not yet forgotten, as with powerful logic and
ponderOus fists he converted the Beecher desc
Grated pulpit into.a "drum eccesastic. They too
have had their successors.
We are aware that il is a little unusual-and
possibly some may think it rreverent-thus TO
introduce churches, church services, pulpits, &c.
into the columns of political newspaper; but
the courtesy OF preachers in introducing politics
50 cordially into modern pulpits, Though omitted
on the occasion To which have specially re
ierred,) ought to he remembered. 1t would
scarcely be polite not to make some return; we
merely desire TO be civil. A CHURCH GoER.
All sorts of Parayraphs.