The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-01-29
gtlisium, 9lurals, Belle gettres,

PEws.-In Anglo-Saxon and some north
ern churches of early date, stone bench was
made to project within the wall, running
around tie whole exterior except the east
end.
In 1919 they are represented as sitting on
the ground or standing About this time
the people introduced low, rude, three-legged
stools promiscuJusy over the church.
Wooden seats were introduced soon after
the Norman conquest. In 1927 decree was
issued in regard to the wrangling for seats,
50 common that none could call any seat his
own, except noblemen and patrons, each en-
tering and holding the one he first occupied.
AS we approached the reformation, 1880 to
l54O, seats were appropriated the entrance
being guarded by crossbars and the initial
letters engraved on them.
Immediately after the reformation the pew
system prevailed, as we learn from a COM
plant of the poor Commons addressed to
! Henry the VIII, in l74O, in reference to his
decree that q Bible should be in every church,
at liberty Ter all to read, because they thought
it might be taken into the "quir" or "pue."
In 1908 galleries were introduced
AS early as 161T, peSvS- -Tr-rc- -usrasgsa! 10
afford comfort, by being bazed or cushioned,
while the sides around were so high as to hide
those within-a device of the Puritans to
avoid being seen by the officers, who reported
those who did not stand when the name of
Jesus was pronounced. The services were
much protracted, so that many would fall
asleep. Hence Swft's pthy allusion:
A bedstead of the antique mode,
Compact Of timber many a load,
Such as our ancestors did use
Was metlmorphised into pews,
Which still their ancient nature keep,
By lodging folks disposed to sleep.
With the reign of Charles l., the reason for
Tightening the sides disappeared, and from
the civil war they gradually declined to their
present height.
ALL VIRTUES IN LOVE OF GoD.-In the
early ages of Christianity, there was little
care taken to analyse character. One mo-
mentous question was heard all over the
world, Dost thou believe in the Lord with all
among men-the great unatoneable division
between the disciple and the adversary. The
love of Christ was all and in all; and in pro-
portion to the nearness of their memory of his
person and teaching, men understood the in
fnity of the requirements of the moral law,
and the manner in which alone it could he
fulfilled. In their pure, early and practical
pety, the early Christians saw that there was
no need for codes of morality or systems of
metaphysics. Their virtue comprehended
everything; entered into everything; it was
100 vast and too spiritual to be defined; Lut
there was no need of its definition. And,
theref re, when any of the apostles have oc-
81 n t. describe or enumerate any forms If
v ce OF virtue by name, there is no attenp at
system in their work. So, also, spe king Fl
virtue, ST.. Paul gives up all attempt at deli
milton; be leaves the definition to every mans
heart, though he writes so as to mark the
overfowing tullness Of his own vision Of vir-
tue.-[ Ruskia.
The BEGINNINGS OF EvIL.-Truths like the
following can scarcely be repeated too often.
Young men, for the most part, are but little
aware Of the danger which attends the begin
ming of evil. Noone becomes suddenly aban-
doned and PREDICATE. There is always
gradual progress. He begins with slight oc-
casional departures from rectitude, and goes
from one degree of guilt to another, till his
conscience becomes scared, the vicious pro-
pensities strong, the habits of indulgence
fixed, and the character ruined.
Nothing is more obvious than this connec-
ton between the beginning and consumma-
ton of evil; and yet, hardly anything is more
difficulty than to convince the young of its
reality. In entering upon wrong courses
they have not the least. expectation or fear of
the dreadful issue. They mean not to pro
oeed beyond the point of safety and they have
no doubt they can easily effect an escape,
whenever danger appears; but ere they are
are aware, they are arrested by the iron
grasp Of habit, and ruined forever.
Take, for example, ths young man who 90
cssionally drinks to excess in the social oir-
Gle; he dses not dream that hs is entering