The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-02-01
FASHIONABLE CHURCHES.
A SKETCH NJ JAMES PARTON.

lyn, Mr. PARroN, ny way CT cohtrns', uru"S
the following felicitous sketch of the fash
ionable New York churches -
Is there anything in America moro pc
culiar to America, or more curious In itself,
than one of our q fashionable" Protestant
churches-such as we SEQ in New York,
on the Fifth avenue and in the adjacent
street7 The lion and the lamb In the Mil
lcnium will not lie down together moro
lovingly than the church and tho world
have blended in these singular establish.
ments We are far from objecting to the
coalition, but note il only as something Gu
rious, new aud interesting.
We enter an edifce, upon the interior Of
which the uphoIstercr and the cabinet ma
ker have exhausted the resources Of their
tndes. The word "subdued" describes
the effect at which those artists have aimed.
The woods employed arc costly and rich,
but usually Of sombcr hue, and though
elaboutely carved, arc frequently unpol-
ishcd. The light which comes through
the stained windows, or through the small
diamond panes, is Of that description which
Mr.. Verplanck, In an unfortunate moment,
styled " dim religious" Every part ofthc
floor is ,hckly carpcted. The pews differ
little from sofas, except In being more
comfortable, and the cushions for the feet
or the knees are as soft as hair and cloth
can make them.
ltis fashion at present to put the organ
out of sight, and 10 have clock SO unob-
tr,,sive Us not to be observed. Galleries
are now viewed with an unfricndly eye, by
the projectors Of churches, and they are
going out Of use. Everything in the way
of conspicuous lighting apparatus, such MS
the gorgeous and dazzling chandeliers oi
fifteen year, ago, and the translucent globes
Of later date, is discarded, and attempt is
sometimes made to hide the vulgar fac,
that the church is ever open in the even-
ing. In word, the design Of the fashion.
able church builder of the present mo-
ment is TO produce a richly furnished, qui.
etly odorned, dimly Illuminated, ecclesias.
teal parlor. in which few hundred ladies
and gentlemen, nttired in kindred taste, may
sit perfectly at their case, and see no OBJ
ect not in harmony with the scene around
them.
To say that the object Of the costly and
elegant arrangements is to repel poor peo.
pls would he cnlumny. On the contrary,
persons who show by their dress aud air
that they exercise the less remuncrntive
vocations. are as politely shown to seats as
those who roll up 10 the door In carriages,
and the presence Of such penons is desired,
and in many instances systematically
sought. Nevertheless, the poor are re-
PEELED. They know they cannot pay their
proportion of tho expense Of maintaining
such establishments, aud they do not wish
to enjoy what others pay for. Everything
| in and around the church seems to pro-
claim Il kind Of exclusive ecclesiastical
club, designed for the accommodation OF
persons Of ten thousand dollas year and
upward. Or It is as though the carriages
on the road to heaven were divided into
first class, second class and third class, and
man either takes tho one that accords
with his means, or denies himself the ad.
vantage of travelling that road, or prefers
to tridge along on foot an independent way-
farer.
Il Is Sunday morning and the doors Of
this beautifhl drnwing room arc thrown
opeu. Ladies' dressed with subdued mag.
nificencc glide 10 along with some who
have not been able 10 lenve at home the
Shower articles Of their wardrobe. Blnck
silk, black velvet, black lace, relieved by
in,imalions Of ofbrishter color, and by CLEANS
from half hidden jewclry, arc tho inateri.
ais most employed. Gentlemen in uni.
form of black cloth and white linen an.
nounccs their coming by the creaking Of
their boots, qr,enched in the padded car.
peting. Il cannot be said Of these chur-
ches, as Mr.. Carlyle remarked OF certain
London ones, that pistol could DO fired
into window across tho church without
much danger Of hitting a christian. The
attendance is not generally very large; but
as the audience is evenly distributed over
the whole surface It looks larger than Il is.
In commercial city every thing is apt to
be measured by the commercial standard,
and accordingly church numerically weak,
bu, financially strong, ranks. in tho estiina
ton Of the town, not according to its mum.
bcr of souls b,It its number OF dollars. We
heard fine young fellow last summer, full
Of zeal for everything high and good. con-
cluded glowing account Of sermon hy
saying ,ha, il was The direct means Of ad.
ding to the church capital Of one hun.
dred aud seveniy-fvc thousand dollars. He
meant nothing low or nercenary; he hon.
es,ly exulted in the fact that tho power and
influence attached to tho possession Of one
hundred and seventy-fve thousand dollars
was henccforwari to be cxerted on behalf
OF objects which he estimated tho highest.
II therefore tho church before our view
II u 4.