The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-12-03
Letter from Brick Meeting House.
BRICK NJ. House, Dec, 30th, 1870.

MIR. EDITOR-Dear .Sr:--In looking
over your paper of last week, l noticed
! that you solicited communications from
neighboring villages, and as do not know
OF any one here excepting myself who
has conceit enough to think they can
"speak piece for your benefit, ! thought
| would drop you few lines. To be a
regular reporter for a town, borough or
! village, to pick up little tit-bits of gossip,
and chop, and season, and hash them up
! in some savory shape, and send it forth
i'll palatabe dish, for neighboring cpl
cures, 81 will have none of it." l would
rather, as Fanny kembe says, ''be cater
pillar under gooseberry- bush;" but when
us in the present instance, my mind, (Which
is rather SMALL happens to be burdened
with thought; that is not content with its
cramped and contracted quarters, and
resolves on finding an outlet, what more
congcnial spot could it find for repose, than
the columns of The Cecil Wig?
Our village is as usual, peaceful and
quiet; no wars no rumors of wars, none
arrived, none departed; permanently,
excepting Mr.. Henry Heady and wife, who
have removed to Florida, to recruit his
health if possible. Our neighborhood is as
usual very healthy, the only one who has
been sick among us, nearly unto death,
has recovered, and as I write, I see him,
weak and feeble to be sure, but wonder
c,1I,, Io1,a nj toll fire
through the village this lovely day, and
although seventy-five years of age possess
ing the cheerfulness and vivacity of youth.
We had service in Rose Bank Hall, on
Sunday evening last. Rev. Mr.. Potter
preached an excellent and practical sermon.
He spoke in affecting terms in his sermon
on leaving this place, if needs be he should
90, at the end of his allotted term, and
urged particularly that more effort should
be made for the conversion of the rising
generation. The credit he gave Mr. Camp
bell for his untiring efforts in the Sabbath
school, was no more than that gentleman
richly merited, and the only trouble is that
unless the children attend better than they
have done for a few weeks back, he cannot
continue it through the winter as he desires,
for want of material Sabbath school has
always been discontinued here after Sep
TENDER, but that is no reason, as | can see,
that the children should drop off, the very
first frost. The main topic of conversation
just now is the protracted meeting in the
Presbyterian Church, two miles from here,
under the PASTORAL charge of Rev. Mr..
Johns. 1t has been largely attended,
crowded at times, and many conversions,
more, believe, than the most sanguine
expected, are the result of it; and more are
seeking the Way. 1t has been good
revival and happy meeting, notwithstand-
ing the one drawback, that of not having con-
gregational singing throughout the entire
services, so that all the congregation could
feel they had perfect liberty to exercise
their vocal gift to the best of their ability,
without infringing on the rights of the
choir. No doubt, they have that liberty
but a great many diffident people, who
would, with their whole soul and spirit,
enter into service, in which they were
expected to take an active part, are dashed
and COMPOUNDED if they happen because of
the distance which intervenes between
them and the gallery to commence frac-
ton of minute to soon, or end a hemi-
demi-semi-quaver of time after the choir
has warbled its last notes, and SO cannot
summon up courage to attempt it again
No, give us the good old congregational
singing, in time of a revival, and every
other time for that matter. More are con-
verted by vocal music, than we will in this
world ever be aware of, and every person,
no matter how little conceit he may possess,
loves to hear the sound of his own voice
And if congregation is fortunate enough
to have instrumental music, to aid the vocal,
let it be on the first floor, on a level with
the congregation, who cannot help feeling
a deep and abiding interest in a service of
which they form component part. In
churches, about onc-third of the congrega-
tions do not possess hymn books, simply
because they consider it useless expendi-
ture, when they have so little need for them,
are being sung for them, cannot understand
more than onc-half that is said, and con-
sequently their thoughts are out on fur
Tough, roaming over hill and dale, instead
of letting the sweet words of the hymns
sink deep in their hearts. 1 think the
choir of this church is excellent, and would
challenge competition with any country
church anywhere, but that does not lessen
my earnest conviction, that choirs all over
the land, lin the interest of Religion) should
be abolished. They have walked in with
civilization and refinement, let them quietly
decamp through the same door.
The other thought that has been too
much for me is this: Why is it when
notices of new publications are put in the
papers, the price does not accompany the
article? We, who live in the country,
often see notices of books we long to pos
sess, no price being attached, it is necessary
to write to ascertain it. We put it off, think
ing, perhaps, after all, it may be beyond
our means, so finally conclude to do without
it, much to our intellectual loss perhaps,
if it is gain to our pockets. Now if
was an editor, and a publisher had such a
slack hold OH tact as to send such notice
to me, l should attach price to suit
myself.
And now patient and long suffering Edi-
tor, l will conclude; or you will think, if
we have no tattler here, as once took
some trouble to inform you, we have at
least a GRUMBLER.
PHILADELPHIA CATTLE MARKET.-The
cattle market was dull this week and prices
were without material change. Cows and
Calves met lively inquiry at very full fig
ures. Sales at $50as0, and Springers at
$45a7O. Receipts, 200 head. Sheep were