Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-01-20
Letter from PhiIadeIphia--No. z.

we have been doing this city little, ant
have gained most favorable impressio,
of the city Of brotherly love. With al
the advantages and conveniences of oity
life, there seems to be quietness ant
home-ike comfort that are very pleasing
The regularity of the streets and a capita
system of numbering the houses renders
it almost like a multiplication table il
finding ones place. Knowing the system
of numbers, with . map of the city before
you, you could stick pin almost upor
the spot where any doorstep ought to be
having the number given you, even if you
had never been near the house itself
There have many fine buildings gone
up of late, though this city is, of course
far behind the great metropolis. We no
ticed the rising walls of the new Masonic
Temple, which in massiyeness and sizt
will far exceed anything of the kind il
the country, though it will hardly be al
elaborate and ornamental as the new and
beautiful temple of Boston. Its walls are
New England granite, | judge, and are
built as though they would stand until
the Great Architect shall summon the
last great Council. 1t is perfectly enor
nous, and beyond anything, but the ma.
tional buildings at Washington, that We
have ever seen.
| Having ticket given us for Saturday
the special day of the National Academy Of
Natural Science, we spent a short time in
that extensive museum. Every animal
that ever was created, we should think,
might be found somewhere upon these
six floors, either stuffed, in skeleton or as
fossil from the mastodon and whale
down to humming- bird and spider.
Sunday morning we enjoyed again the
choral worship at St. Clements church
The prayers were intoned by the Rev. DR.
Stewart, assistant minister of the parish,
a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin
and the lessons and sermon were delivered
by visiting olergaymn. The supplied
choir sang the psalter, &c, as On Epiph-
any night AT $50 p. m. we strolled
down to Christ Church, that dear old
historic pile, so sacred in its many associ-
ations. Here stands the quantity carved
Episcopal chair of the sanity White who
transmitted to the American Church the
Apostolic succession from the English
branch; and in the enclosure rests his
ashes. Here were sixteen of our Ameri-
can bishops conseorated. Here worship
ped General Washington and Benjamin
Franklin, as THAR respective pews were
kindly pointed out to me and as we pass
through the aisles we are treading over
the forms of many departed worthless.
Within the vestry still hangs the old
coat of arms, once fastened upon the
Governors pew in Colonial times. A
stranger read the service and the Rev.
Mr.. Hodge, assistant, preached an appro-
pirate epiphany sermon. We felt it in
deed a privilege to worship in church
where, must centre so many dear and
holy associations. Long may it stand.
On passing up town we found we were
in time to hear part of the sermon at st.
Stephens. This church Is no handsomer
than our Trinity at Rutland, but is quite
noted for some most exquisite sculptures
it contains; those in memory of the Bird
family The father lies as a recumbent
statue under It very elaborate canopy all
of white marble, in one corner of the
church. In a sort of side chapel is q
group, executed in Rome, representing
his three daughters. 1t is simply beyond
description to convey any idea of the ex-
treme tenderness and touching beauty of
this work Of art. The two younger are
reclining their heads upon the older sister,
as though they had just fallen asleep after
some pleasing, soothing tale that so lulls
the heart Of childhood while an angel
stands by, AS if he had just entered the
door, TO call them home. The figures are
of lifs-size, and you almost wait to see
them move hand or foot and awake out of
their little childish, dreamy sleep. The
walls of the chapel containing them are
of goac-tint, and reflect from the gas-light
hfc-like hue. An iron gate prevents
the crowd from approaching too near, ind
you turn away almost with a sad feeling
that they should be left there .alone, SO
vivid is the impression of the naturalness
of The sculpture.
At :! o'clock we found ourselves at the
beautiful St Marks, one Of the gems Of
Ecclesiastical architecture. An anniver-
sary Of the venerable Society for the Ad-
vamcement OF Christianity in P,nnsyl-
wanna, called together an immense crowd,
many standing and others leaving for
want Of loalA With our mfr quency OF
crowded churches at home this was d
pleasant feature. This Society Of the
Protestant Episcopal church has now
reached an age of nearly sixty years. At
the proper time we heard the sweet tones
Of the professional choristers, headed by
number of fine looking laymen, officers
of the society.
As soon as we can catch the words the
old familiar hymn greets us, Jesus shall
reign where'er the sum-" aud soon seventy
singers in SUPPLIES take their places in
the chancel. Tue choral rendering OF the
service was perfect, with Mr.. Pearce,
whom we mentioned in our last, at the
organ. And again | thought of our Rut.
land Choral Society, when that beautiful
anthem was given before the sermon,
"The Heavens are Telling" and by such
a. choir! It was feast, the pleasure oil
which cannot express. Andswhen one
has heard that grand old litugry of the
Hebrew disponsation, the Psalter, chanted
in unison by select snd trained choir
of men and boys, it seems n greater won
der than ever how our church anywhere
is satisfied with the mere reading of what
the Holy Ghost in the plainest manner