The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-09-30

ty, richly frescoed walls, grand arch
es, a lnagnifcently finished orches-
ira, beautifully carpeted floors, yo-
luptuously cushioned pews, an elab-
orately caared and ornamented pull
pit and furniture as ornate and su
perb. The bible for instance, is so
large, so elegantly bound and so ca
silly soiled, that it remains closed, a
less costly one being used instead.
How well adapted to inspire rever-
ence for divine things and that hu-
mility of heart which comports with
mans littleness, are such surround
ingsl Hark! the sexton is tolling
the bell and already the congre pa
ton are assembling. We will stand
in this recess and look as they pass
"a procedure neither improper nor
impolite, for the good people evident
ly attend church to be seen. We see
every manner of dress adapted to
the ballroom, the drawing room and
the promenade, and we ask ourselves
the difference between Christians
and people of the world. The bell
has ceased tolling, and though its
last echo has died away on the trem-
ulous air, but half the audience has
arrived. The minister, Rev. DR..
Pomposity, rises with a resigned air,
as if greater promptitute on the part
Of his people cannot be expected,
and while one after another glides
into his seat, proceeds with the
morning service. In comico- tragic
style a hymn is read which highly
trained choir render with the aid of
a powerful organ, in a finished oper-
attic manner, with a due proportion
of sighs, triIls, bursts, squeals and
dying notes, while the congregation
seize the fitting opportunity to scru-
tinize one anOther's apparel. Mean
while laggards are dropping in, the
last taking their seat not till the ser
mon has been commenced. 1t is a
noteworthy circumstance that the
more killing the dress, the more
tardy is the wearer. OF course such
ladies have been detained by hous-
hold duties-a desire to make a
stunning display had nothing to do
with it. The congregation are all at
last assembled, and in looking around,
we see none of the poorer class
none who are not fashlonably dress
ed. My readers ask why. The an
swer is, there is no place for them
the cheapest pew rents for twenty
dollars, except three or four in the
charity corner, which are free but
empty. Poor people have more real
pride than the rich; it is not tyran-
nizing haughtiness, but spirit of
noble independence. When our Sa-
vior would prove himself to be the
true Messiah, among other evidences
he offered was the fact that "to the
poor the gospel is preached. Then
as many of our modern orthodox
churches have no place for the poor,
must we infer that the gospel is not
preached from their pulpits? Would
the "Man Of Sorrows" tarry at any
of the elegant residences of our Mic
odemuses, were He passing through
our cities? Would He not rather stop
at the lowlier cot of the Lazaruses
in a neighboring village? Bethany
was but a couple ofhours' walk from
Jerusalem, yet He made His home
in the humble village rather than in
the pretentious metropolis; and
when duly called Him to the latter,
we do not learn that he took suite
of rooms at any "Astor House." or
metropolitan" or "Oliver House"
How different from the ministers
that ''attend Conferences the Rever-
ends are not pleased unless they are
assigned to first families, and the D.
DIS grumble if not quartered at the
leading HOTEL
AS to the sermon of DR.. Pomp0si-
ty, it is eloquent and beautiful, but
not not more practical than an ad-
dress concerning the Sphynx or the
Colosseum. Everybody will go
home lauding "our splendid minis
ter" but unable to give a word of
his sermon. And the whole service
while ornate and impressive, increas-
es rather than diminishes the soul
less arrogance Of the congregation.