Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-04-12
AT THE BIG TREES.

WE reached the Big Trees Just as the
sun was going down behind the far
reaching mountains, but too worn and
weary with our days travel over those
snoW-coveted heights to make anything
but slight investigation, although with
q desire that was difficult to keep within
bounds, Of the glOries of that wonderful
forest. Two Of our party, no longer able
to restrain their impatience, We're up
and away with the first streak of dawn,
and, coming into breakfast, and wild
with enthusiasm, would have gone on to
describe, had we not, determined to see
for ourselves, begged them to desist.
They then proceeded to inform us that
during their Wanderings through the
grove they had CHANGED upon a magni-
ticent tree, which, strange to say, but
fortunately for their plans, Waswithout a
name, end that it was their desire,
seconded by that of the proprietor of the
place, and with the consent of the Bish =
Op, to christen the tree in honor of the
Methodist Episcopal Chnrch with the
name of Bishop Thomson; the ceremony
to be performed by the ministers pres
ent, and out in the grandest temple that
the hands of God had ever upreared.
Shrinking, as he always did, from
any public demonstrations made in his
behalf, the Bishop refused; but being
urged, he at last consented.
Truly it was magnificent tree, tower
ing there toward the skies three hun
dred and fifty feet high, and as straight
and as smooth as an arrow, and sound,
as it was said, from root to top--a fitting
type, remarked one, in that respect es-
peeiaIly, of the church for which we are
about to name it, to which we all said
amen.
L wish could portray, as it well de-
mands, the sweet and halloWed beauty
of that scene and place as we stood
grouped together beneath that glorious
tree, the gentlemen with uncovered
heads, and the ladies in attitudes Of-de-
votiOn, with no eye upon us save His in
whose sight such scenes of sacredness
and peace below are well pleasing
There, no sound was heard save the
voice of the wind echoing through the
branches of those lofty trees, like the
distant roar of Niagara; or the sorrow
full chirp of some lone, lost bird, be-
wildered and frightened alike by the ma
jesty and sublimity all about it.
After singing q hymn we knelt down
on the carpet of grass and moss beneath
the tree, the Bishop offering beautiful
and feeIingIprayeT, after which the tree
was presented to the church by one of
the ministers present, in the Bishops
offering beautiful and feeling prayer,
after which the tree was presented to
to the church by one of the ministers
present, in the Bishops name. Then
some pleasant and appropriate senti-
ments being offered by several of the
company, we all united in singing,
Praise God from whom all blessings how,'
and were dismissed with the benedic-
ton.
It was with feelings that ceme to us
but seldom in this life; and which by us
can never be forgotten, that we moved
away from that grand, solemn temple
not reared by mortal hands.
\ holy awe was O'erus all.
We walked with God below.
All! how freshly, yet how painfully it
all comes back to me on this fair, sweet
day, with the warm sunlight
beaming into my window and dancing
over the carpet at my feet, followed by
the soft breezes with their wings laden
with the fragrance of the hOney-sUckIe
and the breath of the new
mown hay. 1t was just such a day
then, but oh the difference between
then and now. This same warm sun
light and these same cool breezes dance
and play over q lOwly grass-grOwn grave
that hides the form of him who was the
center of all our joys that day, and to
whom, now, all earthly joys and all
earthly hOnOrs are as nothing.
An elegant marble slab, with the Bish-
ops name handsomely engraved there
on, has since been inserted in the tree,
and to-day it stands not only in honor
of q church whose kingdom stretches
from shore to shore, but alike, too, of
him whose chiefest glory was in the good
of that church, and whose long life of
usefulness insits service caused her altar !
fires to burn with a brighter and purer !
glow, and whose memory to that church, |
now that he has gone to the church tri- !
above, is as q precious oint- J
Deld1UnTe Gazette,