The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-17
THE FAIR G0sP1ILER.

THE FAIR G0sP1LLER.
Row. Olympia Brown in Tier Pulpit mt
Bridgcport-Skeich of Her DiscOurses,
Anecdotes and Incidents.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn.,, April 10, 1871.
The Unversallst church at Bridgep ort, Conn.,, is
pretty little structure, situated on cross street,
but short distance from the main thoroughiare OF
the place. The ed.fce is Dullt OF rough freestone,
with modest spre, and Is draped with the twining
folds OF the Virginia creeper, whose tender leaves
OF delicate green have now scarcely begun TO un.
Sold hut In autumn turn to those vivid hues Of Grim
son and gold which render 1t the glory OF its native
woods
The interior Of the church is pretrily frescoed ana
s not less pleasing TO the eye than the outside and,
taken as . whole, II isa
LITTLE ARCHITECTURAL GEM.
The stranger Ia Bridgeport is surprised to mud
that the occupant Of the pulpit IN this snug little
sanctuary IS woman. Rev. Olympia Brown, Its
pastor, enjoys Oh extensive reputation abroad
aolc and effective platform speaker III behalf OF w0.
mans suffrage, temperance and other leading re-
forms OF the day Among other titles fame she Is
claimed to be the first
WOMAN REGULARLY ORDAINED
rs minister Of the Gospel In this country, though
by some this honor is attributed to Rev. Phoebe A.
u
the Unlversalist denomination. Miss olympia
Browns name is often met with in the journals Of
thc day, and thus 1t Glanced that HERALD writer,
being In the vicinity, dropped In to listen to OF
her ordinary Sabbath disc3urses. The services had
commenced, and familiar hymn was being sung
by the excellent choir, in which many OF the
audience, who were provided with looks con-
LaIning both words and music joined. IN the pulpit
sat pale and somewhat careworn LOOKING lady,
SIMPLY dressed III black, without ornament save
coneIuded snc arose ana came forward TO the desk.
and In simple, business Ike way gave few
notices and tnen proceeded TO announce The text OF
her discourse. This was from AattneW x, las
We go preach, saying.
THa KINdDoA OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND"
This command OF the Saviour, though originally
MADE TO the twelve Apostles, who were sent forth
two by two 10 preach tine Gospel IN Judca and the
adjacent regions was interpreted by hiss Brown to
apply with even greater force to Christians OF the
present generation. In view OF their superior prlvt-
ieges, SO mucn greater was the obligation resting
upon them to spread the knowledge OF the truth.
Tns work was particularly the mission OF the Uni
times Of Spiritual declenslon Wien the thick DARK
ness Of eno ance ana CORRUPTION br0oded over the
Church, rs well as the world, strong statements OF
Gods justice, and the doctrine OF
PERSONAL DEVIL AND FIERY HE'LL,
as interpreted Dy reormers like Martin Luther, 10
Germany, and John Knox, OF Scotiand, might
have been useful to arouse the slulnDering con-
sciences OF the people, just as raw east wind
Is welcome when IL sweeps away the fogs ana
malaria which have been long brooiing over the
land. But she believed that such doctrines had had
paratveiy OF recent origin and weak in point Of
numbers, has had the elect or Causing the other
them. But this was only the beginning Of its work.
IL was for her hearers to show that the belief in
Gods unchanging love toward every creature whom
He had created did not take away all incentive to
effort upon their part but was rather stimuant to
renewed activity. The command to preach the doc
trine that the Kingdom OF heaven Is at hand" was
not made to the clergy Alone but to the laiy as WELL
In the recent Sabbath school Convention held In this
city she had listened 10 the remarks OF one good old
nun, who stated thai for
MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS
he had never failed to attend two services upon the
Sabbath, besiles tho Sunday school, and confer
ence meeting during the week This was tie way
a statement could he truthfuiIy made by member Of
another denomination, some OF whose tenets were
so repusive, what ought To be the activity of her
The labor In which they were called to engage was
practical work. They were 10 promugate reli-
gIon suited 10 tho wants OF tho world aud adapted
to the emergencies OF everyday life. In their Church
they must Know 10 distinction between high aud
come.
Especially must 1t be borne in mind that the great
cause III which they were engaged was distincllyey
CHRISTIAN WORK
Many at the present day had In their revolt from
prevalent gone too far and rejected too much Ear
nest men and women there were who had en-
bIacen the phantom oi materialisn, ana proclaimed
that they had "outgrOwn Christi and feat Tor them
selves no need OF Saviour. But this was most
pernicious error, which 1t behooved her hearers
carefully 10 avoid. Their standard must be that Oh
the Cross, and in this sign alone they must conquer.
Al the conclusion or the discourse, which was de.
livered In an animated manner partly from notes
anu partl. eXtempore, and was attenjivcly listened
TO throughout, u collection was taken mp, aud The
congregation united in singing the missionary
Hymn and were dismissed with the benediction.
Inc Rev. Miss brown has now been settled in
Bridgeport for several years, and though she no
longer draws the crowded audiences THAI were at
fTacted al first 10 witness the novel phenomenon OF
q woman In The pulpit, she Is stu quito
POPULAR PREACHER.
she rs undoubtedly an earnest Christian woman,
and her influence IS always exerted III benaf OF
every good cause,
AT the recent Connecticut election she created
considerable perplexity, as wei as amusement, by
appearing, IN company with several other strong
minded females, before the Board OF sSeieotmen OF
bridgeport and demanding that tne1r names De
placed upon the registry list under the provisions of
the Ilteenth amendment 10 the federal constitution.
When informed that II was impossible thnt their ie-
nnt air OF conquerors who hal taken the first step
toward an ultimate triumph rather than d dsap-
ponitment The incident was generally regarded rs
AN EXCELLENT JOKE
Dy nost OF those cOgnzani OF IL, but not by ll, rs
= DeiicNed that on account OF the refusal OF the
selectnen some OF the male memuers OF Miss
Browns congregation declined to put la an appear
nncc at me polls a still better incident, which
current here, relates TO a call which was recently
puplsned ~ lhc Bridgeport papers. addressed To
ceIBy'nen lVr INC purpose Of organizing "minis-
ters mee'ing,' sucn as Is comun0n IN other Giles.
Az the appointed hotir several dlgine3 SAID TO
nave pcen present when the door opened and
Rev. Miss Brown Was usherei ili The appaiItion
oil
qUE OiD sERrESr HIMSELF
rlutJ hardly Crpnfet n fot