The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-23
), THURSDAY MORNING. MARCH 2s 1871

and found the room, which was capable 81
holding about q hundred persons, com
pietely filled: It's a most notwithstanding
place bare, whitewashed walls, dirty, I'm.
painted woodwork, and windows without
pInds or shutters. A table, ornamented
WIN Two Kerosene lamps, served for q pul.
pit; four other lamps, fastened to the
walls, sent out their fragrant smoke.
put very little light. The men sat or,
one side, the women on the other, on long,
narrow, straight. backed Observation-Disclosures
Wnen looked upon as seats, but considered
as as. instruments Of torture perfection itself.
Inc air upon entering was enough to sicken
one,eVery window shut tight and a roaring
WOOD nre going. This, with the kerosene.
ouor Oh stale Tobacco, bad rum, onions.
rancid hair-oil, and a few Africans, made II
neater my Ideal of the black hole of Cal
o onS t, man anything Eve ever experienced,
anu t'me alone was needed to make the
result the same. We lust missed the
text, but it seemed to be 0Renent and md
ye snail be saved" It wasn't a had Ger
mon; I've heard many poorer ones preached
III eiegant churches; but the reverend
gentleman delivered it in such low VOICE
tlat IL dldn,t appear to have ANYTHING but
tne most soothing effect on his audience.
Cwo-Intros OF whom slumbered like inn0-
ceiit paoes; the remainder mildly "chawed''
unu gaZed at him with that open-eyed COM
placency peculiar to all Illuminating nil.
mals-of course only allude to the male
portlon. The women, like their sisters in
more MOI, fashionable localities, eyed each 9TH
lookout for anything new. At the conclII,
sion of the sermon there was O bymn
lined out, as the clergyman had tba
sole and only book in t6e congregation.
The singing was calculated to strike terror
into the ears Of men and angels, though 7
sincerely hope no unfortunate angel heard
1t. It is said that worship to be accountable
needs but to come from the heart. and il
matters not how rude the style NAV be.
But, alas this all came from the nose.
Long before the six verses had ended all
unity had vanished, each one shouted the
tune he liked best, and the effect was sim.
ply awful! J. shut my eyes and went of
into senli-llnconscious state, and imagined
I'd got into "inferno," and these fearful
sounds were the walls Of the lost spirits,
lamenting their departed happiness. I'd
not wish my worst enemy any severer pun
ishment than to be obliged to sit for
three hours in this Westinghouse, have
to endure the combination of odors, racks,
of seats, and music. To be minister In
This place WOulu Dc luucN worse LHul W ~
as missionary to the Cannibal islands.
There one would have reasonable eXpec-
tation Of being devoured in the course OF
time !; here it must be torture without
limit. Fortunately a preacher only re-
mains one year. I suppose they have
found that poor human nature, even when
supported by religious fervor, cannot stand
a longer period of probation. A mild man
is entirnlv yyaStnd in fhnce Sc rca6iaos ~
dian" to convert them. All experiences
are valuable in as far as they serve to en-
large the understanding and act as warn
ings. Therefore don't regret having been
a Christian martyr for one euening, but
would meyer tamper with my constitution
and make it undergo such an ordeal again.
Adieu for season,
e.s..~. SIDNEY LAWRENCE