The New York herald., 1872-11-18
A Remarkable Scene in the
"OId South"
PROMPT ACTION OF THE CHURCH MILITANT.
An 0rganst and Choir from tic First
Regiment Of Militia.
CONDITION OF the BURNED DISTRICT.
NE Temporary Post Office swamped with Let
tsrs-A Quantity Of Valuable silverware Re-
covered-The Losses Of Harvard College
Identification Of Human Remains

BOSTON, Nov. II, 1872.
An even week has passed since the great Gala
NIFTY, and although the excitement has subsidized in
part yet there is little else thought talked Of.
Thousands and thousands OF strangers have been
In the city to-day, and the burnt district for
the first time thrown open, only the points where
dangerous walls are left standing being guarded.
All the churches In the city were crowded to
0vernowing, and probably there was not a single
sermon but had reference to the great fire. The
most sad, solemn and impressive were the closing
services in the "Old South" the edi1ce where the
fire was stopped and the safety OF which is re-
garded as the salvation Of the western and north
ern part OF the city. More than two hundred years
ago q congregation assembled at the corner Of
Washington and Milk streets for the purpose of
engaging in divine worship, and for more than one
hundred and fifty years the weekly assemblages at
this corner have been enclosed within the same
walls as those which to-day interwitnessed the
gathering of martial men to listen to the last re-
gious service In the Old South. For days past, as
have telegraphed you, this church has been made
THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE TROOPS
who have been engaged in the work OF guarding
the burned district They have slept upon the
n00rs and In the pews, and desecrated Its sacred
precincts with tobacco juice and games Of poker
and high-lowjack Martial law has superseded the
law Of the Gospel, and the authority OF the Major
General In command has ruled supreme. To-day,
however, inasmuch this will probably be the last
week OF the service Of the church mill
tant, and because OF the fact that next
Tuesday the United States authorities
will take possession of the building for the purpose
Of converting it into temporary Post ONCE, 1t was
deemed expedient once more, and for the last
in fho "a
Ace. Rev. Dr.. m. Manning, pastor Of the church,
consented to direct the Exercises, and Rev.
DR.. W. h. H. Murray, pastor of the
Park street church, volunteered his assistance.
Next came the question Of providing an organst
aid choir for the occasion. The hour at which the
idea was conceived three o'clock), rendered this
difficult task Nearly every organst in the city
was employed elsewhere, and vain search was
made for musical talent.
MUSICAL COMPANY.
Finally Captain william B. Sears, of Company q,
First Regiment NJ. v. NJ, Clafin Guards Of West
Newton was appealed to for advice. He called his
men in line, and after stating the nature Of the
emergency, requested that all, II there was an
organist in the Company or any singers, they
should march three PAGES to the front. All but
fourteen OF the lfty-six privates stepped forward
at the word of command, and 1t was found that
nve Of them were capable to fill the position of
ganist. selection was made resulting IN the
choice Of John Tucker, and choir of twenty
picked voices. This done seven companies OF the
regiment marched to their seats in fes and as
sumed q reverential aspect. The old church
never presented more singular spectacle.
Aside from the solemnity Of the occasion, the
antiquated sounding board, the chandelier, with
Its shades like weiss beer glasses; the officers, in
gray and gold fitting to and fro; the soldiers, gos
slipping with one another under their breath; the
grim -vsaged police officers, with occasionally
pettcoat here and there, combined to render the
picture an odd one to witness.
/. THE SERVICES
commenced at halfpast four O'Clock. Rev. DR..
Manning, after an affecting allusion to his long
pastorate In the parish, and the fact that never
hereafter would these walls re-echo to the sounds
OF divine worship, spoke OF the necessity of each
giving his soul to Christ The calamity Of the past
week had taught us all that nothing could be de-
pended upon but the will Of the Almighty God.
Men were finite and God was infinite, and His
mercy was our dependence while His justice was
the end OF all things. The choir sang the hymn,
NEARER MY GOD TO THEE,
after which an address was delivered by the Rev.
W. n H. Murray "a. 80:
We do not need sermon to-day, he said the
not necessary that should cite to you q text OF
Scripture and preach discourse therefrom. Every
brick in these eighty is text and the lessons
can be drawn therefrom by you all. But there has
GREAT GOOD FROM THIS CALAMITY.
It has taught US the love Of neighborhood Of each
other, Sel1shness draws lines between men. 1t
exiles each from the others heart. It Is comfort
Ing 10 know, theh and id realize that BY the pub,
lie opinion Of Boston, universally expressed, self
love is thing entirely to be forgotten in this ca
lamity. man who seeks to build up fortune
on the top OF another's misfortune is an
sxtortioner and thief Call such men
what you please, give them what rank
In the mercantile community you can they are
hypocrites. What we need now is sympathy; SYM
pathy is better than money, prosperity is much
more valuable than the pecuniary means with
which to acquire 1t. and we think that in our
selves lies sentiment which will achieve the
healthy state OF the public welfare which is needed
without any help from abroad.
GOD ApvERTIsEs HONESTY
BY Individual examples. The eyes Of the mercan-
tile classes OF the world are upon u.s. They realize
the fact that while we appreciate the Importance
OF all that we have lost we are happy in the con-
seriousness that we still preserve our honesty. No
legal bubble prevents us from paying our notes,
and no desire to aggrandize ourselves urges us to
accept help which we do not need. In some
sense, too, our example will frightcn other
cities nom wrong doing. II the merchants
OF Cincinnati, st. Louis and Chicago should some
day be visited by an inncton like this, they Will
remember our course OF action and our strict adj
hesion to the right, and 70 themselves and do
likewise.
We ARE DEvoUrLY GRATEFUL
for WHAT'S leit 10 u.s. Our heartnstones are intact,
our homes are perfect, our wives and children
are left to us TO protect and care for. Be-
fore the air surrenders forever the tones OF
thanksgiving which have often been heard in this
sanctuary we want to remember these facts anu
these causes Tor pralsinx God. We want to thank
Him for the past and for the glorious hone OF i'm