The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-12-05
TIE sESGZS.
BEL AIR, Nd, DECEMBER 5. 1873.
For tie Agis aad nnte'ligmeer.
DIOCESE OF ELKTON, MARYLAND.

For tie 1EgiS and nntellige,cer.
DIOCESE OF ELKT0N, MARYLAND.
THANKSGIVING DAY IN TRINITY CHURCH,
EI.KToN.
This day was observed with more than
usual interest ! our church people here, and
we flatter ourselves that our celebration of
it is worth some notice in print.
Our Parish Church, built of stone after
plans of Mr. ii. Congdon, NJ. A. S. A. \ of
New York in the early pointed STYLE is an
acknowledged gem offs kind and we think it
natural enough not only to be proud of il our
selves, but to have it duly admired by others.
Its beauty was greatly enhanced by the deco
rations for this occasion.
Upon entering the church, the first object
that attracted the eye, was the novel feature
of n huge c0fnuc0piH ofseveral bushels cnpaci
ty, living on a bright coloTed cloth outside the
Sanctuary, Just above the chancel steps; out
- of whose capacous, moss-lined mouth were
tumblcd in studied confusion and admired dis
order every kind of fruit and vegetable that
could be obtained ut such an advanced sea-
son. Pumpkins yellow, melons green, ruddy
applcs, bright lemons and oranges, celery well
brachcd with tops of fresh green, beets blood
red, with deep purple leaves, carrots, potatoes
both "white" and Sweet" corn yellow and
white. with wheat and oats and grasses COM
MINGLED; filled and flowed from the great
Horn of Plenty" down over the rich CLOTH
, on the steps and even on the floor ofthe nave
lie the morning sun poured over them
ass rich rainbow hues of the altar window,
Sts briliancy to the picturesque profusion.
4 - FlcOpid, it should be noticed, was not
( y capped, like the stiff, gided little
rs full of mean candy, with which
MIX lie deluded but it was the genuine
4 md Oh
with WIDE .flammi mouth, ornamented
with colour and gilt By-eeinmon consent it
was both appropriate and effective.
From this conspicuous object the eye soon
turned to the massive grcystone font at the
left, which was crowned with an exquisite
wreath of evergreen and wheat, ''piclied-out"
with golden lemons and popcorn, red and
white; and from which depended around the
octagonal faces clusters ofpurpc and White
grapes These more decided colors contrast
: Tgrlr beautifully with the delicate tint of the
81 ssAe The more modest -colored font rcceiv
jyn really more general admiration than the
Haunting, many hued c0rnacopta.
To the right the glance next wandered,
where stood the pulpit-lecten adorned witha
shield shaped antcpcndium Of autumn leaves
prominent among which were tcrn-lcavcs
~11reservcd in their green c0lOur--the whole
Morning most tasteful ornamentation.
u Thence the bcholder looked into the chan
eel, pausing to admire the similar rich rus
sct-hued leafy adornment of the stalls and
desks in the choir, but fastening on to the
centre and browning work Of all-the decor
atons of the altar The usual red altar
frontal was fairly "embrodefed" with au-
lumnal leaves, while Just below it hung n
curtain OF the same colour draping in 4 tes
taon the whole front OF the altar. 1t was
IN sWise adorned with leaves and an orna-
ment composed of open bols of cotton from
North Carolina, enclosed in the smoky
sprays Of the pampaS grass Above, on the
Table, were laid croSSwisc two small SheaveS
of wheat, while the retablc bore above these
again the most striking and suggestive fca-
ture Of the wholc--the beautiful Altar-( Gross
hung with bunch,s of purple and white
grapes resting against autumn leaves; and on
cthHr side thanked by the vases filled with
-EE4A3h flowers, leaves and grasses the red,
star-powdercd panels of the rereCl0S, forming
the background, and the great window throw
Ing the varied sunbcams over it all. 1t was
a combination of light and colour for an ar
tist, and presentation of symbol fitted to
delight the contemplation Of devout minds.
Numbers of the large congregation fingered
to examine the decorations more closely !;
md all seemed to admire and to he impress
- hc services were corrcspondingly festal
and bright The voices of the choir of girls
rang out clear and sweet upon the heavy bass
ofthe organ, while high and strong above
them both dominated the fresh, powerful
soprano which led them. In joyousncss the
service was almost an anticipation Of Christ
mas.
Sn rumGrsG.-A-. venture 10 dissent from
some in regard 10 our present day Of Thanks
giving, and to suggest tat instead OF follow
ing, the Church should htd, the Purtans
Why should we adopt the Puritan Thanks
giving on the last Thursday of November in
stead of our own ON the first The first
Thursday is quite too late on some accounts
and by no means SO anAtSQpriate rs the "Har-
vest Home otfngland, immediately follow
-44G- .llee- 1mRgathering of Harvest. But the
Puritan day has nothing whatever to recon-
mend it, except that which marks some other
Puritan customs - its utter variance with
church usage! 1t comes so late that men
have forgotten the Harvest and actually seed
cd for n new one cold weather forbids n
general turnout of the people; many vcgcta-
blcs are rare or gone, and flowers are rarcr !;
and lastly it brings the festival inconvenient-
ly near 10 Christmas.
Our Rubric leaves it optional with us to
choose the day, first stating the law which
is most binding on Churchmcn-the law OF
the Church-that we shall keep the first
Thursday in November Let Us, then, after
following the Pruitans thus far, now turn,
and lead them back to the Church!
Nov. 29th, A. ID. 1873, S.