Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-04-01
Correspondence Of he Emory Banner.
Correspondence.
HARVARD, March IS, '7S.

HARVARD, March Is, rs.
Dear Banner:
/ see you have not received my
last letter-moTe's the pity, for the
world has lost enough valuable litera-
ture in the undiscovered PLAYS of the
immortal Aeschyles and Euripides,
and the best works of many sided Aris-
tOtle 1t is certainly a reflection upon
the age with all its boosted improve
ments that such a work should be ire
trievably lost; but we will refrain
from any remarks upon Uncle Sans
mail arrangements, as we think tie
occasion hardly iustifies it. You may
see by the way | begin this that have
nothing TO say but am determined to
say it. Boston and the vicinity is at
present rather dull.
But perhaps | might as well speak
OF where / have just been-the Uniia-
rian Church. This church holds pc
culiar position in the religious world.
IL can hardly be said to have creed
in the usual sense. Indeed it seems
to be the gathering together of all
those who from too free-thinking have
placed themselves without the pale of
Orthodoxy. and in this church they
are allowed freely TO think each as he
is inclined. Yet they all seem to aim
at teaching religion in a more practi-
cal for than any other sectS-i. e.,
doing good to man by substantial
charity and leaving his creed entirely
to his own conscience. Their apostle
is the truly great William Claiming.
They differ from the Universalists i'm
that the latter believe, that all men
will be saved and the former that meme
will he lost: but indeed they trouble
themselves very little about the future
state; protesting to teach piety for its
own sake, teaching men to leave,
while living good life, the future to
God. From their pulpits you may
hear a diversity of doctrine. Most of
them seem to reject the doctrine Of
the Trinity and the preacher tonight,
the Rev. Samuel Longfellow, brother
TO the poet, seemed to reject the divin-
ity of Christ, regarding him only as
the greatest of the Saints. Though
their doctrines seem so diverse they
yet seem united in doing a great deal
of good. Their church here is a most
pleasant place, especially to strangers.
1t is handsomely and tastefully fur
nished. You are shown by the pOlit-
est of ushers to a very pleasant cush-
toned seat, and the beautiful flowers in
front of the pulpit conspire TO produce
a very indulgent state of mind i'm the
stranger. And when the quartette OPP
ems he best that can be procured, and
discOurses the sweetest sacred music
of the masters-the iniHlitG6te sopIano
with a purity of tone and a tender
sweetness of expression | have never
heard excelled. winding in and out
the deeper tones of the others like q
golden thread in royal purple, waking
depth OF feeling in the listeners heart
he never suspected before-all Objee-
tons to hired music +" fashionable
choirs in churches are dissipated, and
one feels that when tuNeless himself
he can worship better on the wings of
such music than in joining i'll a loud
congressional discord. This prejudice
against worshipping God with the best
of music, whether hired or not is un-
doubtedly wrong. While listening to
the music I saw rather an unusual
sight, which is significant of the on
ward march of our civilization, a ia
panese prince, dressed in the latest
style of Broadway, walking down the
aisle WIFI an Anl0EICtn idtA, UollS
the Beau Brummel in the most APP
proved fashion. He is one of those
who are members OF the Law School. !
But not to leave our subject, the
preachers have heard among the Uni
tarians seem to be educated and good
m<n, talking with so much modera>
ton that one feels a sense of intense
relief at being freed from the Earring
Of creeds, and would be entirely hap
py but that occasionally when a figure !
is wanted to express abject misery, |
and tTaitorous ingratitude the South |
is Immediately dragged forth and !
made to do duty where it has done it |
a thousand times before. But this is |
done every where. This act seems to |
be increasing ia numbers and wealth. |
But there is a liberalism abroad in the
world and rapidly spreading, which |
is seeking TO reconcile science and reli- |
gion, to free mems minds from the in
huenee of dogmas, and teach larger |
and more charitable faith. Such |
seems to have been the origin of this |
church. This demand for greater free
dom, seems likely to prevail whether |
right or wrong; and 1t remains TO be |
seen whether Orthodoxy VIII yield to !
the pressure or not. i think IL is al |
ready losing influence because 1T has
not yielded. -