The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1873-03-12
LOvE-FEAsT SCENE.
HARRISBURG, March /, 1873


Strolling into one of the elegant
churches of an orthodox denomina-
ton on Saturday exening last, | wit
messed a scene which was at once so
impressive and so unusual, that
make it the topic of this letter. The
pew opener, in answer to my inquiry,
stated that there was te be no sermon,
but that evening service was to con-
sst alone of Love Feast, preceding
the quarterly celebration of the Lords
Supper on the morrow.
| was shown into a pew within half
dozen slips of the altar, and watch.
ed with some interest the filling up of
the pews around me. had made
no. few acquaintances within the city,
but as my Sundays had not been spent
at the capital, had not found out at
what churches my friends worshipped,
and now looked curiously about to
catch sight Of some familiar face. /
was gratified sooner than anticipated,
for in a few moments l recognized in
nearly the front pew the pertly pres
ence of n wealthy gentleman whom l
had often met in the office of an insur.
ance agent, and from the latter had
learned that our portly friend owned
a hundred tenement houses on Elm
street, and was one of the richest men
in the city. AS he turned by chance
and seeing me, gave me a little nod
and smile, the pew just in front
of me was opened by the usher, and
Mr.. C., private banker of fMarket
street, and his elegant dressed family,
grand and stately in seal skins, velvet
and laces, humoly bowed in. To my
surprise, also, my landlord, keeper of
| the finest hotel in the city, came in
, with the air of one who feels his right
to a place, and my eyes lighted in rap
id succession upon druggist, a grocer,
baker and number Of Senators
whose faces were familiar, and / Won
dered that so many of my friends
should worship in the church into
which l had struggled by accident.
My curiosity was also aroused, for
| knew of no church rite denominated
a "love feast" and was anxious for
the services to begin.
In looking over the assembled null
titude my heart was panied to note the
plain graduation of the people accord
ing to the evident richness of their
dress. There was no mistaking this,
and the usher's keen eye made no
mistakes. A scantly, but not meanly
clad old lady and tall, elegant dress
ed lsdy--whom | recognized as the
wife of Colonel A, a large whole
sale liquor Notwithstanding by
chance at the same instant, did not
for moment puzzle him. He bade
the old lady wait, and conveyed the
other in all dignity up very near to
the throne-like pulpit and seating her
returned and gave the poor old wo-
man seat near the door and left her
with no notice of the agony of pain
which swept like a cloud over the pale
sweet face. / afterwards knew she
was partially deaf and might as vel
have stayed at home as 10 have been
seated so far from the pulpit.
The service soon began, opening
with hymn by the choir, sung il
highly operate style, as soprano, sole
and chorus, and in which any attemp
at joining by any of the congregation
was greeted by such significant stare
, as to frighten the intruder into silenc
and a prayer by the occupant of tn
pulpit-the love.feast was soon in ful
height. The netting was simple, on
in which anyone could speak, bu
which liberty was only embraced b,
those who were in no doubt as to thei
condition in the life after death. can
not, of course, detail the language q
all, for probably hundred spoke, bu
the universal conclusion was that of
4 perfect certainty of getting to Heave
at last. was full Of happiness to Sc
SO many followers of the meek an
lowly One and thought what happ
!. ness all these must shed about then
> for He has said, "By their fruits y
g shall knew them"
Mr.. c., whom l had first recOi
!. nized, with a heavenly light on b
countenance, had said that che vi
almost home" The banker, that 81
J, felt he was saved by grace.
"Jesus paid it all,
All the debt owe"
. Mrs. Colonel ii. responded
"Sin hath left no crimson stain;
He washed me white as snow."
T. The others whom knew spoke ell
quently, glowing with happiness an
a consciousness Of a spotless life hel
and a sure rest hereafter, and II
heart warmed and throbbed with re