The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-06-05

should be the favored spot. |
L did intend to take q look over
President Grants farm before writing,
but 1 bave been little indisposed and
tho weather has been warm and sultry
with frequent showers.
O. q. K1MBALL.
FROM BALTIMORE.
The Churches OF the City-g0me Criti-
eisms-Wiping Out Debt.
BALTIMORE, May 26th, 1878.
EDITOR JoURNAL.-As intimately
related to the business that brought
me here, I wish to toll you something
about the churches of this city. Of
course have not been in many of
them yet, for their number is legion.
The Romish churches for a long time
had the lead, SO that Baltimore was
called the "Rome of America" It can.
no longer be called by that name, as it
is now probably the most irredeemably
Methodist city ia tho world. Then
come the Episcopal, and then the Pres.
bytsrian churches. Architecturally,
estheticallS and every other kind Of al
y, the Methodists of the various kinds
are ahead and will doubtless keep
ahead. But 7 do in all soberness
think the Methodist body had better
look we'll to this place if they do not
wish to lose that which, chiefly, has
made them so powerful in the United
States. had the privilege Of preach.
ing sermon in one Of their churches
where I felt that the hearts of the large
assembly responded to the gospel.
Since that I attended ono service with
the Mount Vernon Place Church, and
it is of this I wish to speak. It is built
as the great typa1 NJ. E. church, but
it is worse than any Presbyterian
church I ever saw, and that is saying q
good deal. 1t is said to be the finest
n. E. church in the world and L do
not doubt it. The people in it seem to
feel that they have paid full fare to
heaven. will not attempt any des-
cription of it, for my vocabulary does
not afford me terms suitable 10 picture
its-what shall I call it not grandeur !;
not beauty not even magni6ceuce-
but its astounding combination of COL
ors; not exactly gaudy, not really Of.
fensive, but so contrived as to awaken
the feeling that the whole thing is aw.
fully out Of place. I did not teel that
it was the house Of God, nor do !
think the congregation so feel 1t.
could not help picturing to myself the
saintsd John Wesley coming from the
lecture room and stepping iote the
pulpit, then kneelinE in prayer for
strength to preach the word then he
rises and espies the glitteriug splen-
dors stands amazed for a moment,
takes in the situation, and I really
seemed to feel it time to get ready to
dodge the thunderbolts that assuredly
would be hurled, could he only occupy
this pulpit for an hour: The glory and
strength of Methodism has been that il
preached the gospel to the poor, but
venture to say that no poor man rents
pew in this building. Even the sex.
ton is a. we'll dressed a man as I am,
and, it may be, better. And then the
great organ and operstio choir! Well
I'll stop for l am not competent to dc
them justice. Suffice it to say, that
they sang a doxology after Crock Of
| Ages" If it is hard for rich man
to get into heaven l think it will take
a very hard pull to get such a church
| in safe.
The building in which the Assembly
meets is just about as ugly outside and
in as it could we'll be-. The people
here say that, arohiteoturally, it is
"Robinsonlan," alluding to the fact
that it was built during the pastorate
Of DR.. Stuart Robinson, who was and
still is curious though widely infu.
entail man.
l wish you could have been in the
Assembly the other day when the For.
eiga Mission Question was up. The
Assembly last year Instructed the Board
to call for $50o,000 and to expand
their work. They did so; result, a
debt Of $128,00O. What now? The
Iquestion was sooa answered The Board
must 90 on! Sentiment ran high and
then eliminated in action, and in less
than hour cash and pledges were civ.
On to the amount Of $4,000 towards an
Immediate removal of tho debt. The
debt must be cleared soon so you may
all look out for mo when l get home.
St. Cloud must do Its duty. But it
was the grandess scene I have ever
witnessed. I think there were bu. few
in the vast audience who were not deep.
" moved. People need to feel that
| giving is an act of worship, and then
they can give willingly and freely.
| In conclusion let me say it is hot
down here, and strawberries and ice
cream are not hard to take.
l. = E. " CAMPBELL.
| The origin Of postal cards dates
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