Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-09-24
FROM NASHVILLE.
Its CIergy-cburches-Obs of the
sabbath.
NASHVILLE, Sept. II, 1873.


sabbath. |
NASHVILLE, Sept. II, 1878.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: A transient visi-
tor to Nashville will be impressed at once
with the good order and the quiet demean-
or of its citizens on the Sabbath day. l
confess was. This day is respected to an
extent that is barely observed By other
cities. OF course there are some Irregular
ities-some departures from this general
rule For example, the fruit and tobacco
stores remain open all day and sell just as
they do any other day. This is On ugly
spot on the morality of the place, and
ought to be corrected. What necessity
there is for it, can't see. 1t is not life
and death case for lover of the weed to
do without it for twenty-four hours, espe-
cally when you remember he has ample
time to lay in q supply the day before.
The reasons are just as potent why every
other kind of store should be opened.
had expected TO find the bar and drink
ing saloons in full blast, but they were not.
/ saw no drnking-no carousing Of any
description. L know of no fouler blot that
could rest upon community than the
opening of bar and dram shops on this day.
1t is worse than famine, war or pesti-
lence, for these are disciplinary corrections
used by higher power, and intended for
some wholesome purpose, while the other
opens the 6ood-gates of vice and poisons
our social existence. Wherever you find
a city run over in such way, you will find
a low order of civilization, and q much
lower order of good morals
The churches in this city are doing q
grand and glorious work. Whatever of
good morals belongs to Nashville must be
attributable to their faithful eXertions.
The harmony and unity among them is
notorious, and speaks volumes in favor of
pure and lofty type of Christian ethics.
The world has often been disguised with
the belligerent conduct of the different
sects-with their anti-Christian mode of
warfare. and their utter disregard of the
great principle of liberation and forbear-
ance. 1t is a reproach to every form of
moral and religious principle to est fire.
brands into what ought to be peaceable
and quiet household, and cannot be too
severely censured. In several instances
the secular press has had to interpose anu
remind clerical hot-spurs and hasty and
indiscreet laymen to observe mod
Grafton. There has been no need of
this in Nashville. Clergymen in
terchange pulpits, visit each other
socially and maintain and perpetuate a
due observance of ministerial etiquette.
This praiseworthy example permeates the
rank and file of the different sects and
fosters a feeling of..unity and of mutual
regard.
While there is considerable pulpit ability
in this city, can not say that it is very
marked as general rule. You find no
Beechers. Congregations are not stirred
by the power of eloquence. There is gen
uine ability-a fair and solid exposition OF
truth, but there are no bright and dazzling
scintiilations of genius. This is little
surprising in city of the dimensions OF
Nashville, and where there is obviously Sc
much intelligence. The late DIR. Moore, OF
the First Presbyterian Church, was an
eminent divine-had few superors either
as man of profound goodness, or as pull
pit orator, but the city has none such left.
His successor, DIR. Hoyt, is an intellectual
man, scholarly in his attainments, logical
in the makeup of his mind and thor
oughly pious, but the mouth of his illus
trious predecessor did not fall upon his
shoulders. The Rev. Dr. Graham you
know, of the Episcopal Church. His eX
IRENE modesty will always be a barrier tC
his ultimate distinction as divine. Drs
Young and Hammer, of the Southern
Methodist Church, are excellent speci
mems of oratorical ability.
One commendable feature of most of the
clergymen here is, that they wisely discard
the use of manuscript preaching.
ALoNZO DANTE.