Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-03-26
A CHURCH IN THE AIR.
From the Hartford Conn., oourant.

Once wandering through the land OF dream
In search of something new,
| A church--'t was on sabbath morn
| My curious notice drew;
And thinking should see the mode
OF Christian worship there,
| / entered just in time to hear
| The closing hymn and prayer.
And when the hymn was given out,
| With what astonished face
| / watched lady clad in silk
Bend forward from her place,
To share her book with one whose robes
So scanty were and mean,
No maiden formed Of earthly mould
| To greet her would be seen.
And yet saw not that the deed
Lessened sipgle grace,
But rather that q sweetcr look
Beamed on the maidens face.
| And while pondered in my mind,
How suoh thing could be,
The whole assembly Joined to sing
some t1me-worn melody.
And yet the music of the choir
Right pleasant was 10 hear,
Though nothing in the strain found
To please a critics ear;
| But childhood Joined its ringing tones
With those OF ALTERING age,
| And rich, and poor, and old, and young
| In tnat blest work engage.
And here no fashionable airs,
rhe tedium to beguile,
Are set to solemn hymns ofpraise,
And sung in opera style.
And we'll, thought l. the church OF @ cd
This nOckery might spare.
l ceased-for every head was bowed
In reverential prayer
And all ir spirit seemed TO join,
Nor could well f,rbear,
For Christ, and not the minister,
Was most apparent there.
Its words OF charity and love
Did the whole world EN- brace,
Unfettered by the love of sect,
That modern Christian grace:
And little did care to know
If Old the School or New,
From whence he soul of such man
Its rich instruction drew.
HIS teacher none could well mistake;
One only can impart
Lessons of wisdom that can guide
A sinful human heat.
Too soon that fervent prayer was DER,
The benedictlon asked,
And slowly down the spacious aisles
The congregation passed.
Slowly, as one might turn his back
Upon the gates of heaven,
After taste OF Angels food
Uuto his soul was given.
And now kind greetings We're exchanged,
With many friendly word.
And Christians m at, as Christians should,
Who serve one common LOOrd.
One heart, one mind, one earnest Will
Seemed to inspire the whole,
AS friend to friend with freedom told
The welfare of his soul.
Strange, though it seem, no single word
These curious folks did say,
Of"politics," ofrise in stocks,
OF gossip of the day.
Not only did they "shut up shop"
And lock the Office door,
They turned the key on worldly thought,
Till holy time was o'er.
The sermon, while a group discussed,
1 listened in amaze,
And marvelled at the words they used,
They did not cal = vreat' or "deep,''
''Ingenious, Us u"smart,'
Or "thank their st8rs they had man
After the peoples cart"
But whispered low, with moistened eyes.
How preciOns was The word;
How full of hope the promises
Their strengthened souls had heard;
And murmured blessings on his head,
Who labored by their side
In all simplicity and truth,
Preached Christ the crucified.
heard, and could not silence keep,
"Thrice happy souls % cried,
"a IN | in heaven ?" With sudden start
My eyes l opened wide
Looked round a moment in amaze
Saw my mistake with pain,
And never since have dared to take
A nap in church again.