Richland beacon., 1877-03-24
The Dead Church IN Chaseto,rn.

The Dead Church in Chaseto,rm.
The interior of the church was almos,
as dreary and forlorn as its exterior. The
two rows of low-backed, comfortless pews
with an uncarpetedaisle separating them
looked forbidding and homely. The gal
lery opposite the pulpit was decorated
with wooden ornaments in very bad re-
pair, and the moon-faced clock had a
broken long pointer and a crooked shor,
one. A red curtain drawn over a brass
wire, just above the gallery-rail, revealed
a small melodeon, weighted down with
half worn singing books. The little
square of carpet in front Of the pulpit
was glazing in color, and offended the
minister's eyes. But he cared little for
the appearance of the church. He
turned anxiously to the congregation,
and glanced over the men and women
who sat waiting his remarks. They did
not even seem inclined to look at him
now, although he saw many faces whose
owners had stared at him curiously
enough at the depot. The church win
dows were open, and a delicious breeze,
laden with the perfume of lilacs in neigh
boring gardens, of the apple blossoms on
the adjacent hills, rustled gently the
leaves of the hymn-book which the min.
lister was opening.
Mr.. Argent longed to spring to his
feet, and to address the congregation
with burning words which should infuse
life into their fainting souls. For he
we'll knew that their souls were faint.
A kind of spiritual paralysis had, two or
three years previous to his arrival, fallen
upon both the Congregational and Bap-
fist churches in Chasetown, and thus far
all efforts to heal it had been vain.
Gradually the attendance fell away, and
by and by it became difficult to secure
preaching in either church. The Con.
gregational minister, who had for twenty
years contented himself with a mea.er
salary and small approval, had call else
where, and, despairing of Chasetown, &C.
cepted it. The church thenceforth be-
came dependent on "trial preachers"
The Baptist brethren were reduced to
the same precarious method of obtaining
spiritual assistance, and Redman, the
rich manufacturer and prominent worker
in their denomination, had thought to
do them great good by sending Mr.. Ar.
gent among them. The young clergy.
mans fame had preceded him, and dozens
Of the Congregationalists bad thought it
worth their while, on the occasion of his
first appearance, to visit the Baptist
church. They secretly longed fer that
spiritual awakening, the hope of which
had almost vanished from their breasts.
Would it come from him?
The little church was not filled.
There were great ugly gaps in the very
middle of the congregation. Here and
here half dozen bright, handsome girls
occupied a pew together, and, conscious
# the Contrast of their beauty with the
lard features and angular outlines of the
armers' wives and the farmers scattered
bout them, they looked coquettishly at |
he new minister, as if surprised that he |
lid not notice it. As for the farming
ok, they appeared gloomy and unsym-
the husbands set apart from
heir wives each person seemed to shrink /
INTO his or her corner, as if some wrath
o come vas concealed in the gathering
Wight. A few elderly. red faced,
quaredjawed men looked critically at
he minister, as if wondering why he
7ere so presumptuous as to delay his be-
inning. When Mr.. Argent AROSE, he
lit as if be had the whole congregation
pom his back, and it was crushing him.