Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-27

| ~ Etc uttVf W Htc cVWNtt
| SABBATH IN QUEBEC.
We had some curiosity as to the Sabbath and
Sabbah services in place half French and half
English, half Catholic and half Protestant The
day was fine and warm, and all nature seemed to
smile and rejoice. 1t is Bishop Heber who writes
Of the country on the banks of the Gauges
where every prospect plcases,
And only man Is VILE
But, alas it applies too well to every place. The
works Of nature present the sights and sounds
Of loneliness" and if the harmony of the scene
is marred, it is by the pcrverse and unhallowed
usts and vices of men.
The services at the French cathedral COM
menced at ten o'clock in the forenoon. We went
with an immense crowd of people of all classes
and occupations and were conducted to seats well
situated for seeing and hearing. OF course the
prayers were in Latin, and the sermon in French
There pulpit by the side of one of the gal
leries, nearly central from the front to the rear;
and in this young priest delivered discourse
with much earnestness and ilucncy. Ills gestures
were abundant, but graceful We could under
| stand occasionally a word or two, but our knowl-
edge of French did not enable US to follow the
speaker. The singing and chanting, by male
voices, was very fine and pleasing. But what
shall we say OF the other services The priests
were robed in white, embroidered with crosses
They bowed here and they bowed there. They
marched and counter ma :hed. They swung GEN.
tiers, and they changed positions from one side to
another. Many candles were burning around the
| high altar. Sometimes the congregation rose,
sometimes sat, and sometimes knelt. Some of the
| attendants wore red sashes and some had shoulder
knots. In our ignorance of the meaning of it all
we were glad To take the first opportunity to 20
out, with a large part OF the congregation. Those
who tarried, we were told, remained Tor confess
sion.
1t was about eleven o'clock. The chimes Of the
Episcopal cathedral were sounding forth their
sweet music, and we bent our steps that way.
Seats were furnished us by the door keeper. The
| audience room was large and well filled. There
were several clergymen. There was full choii
of female singers, mot boys in dirty white sur
plices) excellent Instrumental music and the sing
| ing was charming The fine Old liturgy of the
| English church, always impressive and beautiful
when not read in dry. monotOnOus and perfume
tory manner, seemed well fitted for the day and
the occasion. Ii we were to criclse 1t at all, we
should say 1t was too protractec. John Wesleys
rule for public prayers, limited the time to ten
minutes. His followers do not always govern
themselves by ii and certa inly, some other cer-
gymen, like the Pharlsees OF old, make long
prayers" In this case, no single part of the ser
vice was very long; but the whole of 1t occupied
more than one hour before the sermon commenced
The Lords prayer was repeated three different
times the apostles creed twice, and the command
ments once interspersed with singing and instru-
mental music from time to time. The congrega-
ton appeared dev0ut and attentive. We had been
told that the services here were ritual and high
church, but it was not SO. The sermon, when we
reached it, was brief, evangelical and excellent.
The text, aye are the salt of the earth" The
discourse was practical, pointed and would benefit
any assembly.
In the eve ming, we attended q public farewell
meeting of the Dominion Convention of Young
Mems Christian Associations held in Music Hall
The hall was well filed with ladies and gentle
men, who seemed to feel deep interest in the
services. On the platform, were the officers and
representative young men of tie different Bi tlsh
| Provinces. The speaking was very effective, and
evinced not only ability but zeal in carrying for
ward the work IN which the Christian Associations
are engaged. Some Of the speakers were clergy
men, and Of the laymen, several were members
of the provincial parllam ents, and public officers
in other departments. The favorite hymns of
Bliss Sankey and other Christian workers were
sung with great power, the audience joining in
the music with much enthusiasm. The Ninety
and Nine, that most difficult of the whole collec-
ton, was finely rendered by competent singer.
The exercises continued with undated interest
unit! after ten O'Clock.
On the whole, we pronounced our Sabbath in
Quebec 10 be not an Improbable one.
HoMEwARD BOUND.
Monday we spent another half day in strolling
through the streets OF this quaint old city At
noon we crossed the st. Lawrence to Point Levi,
taking from the boat a farewell view of the cita-
del, the battlements, Durham Terrace, with all
the other surroundings We then took the cars
for Richmond junction, about one hundred miles.
The country is mostly Hat and aninteresting, but
part Of it is quite carefully cultivated. We
passed several pretty country villages. AS we
neared the Junction, the landscape was more
broken, billy and diversified.
AT the junction, We took the train for Island
Pond, where we spent the night. Island Pond is
picturesque village on the shore of lake or
pond, surrounded by wood crowned hills of the
Green Mountain type. 1t has several hotels,
churches and mills.
Morning came, and we pursued our journey
across the lovely upper Connecticut river, with its
margins of green meadows and intervals, past the
Peray Peaks, Berlin Falls the White Mou ntains,
ohelburn, where the old meeting house had been
renovated and made TO shine, Bethel Bryants
Pond, South Paris, and the lonesome waiting
rooms at Yarmouth Junction, and reached home
al four 0 clock in the afternoon, refreshed and in
vigofated by our week on the wing.
YANKEE.
Gov. Van Zandt of Rhode Island, who went
South with President Hayes. returned home on