New-York tribune., 1879-05-28
GLIMPSES OF BOSTON LIFE.
RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR ACTIVITIES.

windows / con plainly see it, n pyramid OF red,
shooting above the ambitious house-tOps-a kind OF
rnddy beacon guiding the sight of an observer as
he looks across the of roofs rising ana
falling like waves. 1t is the tower of Philips
Brooks's church. The architecture of the church is
peculiar. A magnificent sastellated pile OF brown
stone, IL suggests one Of the old medl9val palaces
that at q moments nOtice could be turned into q
fortress and with it's ca non sweep the square it
fronts The church within il very impressive
While rich and elaborate. there is nothing to
offend the taste The impression is that OF
solidity and strength combined with great
beauty. The walls are massive, the pillars are mas
sive tho chandelier is massive. There are fine win
dows, elegant colors little cherubs and big angels
lowering overhead rich pews and costly upholstery
down below but all this does not detract from the
general effect of strength. The chancel is peculiar
Il is capacious with an extended rail circling all
about the communion table II reminds one ot the
old English custom when the table was out in the
body Of the church. While there is beauty abont
the whole structure, space and bigness are the
special features lmpresSlDg you. Corresponding
with the big church is the minister. He is large
physically, large intellectually. largo spirit
uaily-Now-Engands leading, fayorite preach
er. lie strides forward to his pulpit, which
is a plain, rich stand. 1t is n pleasure
to see him step forth, with firm, i'm
posing, but never pretentious gait. He stands be-
hind his desk. He grasps its sides, then sways back
and forth. or steps slightly forward to emphaslzea
point. There is no Ostentation TO his manner. As
You hear him. you feel that he is larger than the
church. While the audiences are large, you feel
that he is larger than the audiences but he never
greater than his subject. He makes himself infe-
nor to that always, dwarng himself by the side of
hot fato 70 In
better. While the rector Of 1'ruty Church is an
Epscopaan in bis preferences and methods, he is
80 mpathetic broad and catholic that he is very
popular with all denominations. especially Dnta-
rians and COngregatiOnalists You listen 30 Philips
Brooks and feel that here Is door widening, WIDEN
ing widening till yOu are in the church universal
and right at home in the midst of all the SAINTS
Dr. Duryoa is our latest ministerial importation
from New York. His church, tho Central COngre-
gstiona is on the Back Bay, not in 1t, but on the
land filling it. This structure is built of ROx bury
stone with freeSt0ne trimmings 1t is very unlike
a plain "mepting-house," ;" beng full of tine symbol
ism Of worship II is cruciform, with plenty of
pinuacles and gables and arches to satisfy modern
ideas. 1t was formerly styled the Congregational
Cathedral" but the new Old Sonth wears that
honor now Tho Central" lifts its pretty spire
in the mist of an arstocrltic quarter but it has
rs dwelling houses in the Back Bay district. DR..
Durvca's church needs filing, and he has begun
to tl t. Large audiences have greeted him, and
some visitors nave come TO stay. Boston rs no
easy place IOr clergyman. ike other places 1T
loves to say nau ghry words ana do naughty things.
RObertsOn'S words VIII apply to one trying TO push
against the eyIL: For the soldier OF the Cross
tner, is no rest except the grave"
There is . smell Of the mountain pine about the
meetings of the Appalachian Club, and # you listen
sharply you may hear the sigh oI the wind sweep
flt. fam
this needs John Burroughs trained ina glnatlOn.
This mountain club was organized IN January,
1876 It's object II " TO explore the mountains
of New-England and the adjacent regions both for
scientific and artistic purposes, and IN general to
cultivate interest IN geOgiapllcll NtudleS us
meetings held III one OF the lecture
rooms of ,he handsome stately Massachusetts
Institute OF Technology II has published an Occa-
sional magazine entitled " dppdIachG," ana IL mas
tIon within its paper covers. There Is good deal
OF scientific culture among the top-membcrs of
the Appalachian, so that to belong 10 II gives one
scientific an at once. At The late monthly meet
ing Professor j. II. Huntington read an interesting
PAPER in which he described trip from the forks
OF the kenuebec to Lake McgantIc III was Jour
new oyer the CLASSY waters Ol Dead River around
rapids through forests coming out n last upon me
sifniug s,rface Of Lake McQantic Professor W. II.
Niles spoke of tho helpful Apne-rOpe, illustrating
with coils of the Identical article on the
lecture table. Plans for field meetings were
announced at Naltlam, Nachuset Mountain, North
CONWAY. and elsewhere. These club meetings ar6
Yory TestfEl 20 the members judging from personal
results. for they lift one TO altitude from which
Inc catches the glow OF the sunset, the sparkle of
rivers and the purple tops of mountains
Ia = littlr room in the Wesleyan Building. Br0m-
feld-st., is the hub Of a big wheel There Is to be-
found the headquarters Of tho N0mans Christian
Temperance Union for Massachusetts. 't has I'VE
president, Mrs. Mary A. Llyermore, live
secretary Mr.. l., /. Is Barrel Haro,, and Tha
spollcs Of this big wheel radiate into every
part of he state. Are you organizing any
new unions - asked an official the other daY.
,,-.;,,. hNsl al -
three last week, and she is OrganlZlGg thl5 week."
There must oe 40 local unions IN the state. com
prisug about 10000 members. IhiS X cps some
body very busy. / think 1t was last month ina. an
officer of the Union said: I'VE have tweBty-tWo
temperance conventions on our hands tl7 month
There j. wise reliance on meetings Tor rue crcatoh
and maintenance of public sentiment favorable 10
the suppression OF lhtcmperance. Iao5 ftilaIicI
to the members of a city government when
were not granted she would "agtate ana
agitate and bgitatGn' Only think OF II, when
we remember NOman's linguistic capacities, what 1t
must he to set nineteen thousand female tongues
aguIng! The work dgcsn't stop here. lhey are Sc
curing the children. Sixty juvenile unions were re-
ported in October last year. Ia the ahnu' summary
Tho pledge il extensively circulated. MOYementS
ike Friendly Inns are stOuiIy backed up. lhey
are wiling judciously TO feed the hungry, those
who are fed, as Victor Hugo says, A httle better
than the dog and little worse than the Cat: Inc
legislaturo has been petitiOncd by the Women's
Union 20 grant 10 women the right OF suffrage in
temperance questions though the LeSisltJuFe uh-
praciousy SAID " Nay" Let II be SAID last but not
least that the ladies excellent inancler5 While
they have that " Imagination which as we know"
gay, Henry James, should always stand at the
right hand Of charity they have " good store OF
that Wholesome discretion whose place Is at the
left" The right arm of the temperance mo 'cmcnt
today IN Mas,achusetts is che w0man's Union,
Steadily the new Boston IL coming up out ot ths
sea- IL would surprise even an Old ciu1en WLo
thinks he knows all about 1t, If he should put side
by sdo the patches of made land aud SEQ how large
territory IL Is. As write tAIS, am LOOKING upon
that large tract south OF Fcderai-st known Is the
South Boston Fats, and IN part sm0theIod under
the gravel and b2rbol-mud dumped here. Tho New
York ana New-England Railroad hds cOinpieJcd eN-
fpn.iys freight houses on this new land while the
Boston anu Albany has begun the process Of filing
at the e4ztern corner OF the district / recently
visited the spot, aud saw q thing In dredging,