Sharp County record., 1880-03-25
The Religious Element in New Sharon.

! Sharon" in the March Scrt6ner:
Incredible, too, as it may sound, there
were religious services in New Sharon
that admirable forenoon, in an unplas-
tered room over a bowling-alley, where
we found a congregation of at least a
hundred persons; and there were
choir and cottage-organ, and ushers
showed us to seats when we entered. III
looked a trihe out of form, even in New
Sharon, to see a woman at church in
lOw-necked and short-sleeved crimson
gown; but she seemed to be unaware
of it. / diverted my fancy by likening
her-I scarcely know why-to those
women of olden, prophetic time, who
event out with timbrels and Dances"
and that other one who sat near her,
dressed in white, her hair in braid
down her back, and her fingers nerv-
ously twirling, as though they held un,,
seen castanets-was not she typical
daughter of Babylon? dared have
been sworn l saw Desdemona there,
also, and Iago darting malevolent
glances at her from across the
aisle, the scoundrel But Othello
was absent. / noticed Rob Roy pres
ent, however-several Rob Roys, may
say-booted and spurred in authentic
fashion. For special wonder, too,
walked in Werther, and stood with
arms folded, spying pensively about for
some random and signing Charlotte.
And we had not been men-at least, not
men of taste had we omitted to observe
the violet-eyed miss with the curls and
the silver-fligree jewelry, who sang
soprano in the choir, and sang so charm
ingly well; for surely that face of hers,
those lips, those cheeks, compelled
many a sonnet, bankrupted many a
heart, away back yonder in the time OF
Petrarch; only New Sharon was not
much of market for sonnets, nor did
hearts break there with facility, | am
inclined to think.
The minister read for the morning
lesson, and for his text as well, the para
BILE of the Prodigal Son. "He's going
for 'em," Eastman whispered, and we
sat anticipating an old-fashioned speech
for the prosecution. TO our surprise,
not to mention our relief, we heard
nothing of the kind. The sermon, am
bound to say, was original, good-tem-
pered, and strikingly effective. If the
speaker sketched the riotous part
of the Prodigal's career rather
freely and foridly-"as if he
knew how it was himself" Eastman
suggested-and touched the husks and
swine, the grief and repentance, in a
sparing and subordinate way, he but
chose the method which Debufe pursues,
you remember, in that familiar picture
of the same story; and he did not fail,
as think Dubufe does, to convey, some
how, very distinct and serviceable i'm,
preston that Life of wickedness is bad
policy, at least. Likely he knew such
to be his best way to reach his audience
Certainly he interested them and helc
their attention past sigh Of tagging.
shall never forget how perfectly qule
they were, and how generally they
leaned forward to listen, as he passed
the strict letter of the parable and, leav
ing the father busy about the feast
went on to speak of the returned wan
derer's suppositions and waiting mother
-"We all have mothers, somewhere,
he softly remarked-and to depict tht
homely, tender, caressing mood IL
which the dear wintry-haired and tot
tering old woman must have taken he
boy-her youngest, and hence forever
baby in her eyes-back to her heart tina
had never ceased to love and pray To-
him. 1t was a stroke worth more thar
the acutest logic, l make no doubt
Then he abruptly reverted to th'
gay and ensnaring scenes whlci
the Prodigal had found SO de
liehtful for time, and afterwart
so empty and so fatiguing, and dwell
upon them few minutes earnestly, let
ting the background of shadow move
little further forward than before, anC
vet saying never word OF the grave o.
the Judgment on the other side of tn
grave. And then he paused for an in
slant or so, and when he spoke again
it was in voice of mellowed and lin
gering sweetness, and his words wer'
the quantity touching ones that good olt
George Herbert uses in his " Pulley,
to tell how the Creator, when he mad'
man, hastened to equip him with bless
ING after blessing g-strength, beauty
wisdom, honor, pleasure-till only res
remained, and how that one choices
boon of all was left unbestowed, to tht
end,
that at least,
If goodness led him not, yet WEAKNESS
might some day toss the longing ant
restless being to its Makers breast.
could not for my life have told, whel
he had concluded, what denomination
of Christians the minister belonged to
nor did it really seem to me to be
matter of any consequence.
We waited after service to make ac
quaintance with this surprising pastor
yo,o,,nJ to ba worry frank aO(