Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-29

Where George ricrbcr, Omcc Omciatc,
'r.om :. Jlmc,'s Gazc,tc.l

F.om :. Jlmc,'s Gazcttc.l
Tho little church-door lies open wide,
though it is Il weekday (why do they not
lie open oftener for quiet people
to step i'll and II use. while Gthe autumn
wind sighs gently among the yellow elm
boughs: the big drops from last nights
shower patter slowly down, with even
splash, from the tiled roof upon the
ground outside, and everything seems to
harmoniae with the peaceful mood that
belts one who. turning aside from morn
ing stroll, sits and mcditntca in George
Herbcrt's church. There are some to
whom Il church appears all the more SOL
emn and impressive because they stand
in it alone the solitude carries more of
religious suggestion with it than the
crowd ofasscmblod worshippers could ever
do. For. such asi these, our English
churches are too often closed at the verv
time when their refuge is needed most
They are open only on the days and at the
hours when all can come allkc. they are
shut when the passing wayiarcr would
fain step in and use the sacred building
left by the charity Of our forefuthers ac-
cordin9 to the fashion wherein alone he
can useit to his own best advantage. Per-
haps some of us would enter oftener if we
couldalways enter when and how we liked.
All mems moods are not the same and
i'll George ilerberts church, at least we
may quietly reflect that quiet reflection
is no small worship too i'll its own way.
As you go to see Bemerton Church You
have behind you the tapcring spire of
Sarum, the quiet close, the Od-World
Streets the gnblcd houses, and you turn
westward along the flooded Wiley. by
roads overhuug with mellow autumn
foliage till you reach sleepy hamlet by
the swollen riverside. Beyond, the low
range OF chalk downs bounds the river
valley; in front the woods of Wilton
CLEAN crimson and primrose yellow in
their dying hues close by, the modern
lied parsonage still bears Il quaint old
inscription above it's simple Intel. On
your right n tiny church, built of raw
Hints IN rude courses, invites you with
It's open door, and you cntcr-pcrhaps
hardly knowing or remembering that this
Is George ll"rbCrt's last resting place.
But whether Nuu know or not, there is an
air oG holy calm and rcstfuluess about
the place that draws you in to seat your
sell ON one of the little rustic. rush-bot-
toned chars fDr ten minutes retire
ment from Il busy world. What place
to retire to, and what season for retire
ment! The fall of the year, as men com
monty called it in George Hcrbert's time,
is. full upon us the tints Of the leaves.
the drops dripping slowly from the wood
en- porch, the mist floating in til air all
blend together with the quiet awe OF an
empty church to carry ones mind away
from the stir and hustle of Il too active
age. Ii You want to feel as George Her
bert felt, comeaway hereon such an au-
tumn morning MS this. Call yourself what
you Will, churchman or dissident, Angli-
can or oragnostic, if you cannot feel the deep
peacefuIness OF that little country altar,
and the native holiness of that immemor-
ial site, You have not the soul and root of
the matter III you. And if you can, you
have.
A little further up tie side-road that
leads to Wilton, the admirers of George
Herbert have raised II greal brand new
white church for the weekly parish SER
vices, IN honor Of their favorite poet. 1t
is pretty enough bit of modern archi-
lecture but there is nothing at all about
1t that harmonizes in any way with the
place on the person. 1t stands ON higher
ground, Overlooking the river, with:close-
ly-shaven lawn and trim gravel walks,
while its humber predecessor nestles I'M.
obtrusiyely III the low-lying abandoned
churchyard, making little pretence toany
thing more than a few old decorated win
dows and pretty Early English font.
Yet those who raised the new building
have unconsciously y secured the best and
truest monument to George Herbert by
leaving his own little church as sort Of
unaltered memorial, quiet relic of the
seventeenth century, surviving undese-
Grated. Not that the old church is by any
means neglected skilful hands have
adorned its low arches with smblsms and