Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-10-31
A Sabbath at The Metropolis.
BY REV. o. W. SCOTT,


four to eight weeks of recreation and rest
all were fresh for the work, and looked
and preached well.
CDR. Storrs' church is on Remsen stree,
Brooklyn" said my informant at the
Cosmopolitan Hotel. The locality il
reached in due season. via Fulton ferry
and finding the morning service is not
until eleven O'Clock, drop into two Epis
copal Sunday schools near by. holding
their sessions at go These schools are
the st. Aims (Dr. Schenck's) and Trinity
CDR. Chas. Hall's.) Charming rooms, with
all desirable and modern appointments,
but almost devoid OF scholars. The school
is somehow run down." said the Trinity
superintendent. fully agreed with him
What did this scattered attendance signi-
fyP Possibly all were not back from vaca.
tion and yet this would not account for an
audience of 1900 contributing only about
100 to the school. "Pen;y of young men
in the congregation" said the superinten-
dent. Why so few in the bible school
Probably very few parents attend, and the
children take their "cue' religiously and
morally ofIentmes from the example of
their parents and guardians.
St. AIMS school was very "thin," yet a
little better than Trinity. There seemed
to be lack of cordiality here. Your
correspondent received no recognition
from the uperintendent, and of course no
invitation TO "come again"-and he proh-
ably will not. Possibly this high church"
(P) super, may have recognized "dissen-
ter" and so kept aloof.
AT the proper time We are seated in the
"Church of the Pilgrims" roomy s,ruct-
ure, which has been "enlarged" from
time to time as the attendance has required
during the last 80 years. for believe this
is about the length of DR.. Storrs' pastorate
The church has IL seating capacity of
probably 1900. Galleries run across three
sides. Lhe choir is behind and dbove. far
above, the pulpit. At the proper time four
heads appeared above curtained recess,
q quartette, and sang in sort of mechan.
ical and sprtless manner--a sort of un.
feeling performance. The sophrano
could hardly keep her face straight" I"
Something amused her exceedngly-pos.
sibly some joke got off by the sprightly
tenor behind the curtain, just before they
were called "to sing to the praise of God"
The audience was scattered, as many
pews empty as filled. SIS this the average
morning audience of the "church of the
Pilgrims?" I asked-"a little smaller
than usual for morning, but the usual
evening audience is very small" Turning
to the Congregational year book find
that the membership Is 936; and Sunday
school membership 1899. Additions by
profession and letter in 1852, 81. Benev.
olent moneys $l7,261.
The last toll of the bell brings the pas
tor to the pulpit, dressed in a gown. Do
Congregational preachers use "ecclesias.
tical milineryP' The preliminary service
occupied about forty.fve minutes. includ.
ing hymns, psalm service. (responsive)
scripture reading, prayers and several
contribution" from the quartette.
At ten minutes to twelve the texts are
announced as follows: Psalms. 10i;23
"Man gocth forth unto his work and to
his labor until evening"" John 5: II. my
Father worketh hitherto and l work" 1t
was Il brilliant dissertation on Work"
Having just reopened the services after
vacation he evidently desired to inspire
his people with the Importance Of activity
in spiritual. as we'll as temporal matters.
The sermon was one of marked literary
merit. 1t was mentally stimulating. The
rhetoric was captivating, and not supera,
bundant. The sermon was delivered
without note, and yet although he
might be called an extempore speaker, he
is not an extempore thinker. Evidences
of careful thought and arrangement were
plentiful. The great lack in the sermon
was EMOTION DR. Storrs' has been called
brilliant iceburgh." This is overstatipg
it. nevertheless, though there was every
evidence of sincerity and earnestness in
his sermon, yet it lacked "hedYt," if l
may so speak. One of his parishioners
said to your correspondent, as he walked
away from the service, "My boy, who is
fourteen years old, don't like to come to
church, because he says he can't ander-
stand DR.. Storrs."
On! is it not desirable accomplishment
for preacher TO be able TO speak so that
the children and youth can "understand'
him! DR.. Storrs is still In the fullness OF
strength-wiLh florid countenance, gray
side whiskers, not bald, and of medium
height. He is native of New England
AT p. NJ, crossed the threshold of the
fifth avenue Presbyterian church, Rev.
John Hall d. D., pastor. This is evi
IDENTIFY the most spacious and elaborate
church structure on the New York side,
except the Catholic cathedral, which is on
the same avenue. DR.. Halls church cost
81 ,250, 900. 1t will seat 2l00, and every
seat is sold at prices ranging from $500, to
$4,000. Do the rich and poor meet
together, as the prices indicate. The
"poor" are provided for at two different
mission chapels, sustained by this congre.
cation at an expense of $4,000 per year.
The. monies for "current expenses" are
raised by a certain percentage on the |
value of each pew. The pastors salary is |
$4,000. The organ cost $4,000. The
usual galleries are also here seen, and |
every pew taken. was informed that as
many more seats could be disposed of,
were they to be had.
Promptly on the hour the form of very
portly man. n giant in stature is seen
ascending the pulpits, with tho gown
eaveloping his form, and the front adorn. |