Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-04-18
Personal RecOllectiOns Of Washington
Irving.

1.-THE following extracts are made from
contribution to the Christidn at Work by
Rev. j. Selden Spencer, Tsrry on Hudson,
lrving's former residence !: | can never for
get the embarrassment which first expert
enced in preaching before Washington Irv-
ing. painfully anticipated the criticism of
one who stood in the foremost rank of
American literature, whose chaste and ele-
giant style made him the Addison of our ma
tion. But soon found that there was no
more regular, devout or attentive listener in
the church than he. He sat in his pew,
with his head lightly resting upon his hand,
in the pensive attitude which one of his
portraits now exhibits, and I think with
great fidelity in the likeness. On my first
interview with him at Sunnyside he intro
duced the subject of church music, of which
he was passionately fond. He referred to
the angelic hymn OF the church, the Gloria
in Ercelsis, repeating the words as if they
were the joyful refrain of his own heart,
"Glory be to God on high, and on earth,
peace, good will tow ards men," he ex.
claimed. his eyes filling with tears, and his
voice trembling with emotion, "thst is
religion, Mr.. Spencer, that is true religion for
you" A simple truth enough, you say, but
it assumes vast importance when it be-
comes the devout utterance of the heart.
On another occasion he expressed to me,
with great feeling, the same general
thought, in words which may be classed
with the best and most beautiful he had
ever wrote: ar ,ligion is of the heart, not
Of the head" Sunnyside and Christ church
were both built in the same year, 1886
That sweet, ivy crowned home of Irving,
nesting amid the trees on the banks of the
Hudaop 10 70 IN oil To m NJ nhriat
church parish there is a fascination in the
severely plain church walls within which
Irving so often entered to join in anthems
of praise and humble strains of penitence
and prayer. The ivy upon the church
tower was, as | am told, planted by his
hand, taken from the vine which mantles
Sunnyside, which was originally taken from
the ruins OF Melrose Abbey, and given to
Irving by Sir Walter Scott. Within the
church there still remains his pew, where
many pilgrims 10 this shrine OF Irving's re-
igious life love for moment to sit the
pew is marked with his name, aud was set
apart years ago by the vestry for the use of
any members of the Irving family who
might worship with US, If but for an hour.
As near the pew as it could be placed is q
beautiful mural tablet, erected by the ves-
try TO his memory. 1t is skillfully and
beautifully wrought, aud is in itself poem
in stone. In the center is the Irving coat of
arms, two royal supporters holding shield,
emblazoned with holly leaves, having as a
crest a hand holding bunch Of holly. 1t
became lrving's duty, as one OF the wardens
Of the church, to gather the offerings of the
congregation, or, in common parlanoe, TO
stake up the collection" and he claimed no
right of exemption from what might be sup.
formance. One Sunday, on coming out of
church, he said, his eyes twinkling with
humor, 81 have passed that place so
often up and down the aisle, that | be-
gin to feel like highwayman. feel
M II l could stop man on the road
aud say, your money or your life." In
his conversation, as ip his writings, there