The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-01

given expression of my surprise t0 several cIoSens, but the ouiy satisfactory reply ! have got was from a censogicus critic who said It Is American, you know." But really do not believe 1t. The strange admixture-the sudden transition from the lofty elequence of one Of Amesica's greatest orators to the sentimental, not to say silly, exhibitions of actl esses and pre- cccicrs little girls must have been as distaseeful to the feelings of the president of the great republic as it was to the humble individual who had just dropped in from London. The wise man is TO. ported to have said in less civilized age than the present, that there is time tor everything, and there certainly seemed to be some incongruity between Memo rial day" and amusing or even dramatic recitations
 Sunday closely followed. and so went to church. This is English. In my se- lection of place of worship. was not guided by peculiarities of religious be. lief, but by desire to see something pc culiar to the new country. New York did not supply this. had to cross that grand suspension bridge, to the City oi Churches It is very curious circum- stance connected with your churches in New York and Brooklyn, that whilst there is seldom anything outsi1e to indi- cate the special class of theology taught within, for the guidance of the soul, on almost every chapel and church an un- dertaker informs you where you can or der your coffin. A Londoner, piously disposed. does not rove about the streets of New York and Brooklyn on a Sunday in search of a coffin, but in search of church. On the Sunday morning in ques. tion, was strolling down the streets of Brooklyn in search of place of worship when l came upon an inviting brick building upon which was rather tastefully illuminated the name ot Barnum. Bar mum is well known in London. For years he has been celebrated for his baby shows, and now he is chiefly known to every little boy and girl in Great Britain as the great American who robbed them of Jumbo. "Now," said to myself as gazed on that illuminated shield, "it will not be proper for me to visit MT. Bar. num's show on Sunday morning. It is bad enough for one to read the World on Sunday morning, or to travel for five cents by the elevated railway. lmust draw the line somewhere, and 1 draw it at Barnum" But l was mistaken. It was not MT. Barnums show that stood before me it was the church of the Rev
 MT. Talmage. Barnum is merely the name ot Mir. Talmage's undertaker-the enterprising individual who keeps the key of the church, sweeps out the pews, and makes the coffns for the people As Mir. Talmage did not preach that morn. ing, the church was almost empty. But at Plymouth church heard the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. MT. Beecher is grand old man." His sermon was truly eloquent But it was the first time in my life that ever saw a congregation laugh, and laugh as though they enjoyed it, in church. expressed my surprise to gentleman seated in my pew He re- piled {" You see we are happy family
 We do as we like in Plymouth church. ? "Yes," l replied, it seems so." To criticise Mir. Beecher sermon would in- volve religions discussion, which is not the object of the present sketch. h the afternoon decided to attend the Episco. pal cathedral in New York, but my land lord informed me that there is DO Epis- copal cathedral in New York. The nearest approach to it is Trinity church where was surprised to find but small congregation, although the service was very we'll rendered. Thereligious atmos- phere of the place presented a pleasing contrast to that of Plymouth church in the morning. "Ah!" said my censorious critic { who is an Episcopalian "at Beecher's church the people go to listen
 and to laugh here at Trinity we come to worship and to pray" "You are quite right" said, "but Plymouth church seems more popular" In the evening attended Grace chapel, where l heard a good, practical sermon from the clergyman in charge. There was no evening service at Grace church or l should have gone there, for it is a strik- ing monument to the hberality of well known benefactress of whose generous gifts we have often heard in London.
 My desire to attend a cathedral service was soon gratifed, for l was present at the opening of the new cathedral at Gar den City. It was most impressive ser vice and the sermon preached by Bishop H. C Potter was very striking one. The bishop attempted to justify the erection of the cathedral in what is, at present a mere distant suburb of New York. But while could not but imire the gener- osity of the lady who mad built this noble monument to the memory of her hus- band, could not help asking: "Why was no, this cathedral erected in the very centre of that great city in which Mir A. I. Stewart made his money9" it would then have supplied for New York what St. Paul's cathedral supplies for Lond on-a great national institution in which God is glori6ed and man is taught. The calm dignity of the proceedings at Garden City on June ?. presented strik- ing contrast, in my mind, to the strange admixture of solemniiy and frivollty which had witnessed only a few days previous in the Academy of Music on Decoration day. l am not a play-goer. My tastes and inclinations are not in that direction. Still, in order to stsdy New York visited the Riiau oaeya hou se and