The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-11-06
A SUNDAY IN LONDON.
BY REV. s. Fl. M'CoLLEsTER, d. d.
nn London, August, 1861


nn London, August, 1885,
AS the din of the week becomes
hushed here Saturday night, and the
quiet of Sunday is ushered in, it seems
like passing from chaos into order, from
Babel into solitude. 1t is marvel how
such lull can come to a great city. 1t
is because the temperament here is re-
ligious and the pulse beats in favor of
Christianity. The thousand church ed
ifices of this vast metropolis bear testi-
m0ny of this. Bad men are not won't
to build houses Of worship. The tenn
ple-architecture here glows with faith
in immortality. The influence of Arun-
del, Beckett, Latimer, Cranmer, Butler,
and others, is far-reaching and dissem-
mating. The Wesleys, the Foxes, the
Whitefields, and Murrays have wrought
deeply into the hearts of humanity.
For this reason the first day of the week
in London is quite unlike other days.
Passing upon the street at early morn
ing, one will rarely see living soul.
But at nine o'clock the bells begin to
ring out all over the great city and con-
tinue their Ginning calls till about
eleven, bidding souls hasten to the al
tars Of the living God; the streets
become literally filled with the young
and old pressing their way to their Sum
day homes. 1t is estimated that two
of the five millions of people here at
tend church every Sunday. How varied
the motives prompting them. OF course
some are going to be seen, and others
to see; some to worship in spirit, and
others for mere performances. "A state
religion, perchance, from necessity,
pays more Difference to show than sub
stance. 1t often implies that ''by taste
and not by grace are ye saved"
Here some of the adherents seem to
make the condition Of salvation depend
apparently upon reading the English
liturgy and the London Times. These
SAVIOR of aristocracy and send up a
worldly prayer in behalf of the Queen,
saying, "Grant her in health and wealth
long to live." The English church is
for the gentry, not for the commonality;
accordingly, members in the House of
Commons can boast that they never saw
poor man in rags inside church. 1t
did not found the London University
in which woman stands an equal chance
with man for college honors nor the
free schools and Institutes of England,
which are for the diffusion of general
knowledge. Oxford and Cambridge ex-
clude the poor. The Established Church
believes in ''thou shalt and thou shalt
not" of the Old Testament, thanking
God that it is the church. Its bishops
and prelates, receiving much pay for
little work, while their curates have
much work and little pay, stand with
the aristocracy, preaching and praying
so as to keep them quiet. A state re-
ligion has seldom been progressive, but
conservative. Thus it was with Jerusa-
lem, Athens, and Rome. Here it never
speaks of the places of worship on the
part of the so-called Independents as
churches they are always chapels with
them. But in spite of its class-feeling,
it has wrought wonders in restoring
cathedrals, building churches and dis
tributing charities. Its virtues far out
number its dement's. Asa State Church,
it would seem, it has done its greet
work disestablishment is sure to fol-
low.
Having spent months in London, 1
was forced to write as 1 have, and
trust free from prejudice; and now we
win turn our attention to service in
the City Temple. At eleven o'clock
the great temple is full of intelligent
men and women. All classes are in at
tendance. The pastor, DIR. Parker,
ascends into the pulpit he is a man of
more than ordinary parts. AS 1 OBJ
serve him, l am impressed with feel
ing that he is man of decided ability.
He rises for the invocation all is still !;
his qualities of voice are deep, devout
and tender. The singing is congrega-
tiOnal, however, led by a choir. 1t is
spiritual and full of JUNCTION. The
Scripture lesson is read so as to express
the meaning. The prayer offered up is
remarkable for thought and expression,
thankfulness and sympathy. The theme
of discourse is, 1.-The three friends of
job" The doctor enters into his sub
ject at once, holding up the different
characters in their true light, so that
all can see them and their types as rep