The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-06-06
THE HEAVENS ARE TELLING"
An Interesting "Reminiscences of Fh-
ty Years Ago.

The following extract copied FROM a scrap
book, relates an interesting occurrence of
many years ago, which will no doubt be
pleasurably recalled to mind by many OF our
older citizens, and Is especially pertinent
reading just now in view of the coming per-
formance Of the Creation" by our Haydn
Association on Monday evening next:
"On three successive nights In Januasy.
1887, oath, 25th and 26th, the Sacred Music
Society brought out the Creation" In the
Second Parish church. Wednesday, the
25th, was the memorable evening. Just be-
fore the performance light snow had fallen.
shrouding every object In white When the
snow had ceased falling a slight haze veiied
the sky. Such was the condition Of things
when we entered the church. During the
singing OF the last trio and chorus Of the
oratorlo, some one entered the church, and
waiting until the sublime strain:
The heavens are telling the glory OF God,
Ihe wonder OF His works displays the arma-
ment,
very singular aerial phenomenon had oc-
CURED and urged the congregation TO step
outside and behold II. The church was soon
deserted.
The spectacle that was presented to the
eye beggars description. Never before had,
an auroral display Of tlthe Of its extent
and splend0r. From the zenith TO every
point In the horizon there stretched broad
rays OF light, In the perfect form Of tent.
which presented constant waving motion,
as II agitated by a strong breeze. At times
VIC imagined we could hear the rustling Of
those vast Illuminated folds, which were con-
stantly changing their hues from the deepest
TO the most delicate pink, but always retain
Ing their tent-like shape. The newly fallen
snow had caught the hue Of the heavens,
and the earth seemed mantled in a richly
eolOred fleece. Imagine such scene burst
ing on your eyes while your ears still vibrat-
ed and your heart was all agl0w with the
strains Of that magnificent chOrusl IL was
scene that will never be forgotten, we feel
very sure, by those who behed 1t. tine Mu-
sic Prophet had been through his own divine
numbers, singing OF "the glory Of God, dis
e0urslng In his own mastery el0quence Of
the space immense OF azure sky" with nu-
merous hosts Of radiant orbs adorned. clos
Ing with directing us to the tirmament where
In the wonder Of his works" was displayed
when, To- as II in confirmation Of his decla-
nation, the heavens were suddenly robed in
such transcendant beauty and splendor that
the spectator could but gaze In
reyerent awe and wonder. We have
we fear already occupied too much Of your
space, but you must afford us sufficient TO
briefly describe, by way Of contrast the eff
feet Of this display on two who witnessed IL.
The late DIR. Nichols OF the First Parish
church preceded US en- leaving the church.
On arriving at the threshold he cast a mo-
mentary glance on the scene, then, and his
eye kindled and his face grew radient, he
threw up his arms and in tones Of deepest
iIery0r oetraying the profundity Of his emo
tions, exclaimed THE heavens are truly
telling the glory Of Godw A little behind
him followed the minister Of another parish.
Immediately that ho- goa estt OF dOOrs he
tossed back his head, and bobhing II now an
this side and now on that, shouted with true
b0yish glee: Just like stuceo work just
like stuceO work. At another time we
might have smiled at the comparison, but
under the circumstances II appeared very
much like sacrilege. The utteranees were
typical Of the men. There they stood, tho
one lost In ecstaey, his uplifted thoughts
soaring from the finite 10 the Infinite, pass
ing from the visible in quest Of the invisible
glory of Cod; the other smiling and
smirking and chattering about wall-plaster-
ingl