Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-20

THE HAYNE MEMORIAL CHURCH.
The public exercises attending the
opening of the church were solemn and
impressive, and attended by large con-
gregation. The religious services were
conducted by Rev. John Gass, of the
Church Of Atonement, Augusta, Ga.
Never has the memory of poet been
more econspicuously honored. The history
OF literature furnishes no example OF
love and admiration similar to this
unique conception, materializcd In a
form SO suggestive Of the pure ana
exalted character of the man and the
poet whose life and genius this sacred
edifice commentaries
This noble monument to the memory
of Hayne owes its existence to the devo-
tion of an association of ladies at Grove
town, who have been graciously aided in
their labor of love by friends and ad-
mirers of the late poet in all parts of the
country and in Europe; Jean Ingelow,
Blackmore, Swinburne and others in
England; George w. Childs, Whittier,
Holmes and others at the north The
architects plan was accepted and work
begun early in last January, and the edi-
flee, with the exception Of some interior
adornments, stands completed. 1t is one
of the prettiest and most attractive rural
chapels in Georgia 1t is constructed Of
native pine, beautifully polished and
painted. The interior, though plainly
furnished, is a picture of simple grace
and refined taste. The charming sylvan
sanctuary nestles peacefully among the
pines of which the poet has often sung
SO sweetly, and is within short distance
Of the little cottage ut "Copse Hill'' uhe
Rydal Mount of the south), where the
famous poet lived and died. The visitor
is deeply impressed by the restful and
holy calm which pervades the scene, and
one feels that the name of this woodland
shrine, "The Heavenly Rest" was sug-
gested by an inspiration.
A small but highly intelligent and re-
fined congregation now assemble here for
worship, twice every Sunday and twice
during the week. The venerable and
universally beloved widow of the poet,
and her brilliant son, are communicates
and regular attendants. The presence
of Mrs. Hayne and her son at the open
ing exercises added greatly to the i'm
pressiveness of the occasion. The world
knows that the home life of the poet and
his family was an idyl of love and con-
tentment, a communion of exquisitely
refined and delicate souls. In his home
the poet found an unfailing spring for
his purest inspirations. his loftiest poetic
ideals. The music and beauty of his
verse owe their richest charms to the
beauty and the harmony which made this
lowiy and lonely cottage among the
pines Of Georgia the terrestrial ante
chamber of Paradise.
In an eloquent discourse the reverend
speaker formally announced the name
and purpose of the building, as follows:
"The Church of the Heavenly Rest is
built To the glory of God in memory of
Paul Hamilton Hayne, a man beloved,
honored, revered by all who knew him
a man whose gracious influence is not
bound in to this land, but has crossed
the swelling waters of a great ocean and
been potent in foreign lands; above,
beyond all, man whose influence,
whether expressed in life or uttered in
sweet notes, was to the glory of God.
Such influence can never die. Today
his spirit lives in the Church of the
Heavenly Rest.
"ln whose still heights and most ethereal chime
Beauty, and faith and plastic passion meet.
"Of all memorials that will ever be
reared to him in sculptured marble, or
polished brass, or printed book, none
will be SO dear to his purified heart as
this, because it is reared in and for the
glory of his Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. Here the pines and hills made
sacred by his songs are made more
sacred by the presence of a church in his
memory, built upon tho foundation of
Jesus Christ and his Apostles to the glory
of God"
The church is situated Mt prominent
point near the railway station, and is
the most conspicuous ornament of the
pretty village, which takes pride in the
fact that within its precints are found
famous "Copse Hill," as well as the
poets monument, though his dust sleeps
in the cemetery at Augusta.
The ladies of Grovetown are continu-
ing their labors endeavoring to secure
an organ for the chapel and to still far
ther decorate it. No doubt they will
continue TO receive, as heretofore, sub
stantial tokens of affection and esteem
from those who value the memory of
one who, rs "A man and Christian, was
the embodiment of our ideal of a perfect
manhood, and whose genius has in
creased the luster of American literature.
1t is also proposed to place ''memo-
rial window" as u special token Of
honor. above the altar, and Oh which
Mr.. Haynes transdendently beautiful
and pathetic poem, Face to Face" pub
liShed shortly before his death in Har-
pers Magazine, shall lie ideally repre-
sented in the designs. 1t is TO be hoped
that this plan will be consummated.
Imagine the sunshine streaming, in
mellowed glory, through the rich, pris-
matte panes, irradiating each separate
design with "the light that never was on
sea on land, until the spiritual splendor,
the divine soul of the poem, blending
with the sunbeams into one inetfable
tlood of heavenly glory, falls like Wis
ible benediction of God upon altar and
people, causing every face TO shine AS
the face of Moses shone, descending
Sinai's steep, after his interview with
jehovah, and transforming the little
woodland sanctuary into a temple, quiv-
ering and flashing with pentecostal fire.
Let it he remembered, too, that the
poet wrote this poem a<tually 'face 10
face" with Death, gazing into his "un-
Veled" face only to find in it "the light
that is love" 1t is, virtually, the dying
testimony of the poet to the divine power
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