Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-17
Hon. Paul Edmunds of Virginia
Spends His First Congressional
Sunday in Washington.
From letter Of Mr.. Edmunds in the Halifax
Record

From letter Of Mr.. Edmunds in the Halifax
Record.]
The first Sunday I reached here was a
mild, beautiful day, and my thoughts ma
turally turned to church-going You know,
Johnnie, am fervent Episcopalian, but
as l had heard so much of the miquities OF
little good in me by hearing soul-stlrrlng
Methodist preacher. A stranger in the city
I asked a policeman if he would show me
good Methodist church. Certainly" he
replied, II will show you the church where
Gen. Grant attended when he was Presi-
dent" l was shown the most magnificent
church l have ever seen. All the windows
were stained. and soft, mellow light
within, so shaded that though the sun was
brightly shining without, the gas was lit
near the pulpit. 1t had the largest and
finest organ and magnificent cholr-many
parts of the service were sung-a psalm
was given out and the preacher and congre-
CATION read alternate verses. The preacher
was looking man, who preached from
written manuscript, turning oyer page
after page as he went on with his sermon.
AHALIFAx MAN 8 HESITATION.
just before the sermon collection was
taken up, the deaconS q suppose they were
deacons) carried around concern made OF
mahogany, shaped like the Chinese hat
DR.. Faulkner wore for many years, lined
with blue velvet. Everything was so fine
was hesitating between half dollar and
quarter, and behold, when it reached me
saw in the hat, nearly everybody had put
in five and ten cents, very few as much as
quarter and great many coppers., When
[ saw this l was reminded of what DIR.
Coles told me of dinner he once took at
Mr.. James G. Bruce's. He said the ser
want handed him silver dish and he
helped himself, and when he tasted found
fiat II was turnip salad, and that he was
90 astonished that he almost failed to rec
ognize his old friend that he had been eat
ing every day.
HoNEsT PAUL DISCUSSES THE FASHIONS.
The congregation was splendidly dress
ed and for the benefit of lady friend who
proposes to visit me after Christmas ana
spent several months, and whose NINA mas
been very much exercised as to whether she
must buY new cloak or cut oil the tails OF
her old Seal-skin, l will remark that there
was every yarieey, long and short, with
tails and without tails, and every one
seemed to be fashion unto herselI. L
took careful notice, and this is the truth.
This Sunday morning, not having heard
the soul-stirring discourse [ expected, l
went with MI. Buchanan, of the Ninth
district, and Harry Tucker, of the Tenth
district. to the New York Avenue Presby-
terrain church, and heard. DR.. Bartlett,
distinguished Northern Presbyterian
preacher. He was handsome man, WIN
gray lnoustache, and every appearance OF
Being being we'll kept and fed, 1t was
fine large church, in fashionable part OF
the CITY. To the right of the pulpit was
music stand, and when the hymn was
given out, gentleman, with a wand IN his
hand stepped up facing the eS Songl eeae IN
gallery in the rear of the church, and TINS
man with the baton waved it about and
kept time for the singers. The sermon,
whilst by no means soul-stlrrlng, was l
doubt not exceedingly comforting to
Washington audience and many an old
sinner. His text was 'God is consuming
fire. It was powerful discourse, and
delivered with force and without notes OF
manuscript Of any kind.
Your readers will readily appreciate the
difference, that where expected a spoken
sermon heard one read, and where ex-
pected manuscript sermon heard one
sha Ii look up Rev. Congressman Lester, OF
the Fifth district, and hear something soul
stirring, unless he, too, has fallen into
city habits.
WHY HE MAKES NO XMAS PRESENTS.
NY mind has possibly been drawn from
earthly things by that rascal, Silcott, who
has run away with the members salaries.
He ran away with the monthly salary OF
November Of nearly every member of Con-
gress, and many have had to write home
for funds. Hope am kind-hearted man,
but in Christmas times to run away with a
mans last dollar / hope he may have
taste of the old-fashioned lake that burns
with fire and birthstone Oh well, there's
no unmixed evil even in this world When
remember the promises to the old lady
and the boys and many others Of Christmas
presents, and they know that Silcott has
gone with my last dollar, my brother en-.
dorsing negotiable to get the old man
home, these promises have vanished into
thin air, and now look for presents from
them.