Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1890-06-18


Churches in the South.
Bureau of Southern News.
RALEIGH, N. G.
For the NORRIS TRIBUNE.
Among the many questions asked by
people contemplating visit or home
in the South is, "What are church
privileges?" AS rule, church build
ings are quite numerous enough to sup
ply all the needs of the people. But
also as q rule, church privileges are not
as rich and abundant as in the North.
The church organizations in the large
village and cities are strong. They
have handsome, we'll kept buildings and
able men as permanent pastors. But
the churches of the country, OF the
rural districts are quite different. The
buildings. originally plain and inexpen-
sive, generally present venerable and
weather beaten appearance on the out
side, and plain or unfinished and not
over clean appearance for the inside.
Those finished with plaster and paint,
are still very plain; devoid of ornaments,
very often showing the absence of a
sections care. But whatever they be,
small or great; finished or unfinished,
they are the center of the community;
and on preaching Sundays they are
the places where friends and neighbors
meet, to listen respectfully and kindly
to the message of the preacher; and to
exchange those pleasant greetings, and
enquiries after each others health, so
characteristic of the southern people.
The people of the southern states have
an Unborn respect for religion and
religious services. We have never seen
in church in the South, show of that
disorderly conduct, which SO often
annoys the minister and disgraces the
attendants of many best churches in the
North. Here the people are kind and
respectful to the preacher, and kind to
each other. Here are no horse sheds,
to hide boys who should be in Sunday
School, or to cover trades and transac-
tons fit, if fit at all only for week day,
After the service, the people linger out
side, to chat with each other in truly
social manner; but no gossip is retailed
or scandalous stories started andipushed
to a disastrous end. Most country
churches are visited by preachers only
twice in each month some only once.
One result of this limitation OF chnrch
privileges, is good attendance, when
the preacher comes. And what is a
marked difference between churches
North and South, there are likely to be
more men than women in attendance.
The three leading denominations are
Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian.
The Methodists are organized under
the title of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. The separation from
the Methodists Episcopal Church of
America, took place few years before
the Civil war. The Presbyterian
Church is organized under o similar
title, and the separation took place a
few years before the Civil war. Differ
ncee of opinion on the Slavery question
caused these separations. No such
differences now exist, yet the separation
still continues; not only in enmity, but
in the mutual friendly belief that the
circumstances of church work are SO
different, that work can be best done
with the churches now organized.
Wehave referred to the plain, and I'M
inviting appearance of the church build
ings. But whether directed by reason,
by instinct or by an Unborn sense and
love of the beautiful we can not tell; but
one thing is certain, the people build
their churches in the loveliest spots. In
some beautiful grove, IN the deep woods,
or in q dell by spring of clear water;
chapels they are in the great temple of
Nature. Rough and weather beaten
they may be, but they are in harmony
with their surroundings. And when
the eye takes in the whole; the beauties
Of Nature. the mules and horses with
the carriages, tied here and there among
the trees; the time honored building; the
crowd of quiet but happy people; and
Gods glorious sunlight bathing the
whole scene; the thought takes full
possession of the man, that not all gates
to Heaven stand beneath the pointed |
spire and gilded dome; but out in the |
woods, the sun Drowned church, guarded |
by the grand old trees, is gate to
Heaven which stands wide open, and
many enter thereby, J.T.P.
June 10th, 1890.