The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-11
written for The spy.l


"Nestor'' is pleased with the cour-
teous correction of single item in his
Hast published paper concerning the
burning of the old Unitarian Church,
made by Charles Sibley, and another
under the signature of "Organist," and
Y the endorsement of it's general correct
mess in everything but the organ. Now
IA "Nestor'' saw the new church at its
( finish and dedication, and he knew the
L old organ had been installed in the
gallery with a new front corresponding
! with the style and character of the
audience room. Soon after he was alb
sent from the city for half dozen
Eyears, during which time the change
described by Mr.. Sibley, as he says,
WAS made and under his careful direc-
tion.
On returning to the city "Nestor's'
memory of the organ in its appearance
and tone was not sufficiently clear to'
detect the substitution. So much, with
I thanks, to Mr.. Sibley, and in explana-
Z ton, for "Nestor'I wants to be correct
K according to the best Of an old mans
4recollections.
4 "Nestor'' was quite a sizeable boy
Y when he came to Worcester in the win
I ter of 1888 He had been reared in
aQuaker community, although not Of a
dQuaker family, and some miles on
every point of the compass from any
/ other meeting Rouse" than the one
where these peculiar and spiritually
minded people gathered for worship on
the first and fifth day" of the week.
He knew of other sects from hearsay,
and a general description of them in a
book of "All Religions" his father had
subscribed for and which he had re-
i fY,4o fV,tn IN
{coming- to- Worcester, where there
lwere seven unfamiliar churches, he
proceeded to visit them in turn and to
make his own observations concerning
Them. He Is free to say that his OBJ
Servations were more of an outward
nature than of a spiritual character.
1Ie wanted to- see how things looked,
and the time of worship he Is afraid
waS passed in looking at things and
noting how one church differed from
another in pew and pulpit, people and
minister He has a very distinct rec
pllection of how each minister looked,
and a very faint remembrance CT
What they said. He can see in his
mind's eye the pomp and circumstance
of the choir masters, but little impress
sion remains of the singing upon his
non-retentive ear.
There were only three organs in the
town,-at the Union Church, the Cen
trail Church and the Unitarian. That
at the Union was the smallest and an
swered it's purpose, but was not a great
faVorite with musical people. That at
the Centre was about the same relative
size of that at the Unitarian,-it had a
more "bulging front and was pref
. tier to look at but when the low-down
and the high-up tones broke forth in
all their vehemence, they could not
4 shake the Westinghouse and the I'M
musical soul of "Nestor' as did the or
gan at the Unitarian,-which in the
great confagration was saved though
as by fire."
To resume from this natural digres-
sion. "Nestor" had been accustomed at
the Quaker meetings at home to Sit
anywhere he pleased on the mems SIDE,
and to wear his hat as the older peo-
pie did, if he felt SO disposed. He
found things different at the Worcester
churches. There was no mems SIDE,
and no eligible free seats except by in
yitation of a pew owner or by favor
of the sexton on the floor Of the house.
The galleries, however, were sparsely
occupied and a casual visitor could
take a place in them, almost any
where without question, and "Nestor
MAS bright enough to observe that boys
Did not wear their hats in these meet
ings So he early began his rounds OF
ing of the new proprieties.
In due time he found his way to the
Unitarian Church. He went early,
which is a good trait in any church
Eoer He went up into the south or
left-hand gallery, as happened to have
been his custom at the other church
IS he had visited, and selected front
6eat about the middle way, and imme-
diately devoted his time to seeing
Kings 1t is singular how habits form
themselves, for from this early begin
ming, in all his long life, 'Nestor,
when obliged to sit in a gallery, mas
never felt at home unless 1t was IN
The left-hand one.
A glance around took in the CALLER
les, organ, pulpit pulpit draperles,
tables of the law, etc. etc. Below were
the roomy, well-furnshed high-doored
.pews and the incoming congregation.
There was comfortable atmosphere
In a friendly sense all around, ana
'Nestor'' felt very much at home, al
though he was among strangers, not
single one of whom he knew. He looked
upon them as men, women and chill
dren. in no sense better or worse than
those he had mingled with in the
Quaker meeting he had been accus-
toned to attend. He did not dream
that he was looking down upon con-
gressmen, ex-governors, judges, law
yers of national repute and others Of
station and rank whom the people de-