Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-16

covered others that he knew, with surprise
that so many men of unimpeachable posi-
ton in town were there. Here, then, was
stage of development that he had not reck-
oned with; surely it was very respectable
thing to go to church--to this church. at
least-on Sunday mornings. The beW1lder-
ment of reading. and chanting continued,
and he wondered whether there would be
a Sermon at Doctor Morningstar's the ser
mon was the main thing. He remembered
Capt. Wheelocks joke with Raridan that
1.-The Episcopal Church had neither politics
nor religion but it was at least very aris-
tocratic
He stood and seated himself many times.
bowling his head on the seat In front OF
him when the others knelt, and now the
great figure of Bishop Delaf1eld came from
somewhere in the depths of the chancel
and rose in the pulpit. The presence of the
bishop reminded him unpleasantly of the
Porters' sun porch and of the disgraceful
encounter there. The congregation reset
tied themselves in their places with rustic
of skirts and rafting of books into the
racks. 1t was not often that the bishop
appeared in his cathedral; he was rarely in
his see city on Sundays; but whenever he
preached men listened to him. Wheaton
was relieved to find that there was to be
cessation Of the standing up and sitting
down which seemed so complicated
He now found that he could
see the Porter pew easily by turn
ing his head slightly. The roses in
Evelyns hat We're very pretty; he wonder
ed whether she came every Sunday;
he concluded that she did, and he de-
cided that he should attend hereafter.
The bishop had carried no manuscript
into the pulpit with him. and he gave
the pulpit rail. He was an august figure
in his robes and he seemed to Wheaton, as
he looked up at him, to pervade and pos
sess the place. Wheaton had vague idea
of the episcopal Office; bishops were, he
imagined. persons of considerable social
distinction; in his notion of them they
ranked with the higher civil lawgivers. and
We're comparable to m ltary commandments.
In a line with the Porters he could see Cen
eral Whipples white head-al the condi-
tons of exalted responsibility were pres
ent.
And he removed from thence. and digged
another we'll; and for that they s'rove not;
and he called the name of it Rehoboth;
and he said, For now the Lord hath made
room for u.s. and we shall be fruitful in the
land"
For now the Lord hath made room for
us. The preacher sketched lightly the
primal scene to which his text related He
knew the color and Light OF language and
made 1t seem to hts hearers that the Asian
plain lay almost at the doors of the cathe-
dral. He reconstructed the simple social
life of the early times, and followed west
ward the campfires of the shepherd kings.
He built up the modern social and political
structure. with the home as its founda-
ton. before the eyes of the congregation.
broad democracy and human ty domf-
mated the discourse as 1t unfOlded itself.
The bishop hardly lifted his voice: he did
nor rant nor make gestures. but he spoke as
one having authority. Wheaton turned
uneas:ly and looked furtively about. He
had not expected anything SO earnest as
this; there was tenseness in the air that
oppressed him. What he was hear ng from
that quiet old man in the pulpit was with
out the gloss of fashion; 1t was incon-
sonant with the spirit Of the place as he
had conceived 1t. DR.. Morntnsstar's dis
courses on Brownings poetry had been far
more entertaining.
For now the Lord hath made room for
u.s. The preachers voice was even Quieter
as he repeated these words. I'VE are very
near the heart Of the world, here at the
edge OF the great plain. Who OF us but
feels the freedom. the ampler ether. the
diviner air OF these new lands? We hear
over and over that In the west men nay