The Newtown bee., 1904-04-29
DANBURY.


BY THE LATE HENRY COUCH ARTIST. )
 And religion rearS it's altarS.
 God is held in recognition
 God the only One Almighty,
 God, the only Uncreated, Standing in the unknown center
 Of His universe unmeaSured,
 In the midst of worlds unnumbered,
 With His hand within the circle,
 The controlling central circle
 Of His ever rolling systems. God not only in the heavens,
 God the Father of all creatures,
 Father caring for His children,
 Father ever standing near us.
 And the gentle Galilean,
 Blending the divine and human,
 Is accepted as the Savior.
 Man is held a moral being,
 Bound to man in ties fraternal;
 And his soul is held immortal
 All beliefs are tolerated.,
 And all SectS are represented,
 But all live Tn friendly union,
 Seldom drawing swords for battle. Churches gem the busy city,
 And their index spires point heaven
 ward.
 Methodist, Episcopalian,
 UniversaliSt, Disciples,
 Congregational and Baptist,
 And the sons of Ancient Peter
 Dwell in harmony together.
 If each gnaSheS on the other,
 Hide they each their teeth diScreetly. If each cuts and carves his brother, Cut and carve they under cover. To abuse is not the fashion.
 In this valley, fighting Christians Have no place or moral standing.
 If they stab they stab in hiding. There are theoretic spinners Spinning here as spinning elsewhere, Spinning threads of wondrous fineness, TheOlOgic yarn SurpaSSing
 Any Skillful ancient spinning, At which simple Paul and Peter Skillful in their generation
 Would shrink back cOnfOunded. Finest threads are deftly woven Into theologic fabrics
 Which are cut to suit all fancieS: Some cut straight-way, some cutfbias, Large or small to meet occasion, And are kept in stock and suitings, So that any, plain or cultured, Quickly can select garment Fitting his religious notions. IheolOgically speaking, Hairs are split and subdivided Till so fine that sight unaided By sectarian, high-wrought lenses Fails to fully apprehend them. Such IS modern-day improvement In truths old and fundamental That great masters who first taught
 them
 Would scarce know them should they
 meet them. Matthew, Mark, or John, or Peter Scarce would know their simple record Seen in modern explanation; Nor would Paul, that subtle reasoner, Ever recognize the isms Which have grown up from his teach
 ings. Public worship here is honored. On the oft-recurring Sabbath Men assemble in fine churches Temples rich in rich adOrnmentS- COnsecrated to Gods worship, And in concert mingle voices, Or depute their adoration To the priest or Christian teacher. Priests or preachers lead the people n their praise or application, Reading and expounding Scripture In accordance with old usage Honored practice of our fathers. Peaceful day of meditation; Day of sweet associations; Peaceful, restful, holy Sabbath,- Which the Pilgrim Fathers gave us. Planting it when first they planted On our soil the seeds of Freedom, And the saving germs of knowledge, And the germs of pure religion. Ever may they live and flourish On our soil and grow together, Binding all our varied interests With all these we thrive and flourish: Failing these we fall aSunder. And the prayers are loud and many, In this youthful busy city. T)riV f o6 f,,11 Offered as heart applications, Made to suit all times and seasons And all possible occasions prayers to order And they may be charged with feeling, And convey the souls true meaning. There are also prayers recited Which have first mental casting, AS men cast their fine ora ations, Drawn to suit mems critic hearing, And delivered to an audience. SupplicatiOns of such casting, Wlth such careful pre-arrangement; Fill the place they are designed for, Seldom rising much above it. Some rush boldly to their praying, And with confidence aSsail Him With their stormy applications, With their multiplied. petitions. God by oft recounting His OmnipOtent endOwmentS, And his former mighty doings, Pointing out His present duty. Some approach Him as person, With ma terial ears for hearing, Hearing words from human organs, Hearing lOud-vOiced applications, And with eyes to see as men see, Having similar affections, With his pleasure marred or lessened )r his happiness made greater |(V tho Of 11ic ron16ivr By their bad or good behavior; As if puny finite beings Gould detract from or could add to A Aught of infinite perfection. Man cannot enhance the pleasure