Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-08-04
NOTES BY OBSERVER.

II seems a mighty long time since
,be boys and young men of Shep-
Serdstown used to foregather at the old
"sar rock" a respectable distance
.boye the bridge, and 60 in swimming
cIad in natures habilamentS alone
And how different from the scenes
on the river now, when men, women
snd children congregate at the sand
bsr and all go in together. 1t is true
that thcy wear bathing suits these
days. but there is a question as TO
whether or not there is general gain
in modesty. In those earlier days il
was only a few admittedly goddess
folks and daringly bad boys who
brayed public opinion and went in the
river on Sundays. Now the sheep
and the goats all go in at the same
time and place on the Lords DAY, and
last Sunday a minister of the Gospel
in a public sermon gave what was
practically an endorsement to Sunday
swimming. 1t was a sentiment that
has caused a good deal of discussion,
and there is a decided diversity OF
ocinion upon the subject. Just be-
fore the sermon referred to, the choir
leader had, perhaps unwisely, led the
congregation in the singing of the
quaint old hymn, "Shall we gather at
the river?" There was no suggestion
in the hymn, however, that the gath
ering should be held on Sunday.
opinion recently that Sabbath break
ing is one of the greatest sins of the
present day, and he pointed out the
evils that followed the violations of
this commandment when Gods chosen
people departed from it. He prophe-
sled disaster to our own country TN
less We turn our faces resolutely
against the growing tendency 10 make
Sunlay holiday instead of holy day.
In Cur county the playing of baseball
on Sunday has become common
thing, though it has not been tolerated
in Shepherdstown and we hope may
nevc! be. Business places are kept
open and serve as loafing places for
those who have no inclination for
church going. The Sunday mai
seems now to be ecessity-though
it isn't. A good woman said to OBJ
server a short time ago that she sell
dom got to church any more-she had
so much company on Sunday it kept
her at home preparing for their dinner
or supper and she just couldn't drive
to town to attend church.
Are the churches Of Shepherdstown
and similar country communities
holding their own, as compared with
forty or fifty years ago? Observer be-
heVeS mat they are-and more. We
can see where every church has i'm
proved IN outward appearance, and we
ul'th that the same may be said Of
their spiritual condition. The Episco-
pd' Church, one Of the handsomest
IN this section, has added to its
original site lot of ground that gives
vide space all around, and it has
pcer painted inside and new pipe or
gan installed. The Presbyterian Church,
!ne largest church auditorium in town,
IS most attractive with its modern
painting and decorations, its pipe Or
sah and other Improvements Though
many persons hated to see the quaint
o'a galleries removed, it must be con-
ledel that 1t has been distinct i'm
tIoNenent so far as beauty and COM
Iort are concerned. One Of the most
houceaole church betterments is that
oi me Lutherans. Abandoning the
Viz oarn-like structure they had oc-
euPied for more than hundred wears,
'lelr new edifice is the ideal village
.nurch' .rch' OF pure Norman Gothic archi-
,ec'ure, fashioned from our native
limestone, it is, like Mount Zion, beau
l'ui TOT situation, commanding Won
ucIIu' view of valley and mountain and
stsnIing stream. Its interior is beau
uIul' too, with art glass windows such
ss are not often found in a country
o"h a traveller has said that in Eu-
tsupe' even, he saw few more beauti-
.ui ~ windows than the three in this
tsluIeh' the best of which is Hoffman's
famous picture, Christ in Gethsemane,
uL,Uush .,,t the Alteration Of the Shepherds,
.I W'o' Won Bodenhousen's Madonna as
,e .n central figure, and the Annuncia-
po poi. are both exceedingly handsome
;n no.I' OF the Methodist church build
nnsS nave been beautifed and made
;:.uGh more comfortable and attractive
~ ueSe after days, and, like the others
S ,e kept ~ the best of repair. The Re-
,o,mleo Church, also, has a very at
;nactiVe interior and a most tidy and
noss'lllng ns appearance, and is source
=, much pride to its membership. II
SSs'led ~ a great pity to do away with
w." e qua!nt old stone steps and their
c~..GughtIron railings, which were pc
i,,aIly interesting, but of course the
'""tT StalrWayS are far mora comfort.
aU,e' toy The chime Of bells in the church
is i"vr are feature of the town tina,
Is we'll worth while.
ne forms of worship in the churches
,, I AL much more acceptable and at
.SuVe than they we're a half century
e ~ he people are more liberal
1?htrioutions to benevolences and 70