Year: 1878




with him, and, while 1t was not pleasant
to think that he was not to stand up and
speak on the Lords side as his wont was,
yet 1t was pleasant TO be about to hear
those speak who could do IL loudly and
well. so that many were helped thereby.
SO at ten he sailed forth. Crossing the rail-
road track where the large iron bridge is
building, the Elder came to the heart OF
the Back Bay" What Church Green
was to old Boston the region about the
junction Of 81. James and Huntington
Avenues is TO the new. Here is the peau-
tiful Art Museum with its many-colored
marbles outside and its wealth of beauty
inside. But especially here cluster beau
tiful churches. Not far from here are the
First Church (Rufus Ellis,) the Arlington
St, where DIR. Claiming preached the i'll
fated new church of the Brattle St. Society.
all Unitarian, the Central Orthodoxy and
Emmanuel (Epscopalian.) But just here
are the new buildings of the Old South
Society, with It's graceful tall tower, the
Second Church (Unitarian,) with per-
haps the most beautiful interior In the city,
and especially Trinity, with its massive red
tiled tower and its magnificent interior
II was not pleasant day as to weather.
but 1t was exceedingly pleasant to see the
throngs Of people with fine cultured faces.
going TO the different churches, and 10 hear
the bells ringing out on every side their
~ Ina ffati hA. 81
sweet chimes OF the Arlington st. steeple.
The very flower OF Boston refinement
seemed blooming in these faces, buildings.
and sound. II was worth something to be
marked TO his wife, as they looked up to
the solid magni1cence OF Trinity, Cost
three quarters Of million, Money thrown
away" He probably meant that It should
sounded like a modern echo OF the words
spoken SO long ago, ITO what purpose
is this waste. For this ointment might
have been sold for much. and given to the
poor" And 1t deserved the same rcbuke.
Who shall say how far the beautiful shall
be cultivated: Had not that man paper on
his walls and a bright carpet on his floor,
and more expensive parlor than he need
ed: Money thrown away, Why should
he indulge in such things while the poor
are hungry or naked? Why that linen col
lar! 1t was not necessary to keep him
warm. Why that overcoat of beaver, when
one costing half As much would be as com
Portable: It was the same taste, the same
love OF the beautiful as made him decorate
his house and his own not over handsome
person, which reared tho churches 1t
was but carrying to the house of igiou
the same style OF living as the conerega-
too, If there is any place where beauty is
becoming. 1t is there where the brightest
interests of HE are considered and cult
waited. And yet again, such poems in store
are genuine blessing to the community
in which they stand, not only as testimo-
mails to the power of religion over the
purse and the respect which that implies,
but as an eevating and beaUtifying inhu-
ence upon the lives of the passing or the
around dwelling crowds. To build such
churches and to pay for them is grand
thing. II is bad only when they are ambl-
tious beyond the power 10 pay. The Elder
would warrant that that criticsing man
not only did not waste his money on
churches, bu. also that he did not waste il
on the poor either, for some little observa-
ton has shown him that remarks of this
Kind generally come from that kind OF
persons. 1t frets them to see generosity
because they are SO accustomed to their
own parsimony.


Having relieved his mind to this extent.
into Emmanuel Church. This was built for
Mr.. Huntington when he became an Epis-
copalian. II was then considered very
elegant, but now looks rather dngy.
Though it was broad day, the gas was lit
all over the house. The congregation had
been growing there since Phillips Brooks
moved Into the nei.hborhood, but for the
last year it has been flowing back. The
attraction is Rev. Leighton Park, the new
minister. The Elder had heard great
deal of him, but had TO coufess himself
disappointed. Mr.. Park has fine voice,
and his enunciation has evidently had much
cultivation. Too much, perhaps. for voice
and articulation force themselves on the
ear so persistently, as 10 draw off the al
tention from what is aid. 1t is like look
ing through a figured window pane, e,-what
should be only medium, and itself unno-
ticed, really interferes with what it was
meant TO show. An undue amount Of en-
phasis from beginning 10 end and great
profusiOn of gesture are also tiresome.
Throughout one has the feeling of great
self consciousness behind the sermon
of the sermon, found himself wondering
what it was all about. Still Mr.. Park
seems to attract many, aud those too of
the very best people. though many seemed
near the Elder in the gallery, was intensely
absorbed in the sermon. When the preach.
er began an unusually strong sentence, he
would be erect, but as ii went on To its eli
max, he would lean farther and farther
forward, till at the close he was almost on
the point of falling over the edge Of the
gallery. Then, as the sentence ended. he
would come back with jerk, like the blade
Of jackknife, to begin again.


1t was great contrast to pass from the
dinginess of Emmanuel to the new magni-
hcence of Trinity, and the contrast is as
great between the preachers. Mr.. Park
is q trained elocutionist and seems to know
it. Mr.. Brooks is not only not trained but
has most grievous faults. He speaks so
fast that it is often impossible to hear what
he is saying, especially when he trips up,
as he often does at the beginning of his
sermon. and stammers till those who do
not know him are inclined to laugh. 1t is
said that he has often been urged to have
some instruction. but he has constantly