The Contributor

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 49, 3 March 1894, Page 10

The Contributor

A THRIYING CENTRE. FASHIONABLE PRESBYTERIANS.

(Bv W. 11. Mathik.son.)

My last letter left me at Detriot. My next stopping place was Buffalo, one of tlie most thriving manufacturing towns I visited in my tour. It lies at the mouth of the Buffalo River at the eastern end of Lake Erie and the head of the Niagara River, some 12 miles from the falls. The town possesses the largest and finest harhour on the lake, and has a water frontage of over live miles. Its unrivalled position at the foot of the o-reat chain of lakes and the terminus of . several important railway lines gives it great commercial importance, and it is to this more than anything else that the city is indebted for its prosperity. The principal, industries consist of starch, soap, timber, copper, brass, tin* and iron works, and lastly, but by no means least, carriage building. Buffalo has a population of 300,000 and is the third city in the State of New York. It was first settled by the Dutch in 1801 ; it became ah important military post during the war of 1812, and was burned by a combined force of British and Indian troops in 1814. The city is handsomely laid out, the streets are broad and generally lined with trees and are well pared, lighted with electricity. It is decidedly the best drained town I was in in America. Two hundred and thirty-three miles are paved with asphalt, and it contains many magnificent private residences. f saw' fewer signs of poverty here than in any other town I visited. The city has a. supurb system of parks and pleasure grounds. They possess one prominent building (the city and county hall) which w'as completed in 1880. It is built of granite in the form of a double Roman cross with a tower 245 ft. high. Buffalo has several handsome churches. In one I had the pleasure of being in, the pastor is a brother of the President —the Rev. W. Cleaveland — and his church (Presbyterian) was the most fashionable in Buffalo.- My first Sunday on American soil was spent in Buffalo, and a few' notes of the w r av they conduct the Presbyterian church service will be of interest. The church that I visited was most luxuriantly fitted up. The seats w'ere cushioned in green satin cloth, which haimonised well with the dark red of the walnut seats, which were nicelv carved. Those in the centre of the church were of a circular or half-round shape. The roof was a complete circle and plastered. The acoustic properties w'ere therefore of the very best. The pulpit was a most beautiful piece of carving. The organ filled a large recess behind the pulpit. On each side of the organ were two fluted Corinthian columns. The caps were richly carved and relieved and shaded with gold. Tins served as a rich setting for the organ. The oval roof was painted a rich chocolate brown, and the corners Avcre representations of angels. The floor was carpeted over with velvet pile, and all the seats were supplied wdtli hymns books and Bibles. My crude description of this magnificent church conveys but a faint idea of the actual reality. It wars by far the most gorgeous Presbyterian church 1 ever saw. The choir consisted if four male and four female sing-ers

menced by a, voluntary, played by a master hand. The grand harmonies evoked showed that the organ was not put theie for show. While this was being played, the minister entered. He was dressed in plain black (no gown.) The 2ord Psalm was then read by minister and people as in the English Church. After a long prayer and the reading of the lesson, a gentleman sang a beautiful selection. A quartet was now sung hf four male voices, during which ih; collection was taken up. The sermon was read, and was more like an. essay

than a sermon —a cold, passionless discourse —so indeed was the whole service, although from anaesthetic point of view' the service was perfect’ The audience was very fashionable. The majority were young men and maidens. Their parents -were conspicuous by their absence. There was no life in the audience. I could not help thinking of “ wdtited sepulchres.” I did not feel at home there. 1 would sooner have spent an hour with the Salvation Army. Although nly feelings might be shocked by the waxy they mention holy things, they can, to a certain extent, be excused, as being dead in earnest. This congregation did not give me that impression. I left it with the hope that our congregations may never become fashionable —at least in the Avay J understood it that day.