CHAPTER XVI.

CHURCH BUILDINGS IN AMERICA.

Erroneous ideas in England.-Real condition of Church edifices. -Variety of places of worship.-Scene in an arbour at Gambier. — Log-church. — Village Churches.— Organs. Pulpit and Desk.-Altar and Font.-Pews.-Sign of the Cross. -Christmas decorations.-Parsonages.-Burial grounds.City churches.-Western churches.-Splendid decorations.— Church Building Society.

Ir is, I believe, a common impression in England that the places of worship in America are almost entirely of a temporary description, and that little expense is bestowed upon their erection or embellishment. Such, at least, were my own ideas previous to crossing the Atlantic; and my surprise was considerable when I found myself mistaken. The architecture of churches and meeting-houses improves, at least, in an equal ratio with that of the private dwellings. So long as all the tenements in a village are log-cabins, a log-church may naturally

be expected. But when the industrious inhabitants have erected more convenient abodes; when the frame building and the brick mansion occupy the site of the former contracted domicil, a corresponding and frequently a superior degree of improvement may be traced in the houses of worship. As the place advances in wealth and population, the churches assume a more imposing and ornamental appearance. The Gothic tower and the Grecian portico begin to arrest the attention, the organ performs its part in softening the feelings and correcting the taste, and hundreds of thousands are expended where a few hundreds were formerly considered a sufficient outlay. Yet in different parts of the United States different feelings and habits prevail in regard to this subject. The New Englanders, and their descendants in the west, pride themselves not more on their showy and convenient dwellings, than on their elegant, neat, and commodious churches. The Virginians and their offspring, on the other hand, are less attentive to external appearances. They are willing to reside for years in the most ordinary habitations, provided they can furnish a comfortable interior and an abundant table. Hence in the south and southwest the churches possess few architectural pretensions, but the clergy who occupy them are the more liberally supported and the more punctually paid.

Of places of worship there is an almost endless diversity. The Methodists and Baptists on extraordinary occasions conduct their devotions at campmeetings in the depths of the forests. A square of perhaps 200 feet is cleared from all underwood, and covered with rough benches formed of split logs. Around this square are erected a number of canvas tents, or temporary log-houses, and at one side is a large platform for the preachers, connected with a shed provided for their accommodation. Within the area the lofty aboriginal trees are allowed to stand, and at each corner tripods or similar contrivances are erected, upon the top of which large fires burn by night at the elevation of five or six feet above the ground. Such places of worship are truly romantic, and in the hot weather of summer would afford delightful occasional retreats, but for the wild enthusiasm which too often actuates the assembled multitudes.

Camp-meetings, as such, are never held by Episcopalians. Yet occasionally, for want of a church, our services are performed in the open air, and I recollect with pleasure an interesting occasion of this kind in Delaware county, Ohio. The place of worship was a beautiful orchard, and the time was the month of May, when the abundant blossoms of the apple and the peach filled the air with their delicious odour. A table for the communion was

placed on the green grass and covered with a cloth of snowy whiteness. Adjoining the rustic altar, a little stand was erected for the clergyman, and a number of benches were provided for the congregation. A large number of persons attended, who behaved with the strictest decorum and propriety. Besides the service for the day, baptism was administered by the missionary to three or four adults, a stirring extempore sermon was delivered, and the Lord's Supper completed the solemnities.

I happened to be witness of a curious scene in a similar place of worship near Kenyon College. It was the time of the annual convention of the diocese of Ohio, and the clerical and lay delegates assembled at Gambier. It was also the period appointed for the annual commencement of the college, and a great gathering of the neighbouring population was expected. Rosse chapel being incomplete, there was no room in Gambier sufficiently capacious for the occasion, and accordingly a large arbour was erected for temporary service. It was formed of a number of poles fixed in the earth, united at the top by cross pieces, and covered with a profusion of green boughs. The sides were protected in a similar manner, and thus a complete chapel was formed about sixty feet square. On a platform, at one extremity, was a pulpit and a communion table, and the rest of the

area was occupied by benches. The convention assembled and was duly organized, after which morning service was performed, and Bishop Chase proceeded to read his episcopal address in the presence of

a numerous congregation. In the course of this address, he animadverted severely on the conduct of the Rev. Mr. West, in respect to his agency in England in behalf of Kenyon College. Just as the condemnatory expressions were about to issue from his lips, a tall figure in black was seen gliding behind the boughs, and Mr. West himself, who was supposed to be at least a thousand miles distant, quietly entered the arbour, and unobserved by most of the assembly seated himself in front of the bishop. Bishop Chase not perceiving him continued his address, and at the conclusion was about to give out a hymn, when, to the surprise of all, Mr. West stood up, and requested that a copy should be furnished him of that part of the address relating to himself. The bishop complied with his request, and on the following day Mr. West was heard in his defence. It will be recollected that the same Mr. West afterwards asserted his Episcopal character on the ground of an alleged consecration by Bishop Chase, and made some ineffectual attempts, near Liverpool, to produce a schism in the Church of England. He has since been suspended from the performance of the clerical office.