Page:Bruton parish church restored and its historic environments (1907 V2).djvu/64

 Gentry are assembled, clothed in colonial garb. In voices somewhat animated, and with language not always according to the catechism, they are discussing the Stamp Act, and other usurpations and injustices of the Government. It is a genuine debate, for here forces are very largely divided, and in the crowd are many stout Tories, who are warm in support of the King, and of his representative, his Excellency the Governor. From Raleigh Tavern there comes a group of men who are representatives of the people in the House of Burgesses. Some of them give indication of having been up late the night before. Their faces show very red beneath their flowing wigs of white. They are talking with loud voice and animated gesture. The King finds few advocates among them, and is being roundly abused in a most disloyal way. They calm down as they approach the Church. The Governor's carriage sweeps down the Palace Green and draws up before the door. The service will soon begin. We pass into the Church. In spite of all the care we take, our footsteps resound through the building as we walk down the flag-stone aisle. Passing into a large square pew we close the door and wait. It is difficult to see those in front of us. The pews, we note, were built to encourage reverence rather than observation. There are some things, however, which we can see in spite of the high back pews. We notice that the men sit on the north side of the Church, and the women on the left, and are informed that it is because the Vestry has so ordered it. Mr. Peter Pelham enters, and ascending the "organ loft," begins to play the new organ recently purchased in England for the Church by order of the House of Burgesses. The students from the College of William and Mary enter, attended by one of the Masters, and file into the gallery assigned to them in the south wing of the Church. Among them are a number of young Indians who are being educated and christianized at the college. When the students have all entered, the gallery door is locked, and the key given to the sexton. There is no chance now for them to escape, no matter how long the parson may preach.

By an outside stairway, leading up to the gallery in the north wing, we see the servants of the parishioners enter,