Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/61

 THE OLD NORTH CHURCH, BOSTON.

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��dancing through the seven-by-nine glass of the seven-by-nine lighted windows, and commenced a conflict for the mastery of the must and mist of ages. On the arched roof over- head were drawn many water- marked maps of time. High galleries, sup- ported by square columns running from floor to roof, environ the front and sides. From the center, sus- pended by heavy iron chains, hung two candle -mounted chandeliers, which, together with the cherubim on either side .of the organ, were taken from a French vessel by the privateer Queen of Hungary, and presented to the church in 1 746, by Capt. Grushea. At the right, over an improvised min- ister's study, stands a marble bust of Washington, which is said to have been the first ever made of the Father of our Country. Lafayette pronounc- ed it a perfect likeness, though it differs very materially from those of a more modern origin. In the rear of the altar are several paintings, among which is one of Christ, an open bible, cherubim, and texts of scripture, to- gether with the Lord's prayer and ten commandments. The service, which is of the Episcopal or English church order, was impressive, save only as it was broken by a curly headed young man going to the rear and informing the sexton that tvv'o young lads, so small that we could scarcely see the crowns of their heads above the high- backed pews, were not giving strict attention to a sermon that dealt with ancient history, Socrates, and the heathen gods. From the angle of their heads, what I could see, I should judge they were looking somewhat higher than the sermon or the preacher, and, together with ourselves, were taking in the surroundings of the his- torical old edifice. Though they made no noise, the sexton, like unto the tything-man of old, paid them a respectful visit, and evidently gave them a word of warning, which, very naturally, they soon forgot, for, so far as we could see, there was no percep- table change in their conduct. The

��minister gave them a stern look, and presently the sexton made his appear- ance in the high vacant gallery, and, like a sentinel stood all through the service, in full view of the observing boys, at whom he shook a threatening finger every now and then. A part of the service, as r.sual, consisted in tak- ing up the collection. Two deacons, quite nged, and one wearing a some- what faded wig. bore about, each, a large silver ]ilate, which we learned was presented, together with the com- munion service, to this church in 1733, by King George the H. Three bright nickels, about all the change we had, which we artistically placed in the center of one of the plates, made quite a re- spectable show.

The service over we were shown the immense royal bible, printed at Oxford in 1716-17, by John Basket, which is noted for its excellent typog- raphy and fine engravings. It is called the vinegar bible, as the title to Luke 20:9 is called the parable of the vinegar. This, together with the communion service, was presented in 1733 by George II. The prayer-book is quite a novelty. It was used before and after the establishment of our independence as a nation. The prayers for the king were pasted over, and the name of the president of the L^nited States written in, together with prayers to correspond. In the study before mentioned is the marble bust of Washington, which, together with the prayer-book with its alterations, plainly indicates that the members of the church, in the trying days of the Revolution, were loyal not only to God but to the thirteen states as well. Several portraits of the early rectors also hang in the study. One of the most noticeable is of Rev. Mr. Worth, who presided for forty-five years.

With several others we made a visit to the tower, through filth, and dust, and dark winding stairways, to the oldest chime of bells in America. They bear the following inscriptions : ist. This peal of eight bells is the gift of a number of generous persons to

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