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hour； for the accommodation of such members of the congregation …
and they are not a few … as may happen to have lingered at the
Opera far into the morning of the Sabbath； an excellent contrivance
for poising the balance between God and Mammon； and illustrating
the ease with which a man's duties to both； may be accommodated and
adjusted。 How the carriages rattle up； and deposit their richly…
dressed burdens beneath the lofty portico！ The powdered footmen
glide along the aisle； place the richly…bound prayer…books on the
pew desks； slam the doors； and hurry away； leaving the fashionable
members of the congregation to inspect each other through their
glasses； and to dazzle and glitter in the eyes of the few shabby
people in the free seats。 The organ peals forth； the hired singers
commence a short hymn； and the congregation condescendingly rise；
stare about them； and converse in whispers。 The clergyman enters
the reading…desk； … a young man of noble family and elegant
demeanour； notorious at Cambridge for his knowledge of horse…flesh
and dancers； and celebrated at Eton for his hopeless stupidity。
The service commences。 Mark the soft voice in which he reads； and
the impressive manner in which he applies his white hand； studded
with brilliants； to his perfumed hair。 Observe the graceful
emphasis with which he offers up the prayers for the King； the
Royal Family； and all the Nobility； and the nonchalance with which
he hurries over the more uncomfortable portions of the service； the
seventh commandment for instance； with a studied regard for the
taste and feeling of his auditors； only to be equalled by that
displayed by the sleek divine who succeeds him； who murmurs； in a
voice kept down by rich feeding； most comfortable doctrines for
exactly twelve minutes； and then arrives at the anxiously expected
'Now to God；' which is the signal for the dismissal of the
congregation。 The organ is again heard； those who have been asleep
wake up； and those who have kept awake； smile and seem greatly
relieved； bows and congratulations are exchanged； the livery
servants are all bustle and commotion； bang go the steps； up jump
the footmen； and off rattle the carriages： the inmates discoursing
on the dresses of the congregation； and congratulating themselves
on having set so excellent an example to the community in general；
and Sunday…pleasurers in particular。
Enter a less orthodox place of religious worship； and observe the
contrast。 A small close chapel with a white…washed wall； and plain
deal pews and pulpit； contains a closely…packed congregation； as
different in dress； as they are opposed in manner； to that we have
just quitted。 The hymn is sung … not by paid singers； but by the
whole assembly at the loudest pitch of their voices； unaccompanied
by any musical instrument； the words being given out； two lines at
a time； by the clerk。 There is something in the sonorous quavering
of the harsh voices； in the lank and hollow faces of the men； and
the sour solemnity of the women； which bespeaks this a strong…hold
of intolerant zeal and ignorant enthusiasm。 The preacher enters
the pulpit。 He is a coarse； hard…faced man of forbidding aspect；
clad in rusty black； and bearing in his hand a small plain Bible
from which he selects some passage for his text； while the hymn is
concluding。 The congregation fall upon their knees； and are hushed
into profound stillness as he delivers an extempore prayer； in
which he calls upon the Sacred Founder of the Christian faith to
bless his ministry； in terms of disgusting and impious familiarity
not to be described。 He begins his oration in a drawling tone； and
his hearers listen with silent attention。 He grows warmer as he
proceeds with his subject； and his gesticulation becomes
proportionately violent。 He clenches his fists； beats the book
upon the desk before him； and swings his arms wildly about his
head。 The congregation murmur their acquiescence in his doctrines：
and a short groan； occasionally bears testimony to the moving
nature of his eloquence。 Encouraged by these symptoms of approval；
and working himself up to a pitch of enthusiasm amounting almost to
frenzy； he denounces sabbath…breakers with the direst vengeance of
offended Heaven。 He stretches his body half out of the pulpit；
thrusts forth his arms with frantic gestures； and blasphemously
calls upon The Deity to visit with eternal torments； those who turn
aside from the word； as interpreted and preached by … himself。 A
low moaning is heard； the women rock their bodies to and fro； and
wring their hands； the preacher's fervour increases； the
perspiration starts upon his brow； his face is flushed； and he
clenches his hands convulsively； as he draws a hideous and
appalling picture of the horrors preparing for the wicked in a
future state。 A great excitement is visible among his hearers； a
scream is heard； and some young girl falls senseless on the floor。
There is a momentary rustle； but it is only for a moment … all eyes
are turned towards the preacher。 He pauses； passes his
handkerchief across his face； and looks complacently round。 His
voice resumes its natural tone； as with mock humility he offers up
a thanksgiving for having been successful in his efforts； and
having been permitted to rescue one sinner from the path of evil。
He sinks back into his seat； exhausted with the violence of his
ravings； the girl is removed； a hymn is sung； a petition for some
measure for securing the better observance of the Sabbath； which
has been prepared by the good man； is read； and his worshipping
admirers struggle who shall be the first to sign it。
But the morning service has concluded； and the streets are again
crowded with people。 Long rows of cleanly…dressed charity
children； preceded by a portly beadle and a withered schoolmaster；
are returning to their welcome dinner； and it is evident； from the
number of men with beer…trays who are running from house to house；
that no inconsiderable portion of the population are about to take
theirs at this early hour。 The bakers' shops in the humbler
suburbs especially； are filled with men； women； and children； each
anxiously waiting for the Sunday dinner。 Look at the group of
children who surround that working man who has just emerged from
the baker's shop at the corner of the street； with the reeking
dish； in which a diminutive joint of mutton simmers above a vast
heap of half…browned potatoes。 How the young rogues clap their
hands； and dance round their father； for very joy at the prospect
of the feast： and how anxiously the youngest and chubbiest of the
lot； lingers on tiptoe by his side； trying to get a peep into the
interior of the dish。 They turn up the street； and the chubby…
faced boy trots on as fast as his little legs will carry him； to
herald the approach of the dinner to 'Mother' who is standing with
a baby in her arms on the doorstep； and who seems almost as pleased
with the whole scene as the children themselves； whereupon 'baby'
not precisely understanding the importance of the business in hand；
but clearly perceiving that it is something unusually lively； kicks
and crows most lustily； to the unspeakable delight of all the
children and both the parents： and the dinner is borne into the
house amidst a shouting of small voices； and jumping of fat legs；
which would fill Sir Andrew Agnew with astonishment； as well it
might； seeing that Baronets； generally speaking； eat pretty
comfortable dinners all the week through； and cannot be expected to
understand what people feel； who only have a meat dinner on one day
out of every seven。
The bakings being all duly consigned to their respective owners；
and the beer…man having gone his rounds； the church bells ring for
afternoon service； the shops are again closed； and the streets are
more than ever thronged with people； some who have not been to
church in the morning； going to it now； others who have been to
church； going out for a walk； and others … let us admit the full
measure of their guilt … going for a walk； who have not been to
church at all。 I am afraid the smart servant of all work； who has
been loitering at the corner of the square for the last ten
minutes； is one of the latter class。 She is evidently waiting for
somebody； and though she may have made up her mind to go to church
with him one of these mornings； I don't think they have any such
intention on this particular afternoon。 Here he is； at last。 The
white trousers； blue coat； and yellow waistcoat … and more
especially that cock of the hat … indicate； as surely as inanimate
objects can； that Chalk Farm and not the parish church； is their
destination。 The girl colours up； and puts out her hand with a
very awkward affectation of indifference。 He gives it a gallant
squeeze； and away they walk； arm in arm； the girl just looking back
towards her 'place' with an air of conscious self…