Then，too，itmustbeconfessedthatsomeoftheweekdayprayersmadebylayprofessorslentthemselvesrathertooeasilytoparody。Oneofmyclassmates——sinceknownasagraveandrespectedjudge——wasespeciallygiftedinimitatingthesepetitions，withtheveryintonationsoftheirauthors，andtheseparodieswereingreatdemandonfestiveoccasions。Thepetphrases，thechoicerhetoric，andtheimpressiveoratoryoftheseprayerswerethusmadesofamiliartousincaricaturesthattheoriginalswerelittleconducivetodevotion。
TheinfluenceatYaleofmenlikeGoodrich，Taylor，Woolsey，andPorter，whomIsawintheirprofessors’chairs，wasindeedstronguponme。Irespectedandadmiredthem;buttheirpurelyreligiousteachingtookbutlittleholdonme;IcanrememberclearlybuttwoorthreesermonswhichIheardpreachedinYalechapel。Onewasatthesettingupofthechapelorgan，whenHoraceBushnellofHartfordpreacheduponmusic;andanotherwaswhenPresidentWoolseypreachedabaccalaureatesermonupon"RighteousAnger。"
Thefirstofthesesermonswasverybeautiful，butthesecondwaspowerful。Ithashadaninfluence——and，Ithink，agoodinfluence——onmythoughtsfromthatdaytothis;anditoughttobepreachedineverypulpitinourcountry，atleastonceayear，asanantidotetooursickly，mawkishlenitytocrimeandwrong。
InthosedaysconformitytoreligiousideaswascarriedveryfaratYale。Onweek—dayswehadearlyprayersataboutsixinthemorning，andeveningprayersataboutthesamehourintheafternoon;butonSundayswehadnotonlymorningandeveningprayersinthechapel，butmorningandafternoonserviceatchurch。IattendedSt。Paul’sEpiscopalchurch，sittinginoneofthegallerypewsassignedtoundergraduates;butcannotsaythatanythingthatIheardduringthisperiodofmylifeelevatedmeespecially。IjoinedinthereadingofthePsalter，inthesingingofthechantsandhymns，and，occasionally，inrecitingpartofthecreeds，thoughmoreandmorethislastexercisebecamepeculiarlydistastefultome。
Timehasbutconfirmedtheopinion，whichIthenbegantohold，that，ofallmistakenusagesinachurchservice，themostunfortunateisthisdemandwhichconfrontsamanwhowouldgladlyunitewithChristiansinChristianwork，and，inaspiritofloyaltytotheBlessedFounderofChristianity，wouldcheerfullybecomeamemberofthechurchandreceivethebenefitofitsministrations;——thedemandthatsuchamanstandanddeliveracreedmadenooneknowswhereorbywhom，andofwhichnohumanbeingcanadjustthemeaningstomodernknowledge，orindeedtohumancomprehension。
Mysympathies，tastes，andaimsledmetodesiretoenterfullyintothechurchinwhichIwasborn;therewasnootherpartoftheserviceinwhichIcouldnotdomypart;buttostandupandrecitethecreedsinalltheirclauses，honestly，Icouldnot。I
hadcometoknowonwhatslenderfoundationsrested，forexample，thedescentintohell;and，astothevirginbirth，myreadingshowedmesoweakabasisforitintheNewTestamenttakenasawhole，andsomanysimilarclaimsmadeinbehalfofdivinefoundersofreligions，thatwhenIreflecteduponthereasonsforholdingthedoctrinetobeanaftergrowthupontheoriginallegend，itwasimpossibleformetogoonloudlyproclaimingmybeliefinit。SometimesIhaverefrainedfromrecitinganypartofthecreed;butoften，inmyreverenceforwhatIadmireintheservice，inmyloveforthosewhomIhaveheardsodevoutlytakepartinitindaysgoneby，andinmysympathywiththoseaboutme，IhavebeenwonttodowhatIcould，——havejoinedinrepeatingpartsofit，leavingoutotherpartswhichI，atleast，oughtnottorepeat。
Variousthingscombinedtoincreasemydistrustfortheprevailingorthodoxy。Ihadapassionforhistoricalreading，——indeed，atthattimehadprobablyreadmoreandthoughtmoreuponmyreadingthanhadmostmenofmyageincollege，——andthemoreIthusreadandthought，themoreevidentitbecametomethat，whilethesimplereligionoftheBlessedFounderofChristianityhasgoneonthroughtheagesproducingthenoblestgrowthsoffaith，hope，andcharity，manyofthebeliefsinsisteduponwithinthechurchasnecessarytosalvationweresurvivalsofprimevalsuperstition，orevolvedinobediencetopaganenvironmentorJewishhabitsofthoughtorGreekmetaphysicsormediaevalinterpolationsinoursacredbooks;thatmostofthefrightfulsystemsandeventsinmodernhistoryhavearisenfromtheologicaldogmatism;thatthelongreignofhideouscrueltyintheadministrationofthepenallaw，withitstorture—chambers，itsburningsofhereticsandwitches，itscrueltiesofeverysort，itsrepressionofsomuchofsanehumaninstinctandnoblehumanthought，arosefromthissource，directlyorindirectly;
andthatevensuchghastlyscenesasthoseoftheFrenchRevolutionwereprovokedbyanaturalreactioninthemindsofapeoplewhomthechurch，byitstheoryofdivineretribution，hadeducatedforagestobecruel。
Butwhatimpressedmemostdirectlyasregardsthewholeorthodoxpartofthechurchwasitsvirtualsupportofslaveryinthecrisisthenrapidlyapproaching。Excellentdivines，likeBishopHopkinsofVermont，theRev。DrParkerofNewJersey，andothersholdinghighpositionsinvarioussectsthroughoutthecountry，havingbasedelaboratedefensesofslaveryuponScripture，thechurchasawholehadacquiescedinthisview。Ihadbecomebitterlyopposed，firsttotheencroachmentsoftheslavepowerinthenewTerritoriesoftheUnitedStates，andfinallytoslaveryitself;andthisalliancebetweenitandorthodoxydeepenedmydistrustofwhatwasknownaboutmeasreligion。Asthestrugglebetweenslaveryandfreedomdeepened，thisfeelingofmineincreased。Duringmyfirstyearatcollegethefugitive—slavelawwaspassed，andthisseemedtometheacmeofabominations。Therewere，itistrue，afewreligiousmenwhotookhighgroundagainstslavery;buttheseweregenerallyNewEnglandUnitariansormembersofotherbodiesrejectedbytheorthodox，andthisfactincreasedmydistrustofthedominantreligion。
Someyearsbeforethis，whileyetaboypreparingforcollege，I
hadmetforthefirsttimeaclergymanofthissort——theRev。
SamuelJosephMay，pastoroftheUnitarianchurchinSyracuse;
andhehadattractedmefromthefirstmomentthatIsawhim。
Therewasabouthimsomethingverygenialandkindly，whichwonawaytoallhearts。ThoughIknewhimduringmanyyears，henevermadetheslightestefforttoproselyteme。Toeverygoodworkinthecommunity，andespeciallytoallwhoweredown—troddenoroppressed，hewassteadfastlydevoted;theOnondagaIndiansofcentralNewYorkfoundinhimastanchallyagainsttheencroachmentsoftheirschemingwhiteneighbors;fugitiveslavesknewhimastheirbestfriend，readytoriskhisownsafetyintheirbehalf。
AlthoughhewasthesonofanhonoredMassachusettsfamily，agraduateofHarvard，adiscipleofChanning，amanofsincerecharacterandelegantmanners，hewasevidentlydreadedbythegreatmajorityoftheorthodoxChristiansabouthim。IrememberspeakingtohimonceofaclergymanwhohadrecentlyarrivedinSyracuse，andwhowasanexcellentscholar。SaidMr。Maytome，"Ishouldliketoknowhim，ifthatwerepossible。"Iasked，"Whynotcalluponhim？"Heanswered，"Iwouldgladlydoso，butdoyousupposehewouldreturnmycall？""Ofcoursehewould，"I
replied;"heisagentleman。""Yes，"saidMr。May，"nodoubtheis，andsoaretheotherclergymen;yetIhavecalledonthemastheyhavecome，andonlytwoorthreeofthemallhaveeverenteredmyhousesince。"Orthodoxfanaticscametoremonstrateandpraywithhim，butthesehegenerallyovercamewithhissweetandkindlymanner。Toslaveryhewasanuncompromisingfoe，beingcloselyassociatedwithGarrison，Phillips，andtheleadersoftheantislaverymovement;andsoIcametoseethattherewasasidetoChristianitynotnecessarilyfriendlytoslavery:butI
alsosawthatitwasasidenotwelcomedbythechurchesingeneral，andespeciallydistrustedinmyownfamily。Iremembertakingtohimonceanoldfriendofmine，amanofmostsevereorthodoxy;andafterwehadleftMr。May’shouseIaskedmyfriendwhathethoughtofthekindlyheretic。Heanswered，"Thoseofuswhoshallbesofortunateastoreachheavenaretobegreatlysurprisedatsomeofthepeoplewearetomeetthere。"
AsaYalestudentIfoundanadditionaladvantageinthefactthatIcouldnowfrequentlyheardistinguishedclergymenwhoweremoreorlessoutsidetheorthodoxpale。OftheseweretheliberalCongregationalistsofNewYork，Brooklyn，andBoston，and，aboveall，HenryWardBeecher，EdwinChapin，andTheodoreParker。AtvarioustimesduringmycollegecourseIvisitedBoston，andwastakenbymyclassmateandoldfriendGeorgeWashburnSmalleytohearParker。Hedrewimmensecrowdsofthoughtfulpeople。Themusic—hall，wherehespoke，containedaboutfourthousandseats，andateachvisitofmineeveryseat，sofarasIcouldsee，wasfilled。BothParker’sprayersandsermonswereinspiring。Hewasadeeplyreligiousman;probablythemostthoroughAmericanscholar，orthodoxorunorthodox，ofhistime;devotedtothepublicgoodandanintensehaterofslavery。Hisinfluenceovermythinkingwas，Ibelieve，excellent;hisbooks，andthoseofChanningwhichIreadatthistime，didmegreatgoodbycheckingallinclinationtocynicismandscoffing;morethananyotherpersonhestrengthenedmytheisticideasandstoppedanytendencytoatheism;theintenseconvictionwithwhichmenlikeChanning，Parker，andMayspokeofaGodintheuniversegaveadirectiontomythinkingwhichhasneverbeenlost。
AstoBeecher，nothingcouldexceedhisboldbrilliancy。Hewasamanofgenius;evenmoreapoetthananorator;insympathywitheverynoblecause;andutterlywithoutfearofthepew—holdersinsidehischurchorofthemoboutside。Heresy—huntersdidnotdaunthim。Humorplayedovermuchofhissermonizing;witcoruscatedthroughit;buttherewasattimesapathoswhichpervadedthedeepplacesofthehumanheart。Byvirtueofhispoeticinsighthesoundeddepthsofthoughtandfeelingwhichnomeretheologicalreasoningcouldeverreach。Hewasaman，——indeed，agreatman，——buttotheendofhislifeheretainedthefreshnessofyouth。GeneralGrant，whogreatlyadmiredhim，oncesaidtome，"Beecherisaboy——agloriousboy。"
Beecher’sloveofnaturewasapassion。DuringoneofhisvisitstoCornellUniversity，Iwasdrivingthroughthewoodswithhim，andhewasinthefulltideofbrilliantdiscoursewhen，suddenly，hegraspedmyhandwhichheldthereinsandsaidperemptorily，"Stop！"Iobeyed，andallwasstillsavethenoteofabirdintheneighboringthicket。Ourstopandsilencelastedperhapsfiveminutes，whenhesaid，"Didyouhearthatbird？Thatisthe————（givinganameIhaveforgotten）。Youareluckytohavehimhere;Iwouldgiveahundreddollarstohavehimnestasnearme。"
Duringthisvisitofhistomyhouse，Irememberfinding，onemorning，thathehadbeenoutofdoorssincedaylight;andonmyexpressingsurpriseathisrisingsoearlyaftersittingupsolate，hesaid，"Iwantedtoenjoythesquirrelsinyourtrees。"
Wonderful，too，washisfacility，notmerelyinpreaching，butinthinking。When，onanothervisit，hestayedwithme，hetooknothoughtregardinghissermonattheuniversitychapel，sofarasonecouldsee。Everywakingmomentwasfilledwiththingswhichapparentlymadepreparationforpreachingimpossible。Ibecamesomewhatnervousoverthisneglect;for，sofarasIcouldlearn，hehadnothingwritten，heneverspokefrommemory，andnotonlythestudents，butthepeoplefromthewholecountryroundabout，werecrowdingtowardthechapel。
Uptothelastmomentbeforeleavingmyhouseforthemorningservice，hediscussedthebestshrubsforplantingthroughoutourgrovesandwoods，andthebestgrassestouseingettingagoodturfupontheuniversitygrounds。But，onleavingthehouse，hebecamesilentandwalkedslowly，hiseyesfixedsteadilyontheground;andasItookitforgrantedthathewascollectinghisthoughtsforhissermon，Iwascarefulnottodisturbhim。Aswereachedthechapelporch，avastcrowdinwaitingandtheorganpealing，hesuddenlystopped，turnedround，liftedhiseyesfromtheground，andsaid，"Ihavebeenstudyingyourlawnallthewaydownhere;whatyouneedistosowKentuckyblue—grass。"Thenheenteredthechapel，andshortlywasinthemidstofasermonevidentlysuggestedbytheoccasion，hiswholemanuscriptbeingafewpencilingsonasheetortwoofnote—paper，alltherestbeingextemporizedinhisbestvein，bothastomatterandmanner。
Chapin，too，wasbrilliantandgifted，butverydifferentineveryrespectfromBeecher。Hiswaywastoreadfrommanuscript，andthen，fromtimetotime，toriseoutofitandsoaraboveit，speakingalwaysforciblyandofteneloquently。HisgiftofpresentingfiguresofspeechsothattheybecamevividrealitiestohisaudiencewasbeyondthatofanyotherpreacherIeverheard。Givingonceatemperanceaddress，andansweringtheargumentastothelossofpropertyinvolvedintheconfiscationofintoxicants，hesuddenlypicturedabalanceletdownfromthehandoftheAlmighty，inonescaleallthelucrelost，intheotherallthecrimes，thewrecks，themiseries，thesorrows，thegriefs，thewidows’groansandorphans’tears，——untilweabsolutelyseemedtohavethewholevast，terrificmassswayinginmid—airbeforeus。
Onanotheroccasion，preachingfromthetext，"Nowweseethroughaglassdarkly，butthenfacetoface，"hepresentedthepictureofamaninhislastillness，seeingdimly，throughahalf—transparentmedium，thefaint，dimoutlineoftheDivinitywhomhewassorapidlynearing;andthen，suddenly，death，——theshatteringoftheglass，——andtheman，ontheinstant，standingbeforehisMakerandseeinghim"facetoface。"Itallseemspoorwhenputuponpaper;but，ashegaveit，nothingcouldbemorevivid。Weseemedtohearthesuddencrashofthetranslucentsheet，andtolookfullintothefaceoftheAlmightyloomingupbeforeus。
ChapinwasaUniversalist，andhismostinterestingparishionerwasHoraceGreeley，whosehumanitarianideasnaturallyinclinedhimtoaverymildcreed。Asyoungmen，strangerstothecongregation，wereusuallyshowntoseatsjustinfrontofthepulpit，IcouldeasilyseeMr。Greeleyinhispewonasideaisle，justbehindthefrontrow。Hegenerallystalkedinratherearly，thepocketsofhislongwhitecoatfilledwithnewspapers，and，immediatelyontakinghisseat，wenttosleep。Assoonasservicebeganheawoke，lookedfirsttoseehowmanyvacantplaceswereinthepew，andthen，withoutaword，putouthislongarmintotheaisleandwithoneortwovigorousscoopspulledinasufficientnumberofstrangersstandingtheretofillallthevacancies;then——hesleptagain。Indeed，hesleptthroughmostofthewrittenpartsofDr。Chapin’ssermons;butwhenevertherecameanythingeloquentorespeciallythoughtful，Greeley’seyeswerewideopenandfixeduponthepreacher。
Greeley’shumanitarianismwasnotalwaysproofagainsttheirritationsoflife。Inhisnotinfrequentoutburstsofwrathhewasverylikelytoconsignpeoplewhovexedhimtoaregionwhich，accordingtohiscreed，hadnoexistence。
Astorytoldofhiminthosedaysseemedtoshowthathiscreeddidnotentirelysatisfyhim;foroneday，whenhewastrying，inspiteofnumberlessinterruptions，towritea"Tribune"leader，hebecameawarethatsomeonewasstandingbehindhischair。
Turningaroundsuddenly，hesawamissionarywellknowninthecityslums，——theRev。Mr。Pease，——andaskedinhishighest，shrillest，mostcomplainingfalsetto，"Well，whatdoYOUwant？"
Mr。Pease，akindly，gentle，apologeticman，saiddeprecatingly，"Well，Mr。Greeley，Ihavecomeforalittlehelp。WearestilltryingtosavesoulsintheFivePoints。""Oh，"saidMr。Greeley，"goalong！goalong！Inmyopinion，thereain’thalfsomanymendamnedasthereoughttobe。"
ButthoughChapin’sinfluencedidnotrestrainGreeleyatalltimes，itundoubtedlydidmuchforhim，anditdidmuchforusoftheyoungergeneration;foritnotonlybroadenedourviews，butdidsomethingtobetterourheartsandraiseouraims。
InthismentionoftheforceswhichacteduponmyreligiousfeelingsIoughttoincludeoneofasomewhatdifferentsort。
Therewasoneclergymanwhoseorthodoxy，thoughnotofanextremetype，wasundoubted，andwhoexercisedagoodandpowerfulinfluenceuponme。ThiswastheRev。Dr。LeonardBacon，pastoroftheFirstCongregationalchurchinNewHaven。Hewasamanofgreatintellectualpower，aloverofrightandhaterofwrong，abornfighteronthesideofeverygoodcause，attimespungent，witty，sarcastic，butalwaysdeeplyinearnest。Therewasageneralfeelingamonghisfriendsthat，hadhenotgoneintothechurch，hewouldhavebeeneminentinpoliticallife;andthatismybelief，forhewasbyfarthemostpowerfuldebaterofhistimeinthecouncilsofhischurch，andhiswayoflookingatgreatquestionsshowedthecharacteristicsofareallybroad—mindedstatesman。Hissermonsonspecialoccasions，asatThanksgivingandonpublicanniversaries，werenotedfortheirdirectnessandpowerindealingwiththegreatermoralquestionsbeforethepeople。Ontheotherhand，therewasasayingthencurrent，"DullasDr。Baconwhenhe’snothingbuttheGospeltopreach";butthis，likesomanyothersmartsayings，wasmoreepigrammaticthantrue:evenwhenIheardhimpreachreligiousdoctrinesinwhichIdidnotatallbelieve，heseemedtometoshowhisfullpower。
TowardtheendofmycollegecourseIwassubjectedtotheinfluenceoftwoverypowerfulmen，outsideoftheuniversity，whopresentedentirelynewtrainsofthoughttome。ThefirstofthesewasDr。AlonzoPotter，BishopofPennsylvania，whohadbeentheleadingprofessoratUnionCollege，Schenectady，beforehiselevationtothebishopric，andwho，bothasprofessorandasbishop，hadexercisedaverywideinfluence。Hewasphysically，intellectually，andmorallyofaverylargepattern。Therewassomethingverygrandandimpressiveabouthim。HehadhappenedtocometoSyracuseduringoneofmyvacations;onaSaturdayeveninghegavealectureuponthetendenciestoloosesupernaturalismasshowninwhatwereknownas"spiritualistic"
phenomena;andonthefollowingdayhepreachedasimple，plain，straightforwardsermononChristianmorals。Boththeseutterancesimpressedmeandstrengthenedmyconvictionthateverythinkingyoungmanandwomanoughttomaintainrelationswithsomegoodformofreligiousorganizationjustaslongaspossible。
TowardtheendofmyYalecoursecameaninfluenceofaverydifferentsort。ItwasattheconsecrationofaRomanCatholicchurchatSaratoga。ThemasswassungbyanItalianprelate，Bedini，whoasgovernorandarchbishopatBolognahad，afewyearsbefore，madehimselfdetestedthroughoutthelengthandbreadthofItalybytheexecutionofthepriestpatriotUgoBassi;andhewasnow，aspapalnunciotoBrazil，environedbyallthepomppossible。Themassdidnotgreatlyimpressme，butthesermon，byArchbishopHughesofNewYork，Ishallalwaysremember。Hissubjectwasthedoctrineoftransubstantiation，and，standinguponthealtarsteps，hedevelopedanargumentmoststrikingandpersuasive。Hespokeentirelywithoutnotes，inastraightforwardway，andattimeswitheloquence，thoughneverwithanyshowofrhetoric:voiceandbearingwereperfect;andhowanyoneacceptinghispremisescouldavoidhisconclusionsI
couldnotseethenandcannotseenow。Iwasproofagainsthisargument，forthesimplereasonthatIfeltthestoryofthetemptationofJesusbySatan，whichhetookforhistext，tobesimplyalegendsuchasappearsinvariousreligions;still，thewholewaswonderfullypresented;and，onmyreturntothehotel，myfatherwasgreatlyencouragedastomyreligiousdevelopmentwhenIgavetohimasynopsisofthewholesermonfromendtoend。
Nextdaythereresultedacuriousepisode。NoticeswerepostedthroughoutSaratogathatFatherGavazzi，theItalianpatriotandheretic，famousforhisoratory，wouldholdameetinginthegrovebackofCongressHallHotel，atthreeintheafternoon，andwouldanswerthearchbishop’sargument。Whenthehourarrivedanimmensecrowdwasassembled，andamongthemmanyCatholics，someofwhomIknewwell，——oneofthemayoungpriesttowhomIhadbecomestronglyattachedatschool。Soonappearedtheorator。Hewasofmoststrikingpresence——tall，handsome，withpiercingblackeyesandblackhair，andcladinalongsemi—monasticcloak。Hisfirstlineofargumentwasoflittleeffect，thoughgivenwithimpassionedgesturesandamostsympatheticvoice;butsoonhepausedandspokegentlyandsimplyasfollows:"WhenI
wasapriestinItalyIdailytookpartinthemass。OnfestivalsIoftensawthefastingpriestfillthechaliceasfullashedaredwithstrongwine;Isawhimpronouncethesacredwordsandmakethesacredsignoverit;andIsaw，aseverybodystandingroundhimclearlysaw，beforetheendoftheservice，thatitflushedhisface，thickenedhisvoice，andenlivenedhismanner。
Myfellow—Christians"（andherehisvoicerangoutlikeatrumpet），"whoistheinfidel，whoistheblasphemer，——Iwhosaythatnochangetookplaceinthewinebeforethepriestdrankit，andthatnomiraclewasperformed，orthemanwhosaysthathisfellow—mancanbemadedrunkonthebloodoftheblessedSonofGod？"
Theeffectwasstartling，evenonProtestants:butontheRomanCatholicspresentitwasmostthrilling;andIrememberthatanoldIrishwoman，seatedonthestepsoftheplatformasthesewordswereuttered，clappedherhandstoherearsandranfromtheplacescreaming。Imustconfessthatmysympathieswerewithherratherthanwiththeiconoclast，despitehisgiftsandgraces。
CHAPTERLX
INTHEEUROPEANATMOSPHERE——1853—1856
LeavingYalein1853，IpassednearlythreeyearsinEurope;andobservationoftheeffectsresultingfromthevariousorthodoxiesinEngland，France，Germany，Russia，andItalydevelopedmyopinionsinvariousways。Iwasdeeplysusceptibletoreligiousarchitecture，music，and，indeed，tothenoblerformsofceremonial。IdoubtwhetheranymaneverenteredWestminsterAbbeyandthevariouscathedralsofGreatBritain——andIhavevisitedeveryoneofthemofanynote——withamorereverentfeelingthanthatwhichanimatedme;butsomefeaturesoftheAnglicanserviceaspractisedatthattimerepelledme;aboveall，Idislikedtheintoningoftheprayers，asIthenhearditforthefirsttime。Amanly，straightforwardpetitionmadebyamanstandingorkneelingbeforehisMaker，inanatural，earnestvoice，hasalwaysgreatlyimpressedme;butthesortofwhining，drawling，falsettoinwhichtheAnglicanprayerswerethenusuallyintonedsimplydroveoutallreligiousthoughtsfrommymind。IhadafeelingthattheAlmightymustturnwithcontemptfromamanwhopresumedthustoaddresshim。Someprayersinthechurchservicehadfromaveryearlyperiodtakenadeepplaceinmyheart:theprayerofSt。Chrysostominthemorningservice，thefirstprayerintheante—communionservice，theprayer"forthewholestateofChrist’schurchmilitant，"andsomeofthecollectshadbecome，asitwere，partofme;somuchthemoredisappointedanddisgustedwasI，then，tohearprayermadeinwhatseemedtomeasickly，unmanlywhine。
AlthoughthefeelingsthusarousedbyreligiousobservancesinEnglandandotherpartsofEuropewerefrequentlyunedifying，therewasonehappyexceptiontotherule。BothintheChurchofEnglandandintheRomanCatholicchurchesoftheContinentI
alwaysgreatlyenjoyedtheantiphonalchantingofthePsalter。Tomethishasalwaysbeen——theimprecatorypsalmsexcepted——byfarthenoblestfeatureinChristianworshipasworship;for，comingdownasitdoesfromtheJewishChurchthroughthewholehistoryoftheChristianChurch，andbeingpractisedbyallthegreatbodiesofJewsandChristians，ithad，andstillhas，tomeagreatsignificance，bothreligiousandhistoric。InthecathedralsofthecontinentofEurope——andIhavevisitedeveryoneofnoteexceptthoseofSpain——IcaredlittleforwhatBrowning’sbishopcalls"theblessedmutterofthemass，"butthechantingofthePsalteralwaysattractedme。ManywerethehoursduringwhichIsatatvespersinabbeysandcathedrals，listeningtotheLatinpsalmsuntiltheybecamealmostasfamiliartomeastheEnglishPsalter。Ontheotherhand，Iwasattimesgreatlyrepelledbyperfunctoryperformancesoftheservice，bothProtestantandCatholic。The"TeDeum"whichIonceheardrecitedbyanAnglicanclergymaninthechapelatthecastleofHomburgdwellsinmymemoryasoneoftheworstthingsofitskindIeverheard，andespeciallythereremainsavividremembranceoftheinvocation，whichranasfollows:
"Ha—a—ow—ly，Ha—a—a—ow—ly，Ha—a—ow—ly:La—a—rdGawdofSabbith！"
Butthiswasnottheonlythingofthekind，forIhaveheardutterancesnearly，ifnotquite，asbadinvariousEnglishcathedrals，——asbad，indeed，asthefamousreading，"Hethathathyeahstoyeah，lethimyeah。"
Astomoreimportantreligiousinfluences，Ihad，duringmyfirstvisittoOxfordin1853，achancetounderstandsomethingofthetwocurrentsofthoughtthenshowingthemselvesintheEnglishChurch。OnaSundaymorningIwenttoChristChurchCathedraltoheartheregiusprofessorofHebrew，Dr。Jacobson，whom，yearsafterward，IsawenthronedasbishopinthecathedralatChester。
Itisachurchbeautifulinitself，andconsecratednotonlybytherelicsofmediaevalsaints，butbythedevotionsofmanygenerationsofscholars，statesmen，andpoets;andinfrontofthepulpitwereabodyofyoungmen，themostpromisinginGreatBritain;yetamoredull，mechanicaldiscoursecouldnotbeimagined。ThepreachermaunderedonlikeaTartarpraying—mill;
everyhearerclearlyregardinghisdiscourseasanArabregardsasand—storm。
IntheafternoonIwenttoSt。Mary’s，andheardtheregularuniversitysermon，beforeasimilaraudience，byFraser，afellowofOrielCollege。Itwasnotoratorical，butstraightforward，earnest，andinalineofthoughtwhichenlistedmysympathies。
TheyoungpreacherespeciallywarnedhisaudiencethatiftheChurchofEnglandwastoremaintheChurchofEngland，shemustputforthgreatereffortsthananyshehadmadeformanyyears;
andhewentontopointoutsomeofthelinesonwhichtheseexertionsshouldbemade，——lineswhich，Iamhappytosay，havesincebeentakenbygreatnumbersofexcellentmenoftheAnglicancommunion。
Duringtheevening，inthedining—roomoftheMitreInn，I
happenedtobeseatedattablewithanoldcountryclergymanwhohadjustenteredhissonatOxfordandwasevidentlyaruralparsonofthegoodoldhigh—and—drysort;butasIhappenedtospeakofthesermonsoftheday，heburstoutinavoicegruffwiththeologicalcontemptandhottoddy:"Didyouhearthatyoungupstartthisafternoon？Didyoueverhearsuchnonsense？Whycouldn’themindhisownbusiness，asDr。Jacobsondid？"
NordidsermonsfromAnglicanbishopswhichIheardatthatperiodgreatlymoveme。Theprimateofthatday，Dr。Sumner，impressedmebyhiswig，butnototherwise。Hewas，Ithink，thelastarchbishopofCanterburywhousedthismeansofenhancinghisdignity。Wilberforce，BishopofOxford，wasfarbetter;but，afterall，thoughhispreachingshoweddecidedability，itwasnotofthesorttoimpressonedeeply，fromeitherthereligiousortheintellectualpointofview。
Then，andatvarioustimessince，IhaveobtainedmorefromsimplerformsofworshipandlesspretentiousexpositionsoftheGospel。
AstoreligiousinfluenceinFrance，therewaslittle。IlivedinthefamilyofaFrenchprofessor，adevoutCatholic，butGallicaninhisideas，——somuchsothatheoftensaidthatifhecouldwakeupsomemorningandhearthatthePopehadbeendispossessedofhistemporalpower，itwouldbethehappiestdayofhislife，sincehewaspersuadedthatnothinghadsohamperedthechurch——and，indeed，debasedit——asthelimitsimposeduponthepapacybyitssovereigntyovertheRomanstates。
Ahappyimpressionwasmadeuponmebythesimple，philanthropiccharacteroftheArchbishopofParisatthatperiod——Sibour。
VisitingatechnicalschoolwhichhehadestablishedforartisansintheFaubourgSt。Antoine，Iderivedthenceagreatrespectforhimasamanwhowasreallysomethingmorethana"solemnlyconstitutedimpostor";but，likethearchbishopsofPariswhoprecededandfollowedhim，hemetaviolentdeath，andIhavemorethanoncevisitedandreflectedoverthesimpletabletwhichmarksthespotintheChurchofSt。etienneduMontwhereawretched，unfrockedpriestassassinatedthisgentle，kindly，affectionateprelate，who，judgingfromhisappearanceandlife，nevercherishedanunkindfeelingtowardanyhumanbeing。
ThetouchingmonumentsatNotreDametohispredecessor，Affre，shotonthebarricadesin1848whenimploringacessationofbloodshed，andtohissuccessorDarboy，shotbytheCommunardsintheactofblessinghismurderers，alsobecame，atalaterperiod，placesofpilgrimageforme，anddidmuchtokeepalivemyfaiththat，despitealleffortstoerectbarriersofhatredbetweenChristians，thereis，already，"onefoldandoneshepherd。"
AstomylifeontheContinentingeneral，GermanProtestantismseemedtomesimpleanddignified;butitsmaininfluenceuponmewasexercisedthroughitsmusic，the"GloriainExcelsis"ofthemorningserviceattheBerlinCathedralbeingthemostbeautifulmusicbyachoirIhadeverheard，——farsuperior，indeed，tothefinestchoirsoftheSistineorPaulinechapelatRome;andastilldeeperimpressionwasmadeuponmebythecongregationalsinging。Often，afterthefirstnotesgivenbytheorgan，Ihaveheardavastcongregation，withoutbookofanykind，joininginthechoral，KingFrederickWilliamIVandhiscourtstandingandsingingearnestlywiththerest。Itwasavastuprollingstormofsound。Standinginthemidstofit，oneunderstandstheLutheranReformation。
ThemostimpressiveRomanCatholicceremonieswhichIsawinEuropewereinGermany，andtheywereimpressivebecausesimpleandreverential;thosemostsobeingatWurzburgandFulda，where，inthegreatchurches，largebodiesofthepeasantryjoinedsimplyandnaturallyinthesingingatthemassandatvespers。
InRussiaIhadtheopportunitytostudyareligionofaverydifferentsort——theRusso—GreekChurch。WhilethischurchnodoubtcontainsmanydevotedChristianmenandwomen，itis，onthewhole，afossilizedsystem;thevastbodyofthepeoplebeingbroughtuptorelymainlyonfetishesofvarioussorts。Theserviceswere，manyofthem，magnificent，andthemusicmostbeautiful;butitwasdiscouragingtoreflectthattheconditionoftheRussianpeasantry，ignorant，besotted，anddebased，wastheoutcomeofsomanycenturiesofcompletecontrolbythisgreatbranchoftheChristianChurch。Ithadforagespossessedthefullestpowerfordevelopingtheintellect，themorals，andthereligionofthepeople，andherewastheresult。ExperienceofRussianlifeishardlycalculatedtoincrease，inanythinkingman，confidenceinitsdivineoriginorguidance。OnebearsinmindatsuchtimesthewordsoftheblessedFounderofChristianityhimself，"Bytheirfruitsyeshallknowthem。"
ButthemostunfavorableimpressionwasmadeuponmeinItaly。Itwasthepalmyperiodofreactionarydespotism。Hapsburgsinthenorth，NeapolitanBourbonsinthesouth，pettytyrantsscatteredthroughthecountry，allpracticallydoingtheirworst;and，intheirmidst，PiusIX，maintainedinthetemporalpowerbyFrenchbayonets。ItwasthetimewhenthelittleJewishchildMortarawastakenfromhisparents，inspiteoftheiragonizingappealstoallEurope;whentheMadiaifamilywereimprisonedforreadingtheBiblewiththeirfriendsintheirownhouse;whenmonksswarmedeverywhere，grossanddirty;when，atthecentersofpower，theJesuitshaditalltheirownway，——astheygenerallydowhenthefinalexasperatingimpulseisneededtobringonarevolution。Alloldabusesofthechurchwereattheirhighestflavor。Sofarasceremonialwasconcerned，nothingcouldbemoregorgeousthantheservicesatSt。Peter’sasconductedbyPopePiusIX。Forsuchdutiesnoonecouldbebetterfitted;forhewashandsome，kindly，anddignified，withabeautiful，ringingvoice。
DuringHolyWeekof1856Iwaspresentatvariousservicesinwhichhetookthemainpart，intheSistineChapelandelsewhere;
butmoststrikingofallwerehiscelebrationofpontificalhighmassbeneaththedomeofSt。Peter’sonEastermorning，andhisappearanceonthebalconyinfrontofthecathedralafterward。
Theeffectofthefirstceremonywassomewhatinjuredbytheeasy—goingmannersofsomeoftheattendantcardinals。Itwasdifficulttoimaginethattheybelievedreallyinthetremendousdoctrineinvolvedinthemasswhenonesawthemtakingsnuffinthemidstofthemostsolemnprayers，andgoingthroughthewholeinthemostperfunctoryfashion。Atthecloseoftheservice，thePope，beingborneonhisthronebyRomannobles，surroundedbycardinalsandprinces，andwearingthetriplecrown，gavehisblessingtothecityandtotheworld。Theremusthavebeenovertenthousandofusinthepiazzatoreceiveit，andnoonecouldhaveperformedhispartmoreperfectly。Arisingfromhisthrone，andstretchingforthhishandswithastrikinggesture，hechantedabenedictionheardbyeveryonepresent，eventotheremotestcornersofthesquare。Manyyearsafterward，LordOdoRussell，BritishambassadoratBerlin，onmymentioningthesplendorofthisceremonytohim，saidtome，"Yes，youareright;butitwasononeofthoseoccasionsthatIdiscoveredthatthePopewasmortal。"Onmyaskinghimhowitwas，hesaid，"Ihadoccasion，astheBritishdiplomaticrepresentative，tocallonPopePiusIXonEasterMonday，and，afterfinishingmybusinesswithhim，toldhimthatIhadbeenpresentatthebenedictioninfrontofSt。Peter’sonthedaybefore，andhadbeenmuchimpressedbythebeautyofhisvoice;andIadded，’YourHolinessmusthavebeentrainedasasinger。’AtthisthePopewasevidentlygreatlypleased，andanswered，’Youareright，IWAStrainedasasinger;BUTYOUOUGHTTOHAVEHEARDMETWOOR
THREEYEARSAGO。’"