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Show -THE UTAH EVANGELIST.- <br><br> FROM MR. COYNER. <br> How much like thought is the rapid transit of to day, -now here, now there. One hour in New York, almost the next in Philadelphia. Lie down at late bed time in Boston and wakeup the next morning in New York. Step aboard the limited express in Washington City and in thirty hours be in Chicago. Verily the spirit of the age is activity. How important that all life's switch tenders be at their post of duty, that the express train be not switched off into a state of inactivity, or be dashed over a precipice. <br> Since my last I have visited Brooklyn, Wilmington, Elizabeth, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Boston. Spent nearly a week in Philadelphia. What a quaint Quaker City Philadelphia is? It still bears the impress of Wm. Penn, although I saw but one plain dove-colored bonnet while in the city and not a single shad bellied coat. Its plain brick fronts with their snow white marble trimmings and solid white shutters, speak of solid comfort, but indifference to fashion. Philadelphia is a city of churches. The Presbyterian churches are numerous. One might speak daily in a Presbyterian church for three months and not speak twice in the same building. The trip from New York to Boston was by water. We left New York at the foot of Des boires street at 5 p. m. and reached Fall River, Rhode Island, at 6 a. m, next morning. Our route was up East river, through Hell Gate into the sound, and through the sound to Fall River. We looked out upon the Atlantic Ocean, but did not come to make her special acquaintance. Neptune taxes my gastric system too vigorously to allow me to desire an intimate acquaintance. From Fall River to Boston is partly by rail. And thus I reached Boston, the "Hub of the universe." As this was my first visit to the Metropolis of New England, I was much interested in visiting the places of historic interest. Of course the first place to go was to Bunker Hill, to see the monument. But what a fall of childhood imagination! How Bunker Hill loomed up in childhood fancy and still lingered in its majestic height! But after climbing to the top of the hill the distance of an actual elevation of 60 feet, and finding that my vision was shut in by the surrounding houses, I felt that it was true the great has fallen never to rise again. But when I started to climb the monument, and in the dim gaslight of the spiral staircase heard the dull thud of the foot on the stone step, as the head grows dizzy in the upward march, I fully realized that what nature had lacked in the way of elevation had been supplied by art. The three hundred steps give a commanding view of Boston, with all her surroundings, both land and marine. The old South Church, with all her quaint curosities [sic], is well worth the 25cts. admittance. And then the Boston Commons! Well it was not strange that the historic boys felt like fighting for their right, on such a play ground. It is nature and art combined so as to produce all that heart could wish or fancy desire. I spent a half day, visiting "Old. Husband." Little did its founder, Rev. John Husband, comprehend the future when he started influences that have produced such a revolt as seen in Husband's College. <br> An incident occured [sic] at South Boston that very much interested me. At the close of my address at 3 p. m. in the Fourth Presbyterian church. I was informed that a couple of ladies wished to see me in the rear of the audience room. There I met with two blind persons, one of whom was the noted Laura Bridgman, the historic blind mute. She had come with a blind friend from the blind asylum, where she is now one of the most competant [sic] teachers, to hear me speak, and through the touch of her blind companion heard the most I said. On being introduced to her, she responded thus through the touch as translated by her blind companion, "Prof. Coyner, I am glad to meet you. May you do much good among those who are not right and true." She is now 54 years of age, tall and slender in form, and quite lady-like in appearance. <br> Nothing has occurred in my whole Eastern tour that has produced as deep an impression on my mind as the benediction of this earnest Christian woman. She is herself one of the most remarkable illustrations of what the gospel of Christ will do in causing others to rescue the unfortunate, and what it does for the individual thus rescued. My address in the evening in the first Presbyterian church in Boston proper was before an audience of some 1200 people, and it closed up my Eastern tour. Taking the midnight train for New York, I arrived in this city Wednesday afternoon. Where I shall remain some time on account of the health of Mrs. Coyner. Let correspondents address me as below. J. M. COYNER, <br> CHICAGO: 662 West Monroe St. <br><br> BLUE PRESBYTERIANS IN BOISE CITY. <br> During the Lenten season we listened to an able lecture by the rector of St. Michael's Episcopal Church of this city. His subject was "The Church," and he reviewed the situation from his standpoint. Among other things, he stated that the Presbyterian Church has at present eight different organizations, with shades of difference more or less defined. While we were pondering his words, we felt tempted to say that he had forgotten to name the ninth order, which has its existence and stronghold in this very city, and these are blue* Presbyterians-the name is appropriate because of the depressed condition of the church. Here in Boise City, the capital of the Territory, with a population of two thousand souls, and many fine public buildings, a court-house which cost about seventy-five thousand dollars, an elegant public schoolhouse upon which thousands of dollars have been expended, making it the boast of the enlightened citizens; here where business facilities are as good as in the average Western towns; where the climate is exceptionally good, and the health of the inhabitants remarkable; and where a church building of comfortable proportions already exists, upon which no debt is resting, yet here the Presbyterian has no home. He can find no place in which to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. Episcopacy has swallowed up nearly all those who, coming from more favored sections, have been accustomed to the simple form of worship of the Presbyterian Church, which is dear to the hearts of those sincere and humble followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. These, by the absence of their chosen church fellowship, are made to feel themselves pilgrims and strangers, and there is little wonder that the title of blue Presbyterians should be peculiarly appropriate. Nature has done much for this locality. Man has already added something to the beauty of the surroundings. Society has a firm hold upon the people, who have concerts and operas, theaters and skating carnivals, supported, and oftentimes originated among the inhabitants; and yet this important spot is left by the Presbyterian Church abroad, as a discouraging field. Our children are scattered among the other existing denominations, Episcopal, Methodist, and Baptist, and some have been found assisting in the idolatrous rites of the Roman Catholic Church. Think of it, members of Presbyteries, delegates to Synods and General Assemblies-the children of Presbyterian parents, who have been in "good and regular standing," as the phrase goes in Eastern churches, assisting as choir boys or incense-bearers in the Popish Church of Boise City! This is a well-known fact. If we can have no church organization, we can have no Sabbath School; and when are our children to be trained? Parents, as a general thing, rely too much for the religious training of their children, upon the instruction they receive in the Sunday School. But if the dear little ones fail to receive even that, poor and insufficient as it often is, what are we to look for, what to hope for among the rising generation? There have been difficulties and troubles, and tribulations heretofore, in the church which was organized some six years ago, in this place, but these do not seem to have been of sufficient importance to warrant the closing of the church doors, and the consequent scattering of the flock. It is naturul [sic] that all the other denominations should avail themselves of this state of things, to recruit their ranks from the Presbyterian body, and unless some decided steps are soon taken to establish a church here, we shall lose the little that yet remains to us, which is at present but little more than a name. It will doubtless be a heavy load to carry, and an up-hill grade to travel for some years; but with the blessing of God added to constant exertion by an earnest Christian man, we belive [sic] that a bright future may yet dawn upon our interests here, and these blue Presbyterians, with their heavy hearts, be lifted into the cheerful atmosphere of hopeful happiness. <br> L. E. C. <br> BOISE CITY, Idaho, April 27, 1884. <br><br><br> * word is italicized <br><br> |
