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our race, and will probably survive as many more. It is the place where our fathers worshipped, and under which their lifeless remains repose in peace and safety. Many, we trust, who frequented its courts in the days of their pilgrimage, were here made meet for the worship of a temple, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. At this sacred font, many of us have been solemnly dedicated to the service of our Creator, and made members of his visible church. Here, we have ratified and confirmed our baptismal engagements. At this altar, we have often knelt and received the pledges of the Redeemer's love, in the consecrated symbols of his body and blood. Here, when life's silver cord shall be broken, we hope to sleep with our kindred and friends, till the morning of the resurrection, when, at the sound of the last trump, we shall rise to meet the Lord in the air, and to serve him day and night in his temple. Associated with so many impressive and interesting recollections and anticipations, can we fail to regard this sacred temple with the liveliest emotions of veneration and love? Shall we not cherish towards it kindred sentiments with those of the Psalmist, when he exclaimed, If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave

to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Influenced by these sentiments, we shall be solicitous to preserve, as much as possible, this venerable monument of the zeal and piety of former days, from the ravages of time, and to transmit it, unimpaired, to posterity. Viewing it as a sacred deposite committed to our trust, not merely for our own benefit, but for that of future generations, we shall be anxious that it may pass from our hands under circumstances which shall endear it to their affections, and recommend it to their support, bearing the impress of our liberality, and perpetuating the lustre of our example. As a society, we shall study the things that make for peace. The only contention among us will be "that of the vine and the olive, which shall bear the most and the best fruit;" who shall do most to advance the glory of God and the salvation of his fellow creatures. Sensible that without him we can do nothing, our devout supplications will daily rise to the great Head of the church, who has promised to be with her even unto the end of the world; that peace may be a perpetual guest within her walls, and prosperity in all her palaces; and, as an evidence of the sincerity of our prayers, the pious resolution of each individual will be, "For my brethren and companions' sake, I will now say,

peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek to do thee good." That this house of prayer may prove, to each one of us, and to thousands and tens of thousands, who may successively worship within its walls, none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven, may God of his infinite mercy grant, for the Redeemer's sake. Amen.

APPENDIX.

CHRIST CHURCH is 70 feet long, 50 wide, and 35 high the walls are two feet and a half thick; the steeple's area is 24 feet square.

The brick tower is 78 feet high; the spire

above is 97 feet; in all, 175 feet.

The brick tower has four floors.

2d next story is wood
The 3d do. for the lantern

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In Mr. Shaw's Description of Boston is the following accurate account of the recent alterations which have been made in the interiour of the church. "The interiour has been greatly improved within a few years. The church had formerly a centre aisle, which is now closed, and the space converted into pews. The large altar window is closed, and the chancel is enriched by an altar piece. The paintings containing the Lord's prayer, select texts of scrip

ture, and the last supper, are from the pen cil of Mr. Penniman, of this town, and are deservedly admired. The flues of the stoves areenclosed by pilasters, supporting an entablature and cornice over the chancel, on the frieze of which is inscribed, This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' Above this is a painting, the descent of the Holy Spirit, finely executed by Mr. Johnson, of Boston. At the east end of the church, on the side of the chancel, is a monument to the memory of Washington, (the first ever erected to his memory in this country,) with a bust well executed by an Italian artist."

The altar piece, with the decalogue and appropriate texts of scripture, and also the bust of Washington, were presented to the church by the late Shubael Bell, Esq., of this city, whose zeal and liberality in promoting its prosperity justly entitle him to be numbered among its principal benefactors.

The old steeple, which was considered one of the most elegant in the United States, having suffered for want of seasonable repairs, was overthrown by the memorable October gale of 1804. Through the liberality of the citizens, a new one was erected in 1807, conformably to a model furnished by Charles Bulfinch, Esq., in which the proportions and symmetry of the old one are carefully preserved.

The church is furnished with a chime of eight bells; the cost of which, from the founders, was 560 sterling; the other charges for wheels, stocking, and putting up, were £93 sterling, exclusive of the freight from England, which was generously given by John Rowe, Esq.

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