Our Country Churches. 
N a village, the first object 
that attracts attention is the 
church, ana trom it the gene¬ 
ral impression of the place is 
formed. There is, to a good 
degree, a just pride felt in the 
village church. It is, by com¬ 
mon consent, allowed to he the expression of ideas 
of taste*, and the type of an affection which should 
be the deepest and holiest in our natures. It is 
a public recognition of the great truth, “ there is 
a God,” a public promise to worship Him and 
keep his commandments, a publie testimonial of 
love for the Great Supreme, and a public invita¬ 
tion to the world to unite in worship and praise. 
The law of taste requires that the outward form 
of the church should, so far as practicable, embo¬ 
dy these ideas. That there is a language in the con¬ 
tour of a building, is as true as that there is ex¬ 
pression in the form and features of the human 
face ■ and an artist’s power can speak the meaning 
into blocks of stone, and make them convey the 
thoughts of the reverential mind, and the feelings 
of the devotional heart. The pleasant countenance 
of one person assures the stranger of a kind heart 
and a sympathetic nature; while the cold and for¬ 
bidding look of another, sends a chill through the 
veins. We often say that virtue and benevolence 
are written in the features of one man, and that 
vice and avarice lurk in the wrinkles of another’s 
face. The same habit of observation directed to 
the expression of buildings, would enable one'to 
distinguish at once their characteristics, and to 
judge correctly of their appropriateness. 
But no. very great practice is necessary to per¬ 
ceive that the churches in the country do not im¬ 
press the mind with the ideas we have mentioned. 
There is too frequently no element of beauty in 
them. Hastily constructed in no style of archi¬ 
tecture, as cheaply finished as conscience would 
allow, with no tasteful surroundings, they stand 
in open space, seemingly deserted, while their 
frail, tottering spires point mournfully to the sky. 
We are persuaded that ignorance of any better 
mode of building, rather than intentional neglect, 
lies at the bottom of this deplorable condition of 
our eountry churches. They have been imitated 
to a great extent from the rude models which our 
early church edifices furnished, and rural taste 
has never come in'to suggest her always beautiful 
decorations, nor has American architecture sup¬ 
plied us with designs true to the idea of a House 
of Worship. We ask for nothing classic, nothing 
elaborate, nothing lavishly expensive, hut we wish 
to see edifices appropriate, simple and. beautiful. 
Some deviation from right lines and clumsy 
steeples, some adaptation to the location, and 
above all, some trees and shrubbery to give a ru¬ 
ral effect are particularly desirable. Why not 
have a lawn well kept, surround the ehureh, the 
shade of our forest trees overhang it, and vines 
and ivy embower it? Every hour spent in deco¬ 
rating the grounds about the church will deepen 
the affection for it, while if its forbidding appear¬ 
ance be onee changed into one winning and plea¬ 
sant. the lessons which fall from its pulpit would 
touch many hearts now insensible to the beauties 
and truths of goodness and piety. 
We present a cut which may suggest some idea 
of the harmonious and truthful expression which 
may be given to a country church, but even this 
would look bare without the trees. It is to he 
regretted that we have not more designs of the 
right order. A promising field lies open to the 
architect in this direction. 
