"Johnny Hood," names long endeared to many. In Christ church, the singer, there called the clerk, was Joseph Fry-a small man with a great voice, who standing in the organ gallery, was wont to make the whole church resound with his strong, deep and grave

tones.

It was the forte, and the purposed system of the Methodists, to have very superior and attractive singing-always of such popular cast and spirit, as would easiest please the ear and enchain the attention; and it well succeeded with all those who were unsophisticated with high artificial refinements. The "sweet singer" of that church, familiarly called "Johnny Hood," (as was much the wont of that day with all familiar and cherished names,) was himself a singer wholly of nature's own make, one who had never learned one note of gamut-music, and yet he never jarred or failed! His sweet smiling face too, whilst he sang, was only equalled by the charm of his clear, mellifluous voice. His utterance, too, was so clear and distinct, as that most people could join in his singing without a book, following only his words.

The Methodist churches had a quicker and more animated style of singing at all times, than prevailed in the slower, heavier cadence of the other churches of the city. It was not uncommon to find many persons who went purposely to Methodist churches to hear the singing. We have known such "who remained to pray."

The very first perceptible innovations in the public singing of the Protestant churches, generally, was seen to come in from that cast and character of public singing which has been seen to catch the curious and artificially prepared ears of the amateurs. This style of singing and chanting was first witnessed in Philadelphia in the Papal churches, and came to be but slowly imitated. At last, however, by the force and prevalence of the piano teachers, a style of lessons came to be imposed, which put down natural music in churches, almost as generally as in parlours.

In the present day, there is no very marked difference in the general appearance of the congregations who worship in the different churches in the city. But there was a marked distinctive difference formerly. The Episcopalians showed most grandeur of dress and costume,-next the Presbyterians,-the gentlemen of whom freely indulged in powdered and frizzled hair;-the Baptists showed a graver and humbler style, with scarcely any powdered head visible among them. The Methodists desired to be "a peculiar people," and for a time effected their purpose. No powdered heads of men, and no gay bonnets or ribands were to be seen among them. It was really so, that persons gaily dressed shunned to go there lest they might be "preached at." We could name such an individual, with powdered and toupeed hair and ruffles over his hands, who was so preached at, and afterwards became a Methodist preacher himself. They aimed in general to dress much like the Friends, except that they intended not to be mistaken for them, and therefore they wore

collars to their coats, and their clothes of various colours-avoiding only such as should be esteemed gay,-and such as were drab, because that colour was then a much more prevalent one among the Friends than now. Indeed, it was the exclusiveness of this drab to them, then, as a class, which caused the sneering Tom Paine to say, that if they had their will, there would be nothing but drab as a colour, to all created things! The Methodists all wore "shad breasted" coats, and low-crowned hats;-the women all wore plain black satin bonnets-straw bonnets were never seen among themno white dresses-no jewellery-no rings. No male persons were to be seen with tied or queued hair, but lank long locks straitly combed down in thick and natural profusion. The females wore no curls, no side locks, or lace or ornaments. Their ministers, as such, could be readily recognized when abroad in the streets. They moved with solemn looks and pace-never in black, but in a kind of "parsonic attire" called "parsons' gray"—a gray in which a proportion of blue was given; their coats were without lapels-and their hats were generally white and large-brimmed. They wore small clothes and vests of cotton-velvet of olive colour, and sometimes of black-lastings, such as are now used in shoes. Their bishop, Asbury, wore an entire suit of blue-gray cloth, with a big white hat, and a fine, solemn, venerable looking man he surely was. He had greatly the dignity and port of a ruler.

Such was the adherence to the things afore mentioned for principles' sake, that it was long before all these distinctive marks of a people could be broken down. The first ministers that wore pantaloons and frock coats were scarcely tolerated; and the members who first began to wear lapels, and frock coats, and the women to wear straw bonnets, were subjects of concern. But in time, as if wearied in watching at invading breaches,-one and another of the barriers which marked them from the world around them gave way,-and now, if the heart be right, they leave their own consciences to regulate their sumptuary obligations.

It might be remarked also, that they did not as a people value or expect an educated ministry. They went solely upon" the call," and upon that, like the Friends, they rested their sufficiency, as "able ministers." In this way it occasionally happened, that "Black Harry," who accompanied Mr. Asbury as his travelling assistant or servant, would serve the pulpit as a preacher, although he knew not a letter. He has so preached in Philadelphia.

It may be remarked also, that the Methodists were not originally an Episcopacy in this country-they were "followers of Mr. Wesley." Their first leaders here,-Asbury, Whatcoat and Coke, were "superintendents" under Mr. Wesley, who himself earnestly disclaimed Episcopacy for himself and people;-but in time, Mr. Asbury took the title of bishop-which title has since been perpetuated, on the ground, that as the epithet of bishop meant in effect a superintendency or oversight, in the original Greek, it was at most a harmless

conformity with apostolic usage to use the term Bishop (Episcopus) for the future.

From these, as a precedent, arose afterwards in Philadelphia, among the coloured Methodists, the separate Methodist church of Episcopal order. It was begun under Richard Allen, who finding himself in the actual ministry of the first black church in Philadel phia, chose to assume the title of bishop, and has since ordained many other ministers. They thus purpose to preserve their perpetuity and independency in their own way. Such independency to Bishop Allen may have been peculiarly sweet, for he, like another Onesimus, had once been a servant. He had belonged to the Chew family.

In the mean time, the Presbyterians, as if less reverent to bishops as a class of eminence, have latterly grown into the occasional practice, in a semi-official way, of calling any of their ministry bishops. They had always regarded "presbyter" and "bishop" as convertible terms, but until lately, we had never noticed the use of the single title of bishop to those who were only ordained as presbyters. We believe the first departure from former practice occurred in some of the controversial writings of Dr. Ely of Philadelphia.

We give the foregoing notitia of passing events, as "notes by the way," and as marking such changes and characteristics in matters and things as it is our proper business to express.

HOSPITALS.

THE earliest Hospital, separate from the Poor-house, to which in early times it was united, was opened and continued for several years in the house known as "Judge Kinsey's dwelling and orchard" -the same two-story double-front brick house now on the south side of High street, third door west from Fifth street. The Hospital there, nearly eighty years ago, was under the general government of Mrs. Elizabeth Gardiner, as matron.

In the year 1750 several public spirited gentlemen set on foot a proposition for another and more convenient building than was before possessed for the sick at the Poor-house-then on the lot occupying the square from Spruce to Pine street, and from Third to Fourth street.

By the MS. Diary of John Smith, Esq., I see noted that on the 5th of 5 mo., 1751, he, with other managers of the Hospital Fund, went out to inspect several lots for a place for a Hospital, and he states that none of them pleased them so much as one on the south side of Arch street between Ninth and Tenth streets. But after

wards, on the 11th of 8th mo., 1751, he notes, that he, with Dr. Bond and Israel Pemberton, inspected the late dwelling-house of E. Kinsey, Esq., and were of opinion it would be a suitable place to begin the hospital in. The year 1751, therefore, marks the period at which the Hospital in High street began. It there continued four or five years.

The Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in the year 1755. At the occasion of laying the corner stone, the celebrated John Key, "the first born," was present from Chester county. The inscription of the corner stone, composed by Dr. Franklin, reads thus:

"In the year of Christ
MDCCLV,

George the Second happily reigning,
(For he sought the happiness of his people,)
Philadelphia flourishing,

(For its inhabitants were public spirited,)
This Building,

By the bounty of Government,
And of many private Persons,
Was piously founded

For the relief of the sick and miserable.
May the God of Mercies
Bless the Undertaking."

When the Hospital was first placed there it was deemed very far out of town, and was approached not by present rectilineal streets, but across commons the length of several squares. The only building then finished for several years was the present eastern wing, then entered by its front gate on Eighth street.

I have seen in the possession of Mr. B. Otis, portrait painter, a large coloured engraving of the Hospital and Poor-house near by, and all the scenery of the adjacent open commons, as drawn by Nicholas Garrison, about the time of 1768.

At and before the year 1740 it was the practice when sick emigrants arrived, to place them in empty houses about the city. Sometimes diseases were imparted to the neighbourhood, as once occurred, particularly at Willing's alley. On such occasions physicians were provided for them at the public expense. The Governor was induced, in 1741, to suggest the procuring of a Pest-house or Hospital; and in 1742 a Pest-house was erected on Fisher's island, called afterwards Province Island, because purchased and owned by the province, for the use of sick persons arriving from sea.

POOR-HOUSES.

THE original Poor-house for the city was located down town, on a green meadow, extending from Spruce to Pine streets, and from Third to Fourth streets. Its front was to the east, and nearest to Third street. Its great gate was on Spruce street, and its entrance by Third street was by a stile. The house was much such a structure as to height and general appearance as that of the Friends' Almshouse in Walnut street; it had a piazza all round. It contained the sick and insane as well as the poor. There were also some parts of the necessary buildings formed near the corner of Union and Fourth streets, on the site now occupied as the premises of Doctor Physick, from which cause, I find, in 1758, it was called, "the Alms-house down Fourth street," and "the Alms-house square," &c.

The present Alms-house out Spruce street, begun in 1760, was first occupied in the year 1767. The square of nearly four hundred feet square, on which the buildings stand, cost then but £800. Who can tell its rise of value since! It was then, however, quite a place in the country, and near the woods, and having a fine orchard on the square on its northern front.

LIBRARIES.

WE are indebted to Doctor Franklin for the first project of a public library. He started one in 1731, consisting of thirty-eight persons, to pay 40s. each, and to contribute afterwards 10s. annually. It was at first located in a chamber of Robert Grace's house in Pewter Platter alley. In 1740 it was placed in the State-house. In 1773 it went to Carpenters' Hall till 1790, when the present library was built and received the books. It was incorporated in the year 1742, as "the Library Company of Philadelphia." Previous to this company the members of the Junto used to each bring their books to their debating room, and leave them there as common stock at Grace's house-the same premises, I believe, now belonging to Benjamin Horner.

In 1759, Governor Denney confirmed the charter of "the Union