the merit of the book, or which may conduce to the improvement of the reader. Not only the narrative, illustrative, and descriptive portions of any book—a history, for example-but also the reflective parts, and the plan and connection of the whole, as well as the peculiarities of the author's style, and the means by which he produces his effect, should be objects of attention to one who reads for improvement. better for what he has seen, and for the wholsome reflections which have, as it were, forced themselves upon his mind. To such, the Abbey offers attractions far greater than any thing else in London; not that it is more beautiful or more sublime than other buildings and churches-for in truth it is not-but because of its vast extent, its exceeding antiquity, its quiet grandeur, its manifold wonders; and because, when one crosses the threshold he seems to pass away entirely from the world, as it now is, to be transported back to ages and times long gone by, and to live and hold converse with men of other and far different times. Yes, such will appreciate the truthfulness of Milton's lines, who, though a puritan and a bitter one, too, was a poet who could not but see and feel the greatness of the fine old Gothic structures in which England abounds. I beg to end my tedious "one word more" with this delight-densed abstract of the whole book, so that what the ful passage: HOW TO PROFIT BY READING. THE great end of reading appears too often to be entirely lost sight of. Especially is this the case in reading the periodical or light literature of the day. Much of this is truly worthless; but such as is in any way valuable, either for the entertainment or instruction which it affords, is worth reading well. Reading should not be made an object of mere present gratification: we should read only what is fitting to be read, and in all that we thus read we should endeavor to learn something. The following judicious remarks on reading, will be found to contain highly valuable advice. "We should read to remember. Nothing is worth reading which is not worth remembering. Of lighter works we remember the graces and ornaments. We retain in our memory the striking features of the author's delineations, and perhaps unconsciously acquire the power of imitating them. Of graver works we remember the principles and arguments. To make them our own, we are even willing to write out a con author has said, we ourselves, upon fit occasions, might in substance say. "We should read to compare and judge. If our course of reading has ever been so limited, we may compare the work we are now perusing with those which have gone before it. The language and style, the plan, the apparent materials of the author, the way in which they are combined, wrought up, and polished, should all be subjects of inquiry in our minds as we read, and of comparison with what we have met with before. By this practice we become critics before we are aware of it, and we avail ourselves of the best purpose of criticism-selection. The world is full of books. We can not read all-half-a thousandth part; but we may obtain all the most valuable results of reading, by selecting from the mass the best work in each department of learning, and reading it with the same care, the same attention, the same determination to retain in our mind all that is worth acquiring from it, as if the single copy we held in our hands were the only book extant in the world on the subject, and we were to relinquish it forever, the moment we had finished its perusal. So reading, we shall profit." INTELLECTUAL MODESTY. WE should never estimate the soundness of principles by our inability to defend them; or consider an "Most young persons read chiefly with a view to objection as unanswerable, to which we can find no amusement; and they find amusement in perpetual reply. It is an absurd self-confidence, especially in a novelty and change. Hence it is that they prefer young person, to abandon his principles as soon as he works which are written in the narrative form; and may find himself worsted in an argument. There is they hurry through them, in order to possess them-no defence against flippant sophistry, so effectual as an selves, as speedily as possible, of the succession of in-intelligent modesty. Indeed, genuine firmness of mind cidents, and the catastrophe or close of each work. This is a dissipated habit of mind, and leads to few profitable results. One should read observingly, suffering nothing to escape attention which constitutes consists greatly in an habitual recollection of our own moderate powers and acquirements. In difficult questions, a man should never be ashamed to confess his inability to arrive at an immediate conclusion. VOL. II. THE EVERGREEN. MARCH, 1845. NO. III. For the Evergreen. ANCIENT TYRE. TYRE was a very ancient city of Phoenicia, built on a small island eighteen miles at the south of Sidon. There were, properly speaking, two places of that name-Tyre on the continent, or Pala Tyros, and Tyre on the island, or Insulæ Tyros. The former was the more ancient city, and after the settlement on the island, which was only half a mile distant from Palæ Tyros, the two cities were included in one, embracing in all, a circumference of about nineteen miles. As early as the year 1200 B. C., Tyre was the most renowned and powerful city of Phoenicia, being then highly enriched by the commercial pursuits of its inhabitants, and refined by their knowledge in the arts. Even at an earlier period, (1444 B. C.) when this, with other maritime cities of the Canaanites, was allotted to the tribe of Asher, it was called "the strong city of Tyre." (Josh. xix. 29.) It may here be remarked, that it does not appear that the descendants of Asher ever drove out the Canaanites from Tyre, or made any attempts to take possession of this city of their allotment. fully accord in this respect with the sacred. In the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth chapters of Ezekiel, who prophesied about the year 595 B. C., the wealth and commerce of this city are depicted in very glowing colors, and the particulars of its trade and manufactures minutely described. Hiram, king of Tyre, as is well known, sent ambassadors, with ar tificers and cedar, to David, king of Israel, to build his palace. Hiram also subsequently supplied Solomon with timber, stones, and laborers, for building the Tem-{ ple. About the year 717 B. C., Salmanezer, king of As syria, made war upon the Tyrians, with a fleet of sixty ships, manned by eight hundred rowers. The Tyrians had but twelve ships, yet they obtained the victory, dispersing the Assyrian fleet, and taking five hundred prisoners. Salmanezer then returned to Nineveh, mained for five years, but were unable to take the city. leaving his land forces before Tyre, where they reIt was about this time that Isaiah delivered his prophecy against Tyre, in which he specifically foretold that it should be destroyed, not by the power which then threatened it, but by the Chaldeans, a people "for merly of no account." (Isa. xxiii. 13.) The more de tailed predictions of the prophet Ezekiel were delivered a hundred and twenty years after. Tyre seems to have risen to very great splendor In the year 586 B. C., Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babywithin a short time from its foundation, and to have lon, laid siege to the city, and after a most obstinate resurpassed every other ancient city in opulence and exten-sistance on the part of the Tyrians for thirteen years, he sive commerce. The Phoenicians, as is well known, are regarded as the earliest navigators, merchants, and artificers of the world. We learn from ancient wri tings that they carried on their trade not only over all the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, but even over the ocean, as far as England, whence they exported tin.* From the sacred writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and some of the other prophets, we must conclude that Tyre was, in their time, one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in the world, and the profane historians *The Phoenicians were also early renowned for their knowledge of some of the sciences. Arithmetic and astronomy were invented or greatly improved by them, and they are known to have introduced letters into Greece. Sanconiathon was born at Tyre 1040 years B. C. He wrote in the language of his country, a history in nine books, in which he amply treated of the theology and antiquities of Phoenicia and the neighboring countries. This history was translated into Greek by Philo, who lived in the reign of the Emperor Adrian. Some few fragments of this Greek translation are extant. Moschus, Bothius, Antipater, Diodatus, and Apollonius, eminent philosophers, were natives of this country. took it, and utterly destroyed that part of it on the continent. This total destruction, as was just mentioned, was foretold by Isaiah and Ezekiel, and one reason assigned by the latter prophet for the overthrow of this proud city, was its exultation at the capture of Jerusa"I shall be replenished now she is laid waste." (Ezek. xvi. 2.) had saved themselves by flight during this protracted The greater part of the inhabitants war, and subsequently settled on the island and rebuilt the insular city or New Tyre, which soon surpassed the older city in magnitude and splendor. lem. Alexander the Great, after the conquest of Syria, (332 B. C.) directed his course towards Tyre, and desired to be admitted into the city to perform a solemn sacrifice to Hercules, the tutelar deity of the place. The Tyrians sent him a golden crown, as a token of their respect and amity, but refused his request. This city was of great importance to Alexander, as a strongly fortified station, which would give him free access to the sea from all the neighboring coast, and he determined to make himself master of the place, at what ever cost. It was with the rubbish of Old Tyre that he constructed the mole or pier from the main land to the island. After a siege of eight months the city was taken, and its capture is considered one of the most celebrated exploits of that mighty conqueror. tury. It was reconquered by the Crusaders during the twelfth century, and formed a royal domain of the kingdom of Jerusalem, as well as an archepiscopal see. William of Tyre, the well-known historian of the early Crusades, was the first Archbishop. In 1289 it was The Tyrians were very industrious in the practice of finally taken by the Saracens, and since that time it many of the useful arts. They carried the working of has presented to the traveler only the aspect of a mismetals to great perfection. The magnificence of theerable and ruined village. Temple of Hercules, at Tyre, is admired in his history When the Sultan Selim divided Syria into pashawby Herodotus, who saw it, and who was particularlylics, Tyre, which had probably gone into decay with struck with two columns, one of molten gold and the the depression of commerce, was merged into the terother of emerald, which, in the night, shone with great ritory of Sidon. It was afterward taken possession of splendor. The latter was probably of colored glass, by the Motoualies, who repaired the port, and enclosed for we have the authority of Pliny for attributing to it, on the land side, with a wall twenty feet high. The the Phoenicians the discovery of the making of glass; { wall was standing, but the repairs had gone to ruin, at and M. Goguet conjectures, with much plausibility, the time of Volney's visit, in 1784. He noticed that that the column was hollow, and was lighted by a there was still standing, in the midst of the ruins, a lamp put within it. The Tyrian purple is celebrated column which points out the site of the choir of the by all ancient authors for its exceeding costliness and cathedral consecrated by Eusebius, together with some rich dye. columns of red granite, of a species unknown in Syria. It was, in his time, a miserable village, called Sur, or Sour. Malte-Brun says of it, "a fate very desolating has overtaken Tyre, the queen of the seas, the birthplace of commerce, by which early civilization was diffused. Her palaces are supplanted by miserable hovels. The poor fisherman inhabits those vaulted cellars where the treasures of the world were in anThe buildings of Tyre were very splendid and mag-cient time stored." This is a visible argument how nificent, the walls were one hundred and fifty feet high, God has fulfilled the prophecy concerning Tyre, that and very broad. Relics of the splendor of the ancient" it should be as the top of a rock, a place for fishers to city are everywhere to be seen, as numerous and dry their nets on." beautiful columns stretched along the coast, ruins of an aqueduct, &c. The Tyrian merchants were probably the first who imported to the Mediterranean Sea, and thence into Europe, the commodities of India. As might be expected in such a commercial people, they sent several colonies to distant quarters to form settlements for trade. Carthage, Gades, (Cadiz,) Leptus, Utica, are among the cities which they thus founded. We will close with the following appropriate poetical note of warning to the United States, by one of England's noble Churchmen and poets: Tyre of the farther West! be thou, too, warn'd, While in mid air thy stars and arrows flaunt? Except, disrob'd of thy vain earthly vaunt, We have thus given a sketch of Ancient Tyre, properly so called, but a brief account of its subsequent history may not be uninteresting. About thirty-four years after its subjugation by Alexander, it fell into the hands of one of his generals, Ptolemy; after this period its history is identified with that of Syria, which was conquered by the Romans, and became their province, about the year 63 B. C. Tyre was still a great city, and in the Apostolic age seems to have regained some measure of its ancient reputation as a trading city. St. Paul, in touching here on one occasion, on his way back from Macedonia, found a number of Christian believers, with whom he spent a week, so that the Gospel must have been early preached to the Tyrians. Tyre was afterwards distinguished for its zeal in the cause of Christianity, and was made the first archbishopric under the patriarchate of Jerusa-Whence Truth her sign may make o'er forest, lake, and strand. The holy seed, by Heaven's peculiar grace, Is rooted here and there in thy dark woods; And Mammon builds beside thy mighty floods, O, while thou yet hast room, fair fruitful land, Eastward, this hour, perchance thou turn'st thine ear, lem. Two ecclesiastical councils were held here; the first in A. D. 335, when the good Athanasius was unjustly deprived of his bishopric and banished from Alexandria, and the other in 448, the result of which was to absolve Bishop Ibas, who had been accused of supporting the heretical opinions of Nestorius. It shared the fate of the adjacent country during the Saracen invasion, in the beginning of the seventh cen- Her towers, and lone sands heap her crowned merchants' graves. To thee and Heaven. O trying hour for thee! For the Evergreen. HOLY CHURCH THE HEALER OF DIVI SIONS. CHAPTER IIL THE CHURCH AT SNARLINGHAM. * Sundays, since we went there five years ago? I should like very much to go, and renew my acquaintance with some of the people. Mr. Hyde's family was a very pleasant one." "Yes," replied Mr. Mercer, "it is so still, and there are many others very agreeable." James was all animation during the ride to Snarlingham: every tree and rock had some pleasant association connected with it. He felt, he said, as if he were no older than when he ate orange-peel through fear of Mrs. Stifman. As soon as they came to the stone which marked the boundary line between Whitworth and Snarlingham, James was surprised to see, at a distance before them, several new buildings. As they passed the site of the old school-house, he looked out for it, but it was missing; and on the same lot, but much farther from the street, stood a new brick building, apparently devoted "Really, Snarlingham is looking up," said James. "I never expected to see a new school-house here." "Snarlingham has improved," replied Mr. Mercer, "and this new building is not the only improvement." Soon they came to a turn in the road, which brought them in sight of a number of dwelling-houses, built in good taste, with gardens adjoining, neatly laid out. "Well, I am sure here is quite a fine village," exclaimed James. 66 So imperceptibly does time glide away, that when one has been absent for many years from a place once familiar to him, he is entirely unprepared to witness the changes that meet him on his return. Thus we must imagine James Mercer, with the weight of five more years upon his head than those he carried when we last saw him riding to Snarlingham, expecting, as he was taking the same ride again with his father, to find every thing at the place in “statu quo." He had been at a great distance from home most of the time since we last took notice of him in the old meeting-to the purpose that the old one had been. This new house. He had always manifested a predilection for school-house was surrounded by a large yard, in which mercantile pursuits, and, though his father would have were planted many young trees, that gave promise of preferred that he should choose his own profession, he abundant shade to the children of the next generation. did not deem it best to urge him to a course contrary to his inclinations. Soon after we took leave of him, in the last chapter, a friend of his father, who was going to reside some years in India, where he was extensively engaged in business, offered to take him with him as a clerk, for a time, and afterward, if he should wish to return to America, to help him to some good situation there, should he be found qualified. Mr. Mercer, after many inward struggles and much prayer for direction, gave his consent to the course which Divine Providence seemed to point out for his son. He had great confidence in the integrity and piety of the gentleman who made him the offer, and he knew that James' principles were correct and firmly fixed, or he would not have accepted it. After he had decided that it was better for James to go, he sailed almost immediately. He remained in India more than four years, where he gave perfect satisfaction to his employer. This good friend of his, however, finding that "We shall soon see," was the answer; for his fathe climate was injurious to his own health, and hav-ther intended he should be surprised, and would exing accumulated enough property to enable him to re- plain no farther than was necessary. tire from business, determined to return to his own They now turned into the street in which James recountry, and again promised, if James would accom- collected Mr. Hyde's house had stood, and he looked pany him, to procure him a good situation. This heout for the old meeting-house, which was situated on a was very willing to do, and he was now making a visit at his father's, after his long absence, before taking up his residence in a distant city. During his stay in India, though he frequently had news from home, he had heard but little of the state of things at Snarlingham, nor did he trouble himself much about that place, as all his interest in it had given way to other objects. But his recollection was revived by an invitation from his father, the first Sunday evening after his return, to accompany him to Snarlingham. "Is it possible, father," said he, "that you have had patience to go up to Snarlingham once in every few Yes," replied his father, "see that brick store on the right hand, where Deacon Stifman's barn formerly stood." "And there is a very neat wooden building, nearly opposite," added James. "That is the new town-house," said Mr. Mercer. "What can have induced the people here to unite long enough to erect so many public buildings?" James inquired. high hill at the corner. "The old meeting-house is gone," exclaimed he; "surely, all those who were disgusted with Congregationalism when I was last here, have not gone back, and helped Deacon Stifman build another." "That is a pretty house on the corner," said Mr. Mercer, without replying, " and the name of the street is painted on it." 66 Why, Snarlingham has almost become a city," said James, "to have the streets named. 'Church street!' why, what could cause the good people to choose such a popish name ?” They rode rapidly past several new and tasteful} quested the loan of books from his father, when he buildings, among which were a new post-office and made his former visit. store; and as they passed Mr. Hyde's house, Mr. Mercer said, "We will not go in now, for it is rather late, I fear." In a moment they came in front of a grove, enclosed by an iron fence, and beautifully laid out for a cemetery; and at the end of a graveled path, which led through the centre of this yard, stood a stone edifice, not of very large dimensions, but built in pure Gothic style, and of perfect proportions. Mr. Mercer, in a slow and solemn tone, commenced the service, by reading the sentence, "The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him;" and every one present seemed to feel sensible that the place where they were assembled was “no other than the house of God." Reverence, in look and deportment, was apparent everywhere. The responses were well sustained, and nearly the whole congregation appeared to be engaged in the service. Here "This the new meeting-house!" exclaimed James.and there, however, one might be seen who did not at"I wonder if I am awake, or have been dreaming all tempt to find a place, or to join in the worship. this afternoon. Why, my dear father, this looks more After sermon by the Bishop, the Rev. Mr. Leverett like a church than ours at Whitworth." requested the candidates for confirmation to come for "To be sure it does,” replied his father, "why should ward to the chancel. There was a great difference in it not?" Mr. Leach now came forward and greeted them in his usual cordial manner. He appeared very happy, but, James thought, not as trifling as he was wont to be in past times. "Mr. Leach," said James, "nothing looks familiar here. I have almost been led to doubt my personal identity. I feel like a stranger, and really timid about going in." the age and appearance of those who obeyed the call. Some with hoary hair and tottering steps presented themselves, as if to commence the work of a whole life at the eleventh hour; others whose child-like look seemed to say that their souls had not lost the impress of the seal placed upon them in infancy; and others, of ages between these two extremes. Mr. Leach was one of the number, and he was accompanied by his daughters, whom James knew were the same little girls whose laughter had disturbed him so much in the "I must wait upon your father into the vestry-room," replied Mr. Leach, for the bell has nearly done tolling,old meeting-house. and then I will return and show you the way into church. If you do not feel more at home here, than you did before, I shall be much disappointed." As James stood in the porch, wondering what Mr. Leach meant by talking about a vestry-room at Snarlingham, the deep tones of an organ struck upon his ear. He had hardly time to say to himself, the fiftieth time since leaving home, "What can all this mean?" before Mr. Leach appeared and preceded him into the place of worship. After service, Mr. Mercer and his son, accompanied by Mr. Leverett, took tea at the house of Mr. Leach. The Bishop, who was staying at Mr. Hyde's, was too much fatigued to leave his lodgings, as he had held a confirmation at a neighboring town that same day. He retired early to his apartment, and afterward Mr. Hyde joined the gentlemen at Mr. Leach's. As they all sat together, Mr. Mercer remarked— 66 My son seemed at a loss, Mr. Leach, to account for the union of effort displayed here, in the erection of so many new buildings. I presume he has discovered, by this time, what powerful agent has been at work here." "The Church," said James, "but I had no expec{tation of finding it established here. I had heard that the number of Churchmen was increasing, but nothing about this new church. I believe my friends purpose If James had been astonished at the appearance of the meeting-house on his former visit, he was now much more astonished to find himself within a neat church, finished with oak, and, instead of the pulpit and deacon's seat, which formerly graced, or rather disgraced the meeting-house, to see, directly before him, an arched recess for the chancel, an altar of grave and solemn appearance, and on ei-ly avoided mentioning it in their letters." ther side a pulpit and reading-desk. Every thing was "We wanted something to surprise you with," said finished in perfect taste; nothing seemed inconsistent Mr. Mercer; "but the change that has taken place with the "beauty of holiness," which should charac-here, is very remarkable.” terize the place where, as well as the manner in which 'It is wonderful," said Mr. Leach, "and nothing God is worshiped. James was glad to see, painted could have been more unexpected to me, than the reabove the altar, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the sults which have followed the introduction of our serTen Commandments, which are too seldom allowed a vice into the place. I was careless and thoughtless place in our churches in these days. He was pre- when I first wished it. My idea was to have a respectvented from examining the building any further, by able society here, and to be able to live in peace. My seeing the Bishop of the Diocese enter the chancel motives were worldly, but the end was brought about and take his place. He was followed by Mr. Mercer, by Divine Providence. It was a long time before and a young clergyman, in whose fine face and figure I understood the principles of the Church, or could James recognized those of the gentleman who had re- see the spirituality of the Liturgy, and even now, 66 |