Unitarianism

Excerpt

In certain quiet nooks of Old England, and, by contrast, in some of the busiest centres of New England, landmarks of religious history are to be found which are not to be easily understood by every passer-by.  He is familiar with the ordinary places of worship, at least as features in, the picture of town or village.  Here is the parish church where the English episcopal order has succeeded to the Roman; yonder is the more modern dissenting chapel, homely or ornate.  But, now and then, among the non-episcopal buildings we find what is called distinctively a ’Meeting House,’ or more briefly a ‘Meeting,’ which may perhaps be styled ‘Old,’ ‘New,’ or ‘Great’.  Its architecture usually corresponds with the simplicity of its name.  Plain almost to ugliness, yet not without some degree of severe dignity, stand these old barn-like structures of brick—­occasionally of stone; bearing the mellowing touch of time, surrounded by a little overshadowed graveyard, they often add a peculiar quaintness and solemnity to the scene.  Mrs. Gaskell has described one such in her novel Ruth, and admirers of her art should know well that her own grave lies beside the little sanctuary she pictured so lovingly.