The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-27 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN PREACHERS ON CHARLES
DICKENS.

In several of the New York churches on Sunday, the
12th, allusions were made to the death of Dickens
and eulogies pronounced on his genius and works. Dr.
Bellows, at the Church of the MesSiah, in an eloquent
discourse, declared that that the end for which the great
novelist worked " was invariably exalted, noble and
high," and that " his words reached hearts preachers
could never touch." In a sermon on joy and love
delivered at the 'Church of the Divine Paternity, Dr.
Chapin referred to 'Dickens -as one who had been instru-
mental by his writings in softening our hard human hearts
toward the numberless poor, and who had been the means
of bringing light and cheerfulness to many a dull and
dreary abode, Even Mr. Frothingham was moved. to
speak of the lamented " Boz " as an artist drawing " from
all ranks of life and all fields of industry pictures which
will never cease to touch the heart by their wondrous
individuality., truth, and warmtct of life."

THE REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER, ON
THE DEATH OF MR. DICKENS.

At the weekly prayer-meeting of Plymouth Church,
on June 10th, after the preliminary exercises, Deacon
Bell arose and said, in substance, that the sad news had
come to-day over the Atlantic Cable, that Charles
Dickens, one of the great men of the present generation,
was dead. The deceased, he said, was widely known—
known probably as a writer throughout the civilised
world, as one of the greatest writers of fiction
and useful works, which would live long after
this time. Though there was little to hope
for as to his Christianity, still it was better to
hope than to despair. Mr. Beecher said that in some
respects the death of Mr. Dickens was more of a per-
sonal loss than that of almost any other man of mark in
the literary world that could be named would be. Mr.
Dickens was a genial gentleman, and by his works as well
as by his manners, he had taken a deep hold upon the
hearts of the lower and middle classes throughout all
countries where the English language is spoken. The
speaker continued : " Whether Mr. Dickens was a
Christian or not. God knows, Ido not. Would that be-
fore his death we could have put that question beyond a
peradventure." It was difficult to judge of men, because
every one was placed in such different circumstances. We
could not, he said, compare such a man as Mr. Dickens
with Byron, Bulwer, and others that we might name.
Mr. Dickens, in his works, had portrayed life as he found
it among the lower classes of the City of London, and as
he might find it to-day in, perhaps, all the great civilized
cities of the world. He had done well and nobly. The
only exception that could be taken was that he
opposed temperance—total abstinence from all that
intoxicates. It may be doubted, said Mr. Beecher,
whether his works in the next generation will be
regarded in the same light they now are. When
last. Mr. Dickens was in this country the speaker
had au interview with him in a room adjoining Plymouth
Church, after he (Dickens) had delivered one of his read-
ings there, and the latter said, " Mr. Beecher, never
think of having another or different church as long as you
live ; this is one of the best constructed churches and the
best room to speak in, which I have ever known." In
conclusion, Mr. Beecher said he could not but be grateful
to God for Charles Dickens. He had performed a great
and a good work, which it seemed God had sent him to
do. He had fulfilled his akotted part in the great cause
of human progress—well, bravely, nobly. Peace be to his
memory.