Litchfield enquirer., 1845-11-20
ANECDOTE OF DR. BEECHER.

The Philadelphia North American relates the following anecdote of the celebrated orthodox di- I vine, Dr. Beecher, as one which has never been ] previously published It will illustrate how pride
 as regards outward appearance. can be uttelly sub
 dued by the development of intrinsic realities.
 When, in the early years of his life, Dr. Beecher
 was living in Litchfeld something caused him to spend a Sunday in Hartford He was dressed in
 home simplicity, and was difdent in conversation, so tkat it was no easy matter to judge of his qua- ty. Dr. Strong was then settled over the Congre-
 gational church in that city, and professional usage required that he should entertain Beecher at his house, and invite him into his pulpit. He looked
 distrusngly upon the plain country pastor, and la- lamented the terrible necessity. But there was no
 alternative but in the violation of courtesy Beech CT sat meekly in the pulpit through the morning and afternoon, but was not asked to take any part in the services In the evening Strong ntimaed to him very coldly that if he chose to do SO, he
 could preach for him, and was shocked by his in- Sant acquescence. A man who will accept an
 invitation rendered in such way this,' thought
 Strong, cannot preach sermon fit for my congre- gation to listen to!' He was mistaken, however. Beecher had hardly less pride than genius, and he
 felt keenly the chilling coldness of the great man, as Strong was then considered The evening came
 on the church was brilliantly lighted, and throng- ed with the beauty, fashion, and intelligence of
 that home of gentleness and learning. Strong had
 offered the opening prayer, and was sitting in stern i'll humor, while the choir were singing the hymn to precede the sermon. Beecher became restless,
 and his face was flushed with sudden excitement.
 He turned to Strong, and inquired in a low and hurried voice, if the sermon could be a few mo-
 ments 1eferred--he had left his manuscript in his
 chamber. 'Nor said the Doctor with exultant | but ill natured sharpness-and grasped Bible to
 select text for himself. glad that accident to relieve him and his congregation of the morti lying inhiction he had dreaded. He toe fast
 Reecher had been sung to the heart b, hls manner, | and recognizing the words of the last line of the
 hymn, sprang to the desk, and ere Strong re- | covered from hls astonishment, had announced his
 text for extemporaneous discourse. It is the will of God,' thought the vexed and humbled pas
 tor, and prepared himselfto listen with Christian resignation. For a few moments the young preach CT spoke with slight hestaion if, while giving | his introduction, he revolving in his mind an extended argument Soon his voice rang clear and loud, his sentences compact and earnest, and his manner caught the glowing fervor of his | thought. All was hushed but his impassioned 1 tones; the great assemblvwas still as death and, | leaning forward with blended wonder and admira- 1 lion, the pastor felt sealing him from the ! hushed air the rebute of his Master, for his harsh | judgment and cold treatment of his younger broth-
 CT. In after life he used to relate the story. and
 confess that he had never heard such eloquence as l that of the holnespun young Beecher