The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-24
The Rev. Henry Ward Be~cher's Sermon
at Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, Yester-

rrME-FAsT DAys-ImPgRF.crIoSs or HUMAN Issrr-
1urioes-cHANGE THE Law OF socIErr-KURoPEAN
This distinguished divine who has achieved for hi m
self great reputation among the Presbyterian body
Tor his talents and eoquence preached the folio Ing
sermon, yesterday at Ply mouth Church, Brooklyn
the occasion Of the general Thanksgiving After read
iss. portion of the scriptures suitable 60 the
tits mstter of thanksgiving ths. such national
noble old stock, the Jews They owed Il to God him
self. IL was founded necessity to man as a re-
ngSus creature 70 many Of Us. II Is not aone day
those magic gasres through which We look foudy back
upon our childhood, and, looking feel the young
blood stil in veins and the sparkle once in
our eyes How we'll remember he month-long ex.
pectatisn of tbaukssivng-the famous plans Of all
SURPRISING merriment that were to crown the long
wished for day. We counted the weeks VIC regulated
the events by their relation this joyous era It was
time when every to be glad, on principle |
day, was sin almost great to be merry o sun
day. What strange Inconsistencies wound up in
and uDhnchng habits had been fou nded under re-
gious prosecutions. nourished in exile and onarmed
practicable soil-whese habit was sobriety whose
abominstion was frivolity, whose words few and
that, among such people there should have sorunr
up such joyous custom this, of redolent,
!sSshins, y0mping thsnssgivins, L indeed sar.
dedicated to this day. 1t religious on
Thanksgiving day, to say to the whole man,
other times, it their business to labor, gravely
to dhcourse seriously to study wisdom. On
this day their supreme business was to be happy All
people, princes and all the judges Of the earth both
young me- and maidens, old men and children, were
this day to praise the Lord. When, to exceed
Sabbath, announcing that the time had come no
school was strong enough to hold from proclama-
tion Sunday till Thanksgiving Thursday. Then dis
persed relatives began gather homeward scattered
children found the old homestead dearer than ever;
arms that she brought back with her one dear child
less than last year or the young wife wished eagerly
to show the marvel Of the earth her new born, frat
child born. The stsiwart youth recounted his plans
and profits; and all We'd with each other In bringing
out Of their memories the various events of the eeted
year. and to pour out their hearts into the sparkling
stream Of family AS much this custom,
had within itself the most amusing incongruities,
1t was day both sacred and secular, religious and
profane, Of worship and unboundsd merri@snt. In
theory then, there s no discrepancy between these
qualities but the process Of practical exercise when
conducted by young and old, made the most
ton dehorted every pious citizen on that day from
secular. work, and e1horted him to give to Gods
wholesome scruple throughout the forenoon. The
sound Of the not heard The far off report Of
good people upon the PROCLAMATION The reverend gen.
tlemen after dwelling In the same strain the
an 70 hs IN N
toms are the opponents Of character and that nation
whose feelings were expressed BY such annual usages
the most entire abatement and humiliation before God
and the most joyous Thanksgiving were not made of
such fimsy stuff that afford to ridicule them.
duce the custom Of vernal fast days They are
bleak and mela nchoy enough, when they are not the
thing could be than the appointment Of day to
be trampled upon with disgust. But do wish that
mh that that Wis
we might have pervsdng the reflective mind, such
sense Of Gods providence, Of our unworthiness,
OF honorable and ennobling humility as should make
fast day not an outside show, but simple ard ma
tural expression. Tears beautiful smes-sor-
tenigent and dsvout humiliation before God methinks
would have much in 1t that natural and congo.
IT, And surely our conduct would furnish as ample
materials for the day of humiliation, Gods ounty
The reverend gentleman them entered into learned
and philosophical explanation Of what was understood
BY the word "institution" and It's application in So
ciety He defined the term in it's general sense to be
one of the permanent organized methods Of bringing
truth to bear upon human conduct. He then went on
say that all institutions be subject growth and
therefore, oprogress. This tendency though 1t
not be overcome, be resisted 1t IL resisted. Tn
complaints loud aud the ordinations severe upon
the unsettedness Of the age the constant disposition
for something new the lust Of novelty That wa, the
trouble hundred years ago. 1t the vexaton of the
hundred years before that aud of it's preceding age
It win be OF every age that has life and Every
institution is subject to mutation and change but
all those institutions that have respect to human
conduct, are exceedingly Jealous Of change. Au-
thority and interest, q blind and supersttious
venerstion, or . timid and cautious prudence,
create conservatism 30 strong, that improvements
with gentle natural, and easy growth but they are
wrenohed by violent hands out Of the grasp Of reuc
pentup bosom Of suffering, when it can endure no
longer fragrant rsdicalism is the legitimate child of
fragrant conservation Growth is the law Of society.
1t ought therefore to be regarded as q fundamental
neceesity-tO be rejoiced to be provided for In
stead OF . grudg,Dg and out wrung concession, we
sheud anticipate and dispassonaeiy provide for new
demands, and rejoice to the renewing hunger
of the human mind. But it has been supposed that
almost a. much of permanent belonged to institu-
lions did to the truths WhsCh thew embodV-thRt
was as pIoiane to change custom as to desc
right not Only Of the church but Of civil government
not Of these only, but of laws and ussges long in
authortyhave prevailed to the greatest mt among
those who have had intelligence, and afuence, and
authority their side and who have felt at less
need Of change and more aversion to its risks than
Hence changes have rarely proceeded from the upper
classes Of society, until within few generations It
is Of the most suspicious sSns Of growing inteli
gencs that in age, the educ ated and ths ausnt
to extent, and increasingly bending toward
the poor and ignorant with voluntary proer Of pro-
have now come to that point at which can state
the design Of this discourse, viz First, to point out
some phenomena of the changes of society and
secondly in the light Of them, to call out
some facts of our own day, and their philosophy.
prepare the causes Of their own change. The impsr
feoons which each institution sucaesively developes
point out the exredency and necessity Of change for
the better In this view how amusngly absurd the
complaints Of authority the water In resisting
some new development men are reminded Of the in
gratitude of the people IL is sobery declared that
concession only paves the way for another that II
this reformation be granted, 1t will not stop at that,
but with sturder voice and more imposing strength
demand another. The reasoning lie good, Ifmen grow,
they must have continually changing rsiment II
society ndipg upward 1t will either leave its insttu
tions submerged rising up over and going past, or
they must be buoyed up and rise with It, It Is not
difficult to foresee the coming times In Europe
whether this that nation shall he free, may
not say whether this or that tendency will presently
succeed, We do not know but that there is tho
rough ferme ntaticn that there IL . real and unms
taxable groundswell-that the huge masses Of the
people uctuating, by reason of new and growing
dcsires and following after IDEAS there cannot be
doubt. There is NO help for It, The result may be
earlier later various struggles be undergone;
but there is . weu-dsveloped movements hne of
direction has been taken there ferces within and
without to accelerate the notion and change upon
change reform upon REFORM taking away and building
up-reforn or revolution, and long SUGGESTIONS Of
than. take Mace. II there be oh IN expe