The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-11-14
FTuH IHt FehhkyIVah
REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER.

Notoriey is Indispensable to individuals as wa
ter to the existence of fish, 1t is their bengs end
and aim"-tbe one thought by day, the dream by
night For its attainment hardship is too great to be
endured, no sacrifice too great to be made. 81
Very conspicuousy the head of this class Of restless
uneasy fanatca agitator stands the religious champion
of sharpe holy rifles Possessing far than tai
emit shrewdness than sincerity more Yankee cum
ming than genuine honesty more zeal than knowledge
more pretence than piey parsimony than pstrios
be has managed by his peculiar adroitness as manager
to obtain good share of what he much covets-what
be ardenty worshps in his Utmost soul The idol en-
hroned in his heart demands sacrifice he is not willing
to makepety DEVOTION religion duty, anything short Of
Heaven ITSELF be is willing abandon that be can build
Babel and make himself name
Those who acquainted with this strange individual
have often marvelled did Of tho persons In the play
who inquired upon what he could have fed that be had
grown great in the estimation of the superficial and the
less informed To there Is nothing wonderful in all
this With those who not attempt to distinguish
between glitter and gold paste and diamonds 1t Is
prsng in the least that the rife preacher sboud acquire
ophemeral popularity He is curiosity and such lie
attractive to the Of the people who fond OF all
sorts Of things that out Of the order The
Yooy horse the Feeee mermaid the prince Of humbugs
found attractive at his museum, until the cheat was dis
covered Other strange things excite wonder and
shment for awhile and why should not the Rev Henry
Ward Beecher the begerent follower Of the Prince OF
Peace
The of all his sphemeral notoriey be told in
very few words Mr. Beecher ostensbly belongs a stad
sober digni6ed Christian denominations body of Chris
tans who do not couHtenance lattudinaan principles
much leGs rvoty and mountebsnkery in the pulpit Mr.
Beecher aims to depart widely from their rigid rules Of
propriety he possibly loses opportunity sat-
rize their creed dspsrage their deeply doc
rnes and cover the professors Of their faith with rdcue
and contempt Persons that would be attracted by glad
atoria combat such things permitted the present
day rush TO hear this theological prze-ghter deal his
hard hits bis brethren The other places OF
ment closed Sunday, and crowd can easily be
gathered enjoy the next best thing in the acting line
and this they find at Mr. Beechers church His sermons
are n sort Of miscellaneous tumble of Lyccum essays
political squibs epigrams, bon mots dash OF satire
which else where would be known by bnrsher term
free reckessness Of all the restraints usually observed
the pulpit; the crowd tckled with the originality Of
preacher who talks proaney with ms much hippan inn
py they accustomed to hear In lower resorts about
town. This sort OF pulpit oratory takes with certain
class; il is odd the preacher is original he beabors
Christians and their doctrines with right hearty good will
He attacks mehonored opinions in sapdash sort of
way that quite refreshing TO the haer Of truth and gen
une devotion and his church is filed would be circus
or play house similar performances announced in
the bs OF the day The opponents of the faith he
sibly advocates all pet and iatter him rs wonderful
champion Of human progress He demolishing his own
superstructure undermining his temple, and they
cheer him in his labors. Being within orthodox
communion his blows fall upon uuguarded spot and
are the keeny felt because they given by pro-
fessed friend. =.
It's perfectly evident that this reverend gentleman has
entirely mistaken his profession He lacks every requisite
qualification which true minister Of the Gospel possesses.
He has power Of analysis consequently, his discourses
rambling ncoheent hapsodies covering all questions
topics and subjects that can well be imagined but having
the reost conneKion with the particular text select
ed Sometimes miscellaneous sometimes political anon
sarcal and what the call funny he manages TO
talk by the hour copsecutvey far any particular
subject is concerned dictionary would be cut MP into
fragments and scattered about among the congregation
The late crownng act by which he has secured the high
amount Of his dozed notoriey has been In turning
bis pulpit into Fremont rostrum What he has gained
10 the estimation Of the wise and the good what degree
pure and undehed religion has been advanced hy his
ratio efForts we leave for the public to decide