New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-11
CHRISTIAN MANLINESS.

BY THE REV. HESRY WARD BEECHER.
Plymouth Church was crowded to its furthest limit
yesterday morning, and greater proportion of the
audience than usual showed strange faces The influx
of visitors TO the city for the coming anniversaries
added large number of ministers to the great gather
ing; and TO those among them who so-called
conservative" the sermon was undoubtedly rather
strong cigar.
An interesting scene was Witnessed preliminary to
the discourse, in the baptism of more than twenty
children who were held in the arms of their parents
standing in the circular space around the pulpit while
the pastor administered to each in succession the beau
tifu and impressive ordinance.
Among the usual notices for the week was the
announcement Of the annual meeting of the New
York Christian Association, after the reading of which
Mr. BFEcHER took occasion to remark that he might
at last read such notice with good conscience. The
name Of the Association had been misnomer for
months past. Ii had not been Christian Asso-
citation. But he thought he could designate it
without any further variation from the truth than s
usually made when that word ia applied to human
conduct. He thought that the members Of that body
had at last got THEN light out from under bushe-or
rather from under "peck measure TOR they did not
take bushel to hide Il with. further allusiOn was
made to the Christian Association in the discourse
The text from Ephesisns, chapter w., verse i3
It'll all come in the any OF the faith and of the
knowledge OF the Son of God, unto ptniect man or
perfect manhood unto the measure OF tue stature OF the
fulness Of Christ The general theme Of the sermon
was Christian Manlness, on which the preacher set
forth an elevated ideal Of true Christian character
There is no warrant IN the Bible, he said for any ideal
of Christian character that is not manly and robust
that not large aud generous There no warrant Tor
any other Christian than Christian that Is man III
Christ Jesus There are, 10 be sure Christians that
children, but they not 20 remain such, Dut are
TO be brought of that state as coon as possible
They all to be noble large strong, magnanlHous'
In all nations the word Imam" signifies courage,
vigor, largeneSs and endurance. To be "o-
man is noble for a woman God made woman 20 III
her all the rich heaped in the words sister
wife, mother and the whole world beside mas not
tenderness then are in these three words; But
10 be Ike q woman has always been heu 10 DC Jus
graceful in man. Everything Is perfect IA It's Aiu ~
this world; man should be man anu WOMAN
should be a woman and neither should Try 10 be Tue
other any more than both should try to be angels.
The Bible does not recognize iemihHe SIace' ~
men. There is no such thing SET loitn ~ 'ie
New Testament a. a masculine femninny IN
pety. Paul says: - BE ye not chhdren III unuef'
" standing; howbeit in malice be ye enHureni
" but in understanding be men. ms was 1917 III.
thought with Paul, he said, ana quo.eu aso ~
Passages from the Apostle conveying sihilsr iuea'
There il sense in which Christians are 10
be like /" little children. AS, ior instance ~
is said that we are 10 he DO,h aSaiH' aIu "
become like little children. But lest we isn l'o
mistake and beome puerie, instead OF lhiahlle, W.
must understand that while in simplicity, purity ana
upmaliciousness we must be "a little cnhdleh, We
must nevertheless be in other tnings Si""5 iibn'
"Acquit you like meH." PAU was 'i1nn'HSi 80 -
of great six-feet sousre-bu old soldier, pacing ms
sentry-r all night all guarded ana covered win
armor-his face a bronze as his hsimei; ne "aS no'
thinking Of church member who was IKE Dape ~ q
cradle, and was rocked by yeNet-io0'eu ni.lts'I,
who spoke in soft whispers, and sad only soi' ninss
The aim of the disciples was not 70 a' S i
band OF followers they aimed at abundant develop
ment: ard that development was not 70 De mere nIe
ness softness and polish Ii was to be large 10 DC
noble TO be strong Military training gave certain
degree of development TO mem 80 oiG tne Su..u
of art Discipline in civil affairs; 80 did society 10
general, and the family institution IN hm. ,han
these exercised men to q certain uegiee, Du' ~!
lacked their full development untl lney III" 80,
religion of Christ man was meant W a'ta ns
manhood only through Christianity, ana 10 10 otei
way can he obtain H. He must De CnristtaH 70 DC
a man for the only true ideal Il CH'I~,aI ~
He did rot say that unless man became cnHIon-
member he could not be g. man, bnI thal 10 Iaige
ideal of Christian manhood could be attained except
through Christ and Christian truth The business Q. .
Christian minister is not TO turn man OUT 1i
into something else called Christian oui 70 IaAe
Christianity a. a formative influence thai VIII develop
IN every man his true manhood. But 20 lar lroh
this. ministers often impress umldIty VI cna 90
upon Young Christians as KIND Oh duty
an ideal Of character OF whicn cau.on
the corr and Characteristic element-such as Is aial
10 their growth in msnliness' ana ~ ". go.
idea Of true Christian man. Iney arc ~.
to face the devil, but to e'udr MN no' ~ w.
come the world but to AVOID II. II soPposou
that this is the road toward mummy "u' 'ueie