The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-01-29
Henry Ward Beecher.

| va Out 'oos PoSN We PuDiioh o Ooluiuchs
on Bcecher and his preaching, from Fer
guson late Scotch traveller, which
seems to US rather unjust.
We have often listened to Mr. Beech
ers' preaching, and our impressions wero
of an entirely different character.
We can readily conceive that Mr..
Beechers preaching must be extremely
distasteful to certain class of church
gocrs. We mean those who attend as a
duty and who prefer an easy cushioned
seat, preacher, whose sermon of meas
ured length, is monotonously intoned in
regular cadences, which have as much
solnniferous effect as the sleepy drone of
distant bag-pipe; whose sermons are al
ways aimed above the heads of their audi
ence, at some far distant sins or sinner, or
who perhaps tthe the mint and cummin
by pouring their broadsides against the
sin Of aonc1ag, or sopc other pretty pee
cadillo, leaving the sins of every business
life unnoticed.
Such preaching suits the sleepy extor.
toner, the knavish usurer, the willy trick
ster, and, in short, that large class of
hearers who prey upon their fellow men
through the week, and go to Church on
the seventh day, and lay piece Of silver
on the plate for the poor, to commute for
their six days knavery.
Our first visit to Mr.. Beecher's church
was after this wise We inquired of our
landlord in New York City, the proper
route to find the Plymouth church, in
Brooklyn. His reply was very significant
lie said, "Go down to the Fulton ferry.
Cross over, and then follow the crowd. -
Following his direction, we found our
selves at a large, plain brick church.
Entering, We were given seat, at once,
and as we were quite early, the bell being
still ringing, we had abundant leisure to
observe the filling up process. First, all
the pews were filled. The sections took
the liberty OF filing them up, whether
their owner had arrived or not. On Gu
tering we had noticed two enormous piles
of chairs in the lobby. These were now
brought in, and the aisles were filed
Meanwhile, the gallery was crammed, and
q sort of second gallery, or cOck-loft, was
also filed. Even the steps leading to tho
platform which serves as pulpit, were
all occupied as seats before the service
commenced. After the hymn was given
out, Mr.. Beecher made some character
istic remarks to the members of the
church aud society present. It would
seem that some had complained Of finding
their seats occupied by strangers, and OF
the inconyenient crowding. His remarks
were slightly ironical, yet there was moth
ing approaching leyity. After this, We
had congres sational singing, aided by a
powerful organ and good choir, to lead
and harmonic the great mass of music,
as it were; the effect was very fine. The
opening prayer, was in the commencement
a labored affair, sort of half-Sermon, ad-
dressed, as many prayers are, to the ears
OF his audience; this completed he closed
with simple touching appeal in which
large part Of the audience seemed to Join
most heartily, and many were 80 much
affected as to shed tears.
The sermon was plain, simple and prac-
tical. T.ere was none of the ribaldry
which others charge him with uttcring iu
the pulpit. His action, though energetic,
was natural. We saw nothing of thcatri-
cal exaggcration in his gestures or voice.
He is one OF the most correct speakers We
ever heard. The beauty of an illustra-
ton or Of comparison is never mGntd
by an ill chosen word, or an incorrect ex-
preston. No man possesses more fully
the power of carrying with him the SYM
pathies of his audience. We defy tho
hardest old shell who has single spark
OF humanity left in him, to 60 to sleep
under his preaching; and It would not be
credtable to any mans oandor OF hon.
csty to attempt to find fault with the pre-
cepts, or the application of the sermons
We have heard from his lips
His faults are those Of an ardent, i'm
pulsive, generous nature. 1t would not
be strange that man who has reached
such height of popularity so young,
should be egotistical. Nor is it surpri-
sing that one so ardent and impul5ive
should follow some jack O lanterns in tho
way of Sharpe rifle meetings, showing up
fugitive colored ladies', and Maine law
gatherings and political stamping.
We can bear with some fanaticism in
one possessing so many good qualities,
and with all his faults, we wish there
we're more such preachers. But take the
narrow minded bigot whose whole being
centres in little point OF intense fanati-
,ism, and he is tie most troublesome and
Of humans- Otau1 Regis
ey.