The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-03-17

lyle, Ut even his t1Ou SnC, Is tnaI OI MS per-
sona love to Christ, and his supreme inter-
est in human welfare. He is thorough ac-
tor, thorough thinker, and also thorough
Christian. Through grace, he has large pow
er to bring all the nobler elements of his
hearers minds into supremacy over the low
er; thing impossible, were not his own
soul hahitually governed by the higher facul-
ties. The wells of Beechers eloquence are
in his moral nature More than most men
think, reformer's power depends upon his
faith, his strong but unheard prayers, his
unutterable conversations with Deity, where
no man is. ..., ....... .....-.r -.... \.
The mere literary adept cannot fully APP
preciate Beecher, or any other of the many
who have equal power through faith. A
mere man of the world can not fully know
him. No politician, or mere statesman can
understand him fully. To the heart strug-
Cling f'r a better life; to the soul a sonizing
for purity, expansion and usefulness, Henry
Ward Beecher may be known. He must be
judged as a Christian by Christian. The
crowning grace which draws me to him. is
that he loves man, that he adores Christ,
that he gives his life for Truth. believe
that this is the central source of Beecher's
power. 1t is his wide benevolenee, his vital
piety, his rejoicing faith; in one word, his
heart. 1t is this which makes him so eager,
so untiring, so restless, so manly, so strong
All minds united with that of Deity are pro-
life 1t is this union with God which gives
Beecher's mind its best eloquence. 1t is
this holding on firmly with one hand upon
Gods throne and with the other upon mans
life that gives him what power he possesses
to bring the two together. 1t is this vital
religion, operating upon a well balanced
mind and body, that is the central barrack of
his fortress. The man is sincere. He is SOL
id all through. He is independent, consist
ent, courageous, loving. lie bears fruit be-
cause he is united with the Tree Vine. 1t is
by no trick Of oratory, no sham display, no
fortunate circumstances alone, that he has
attained his present influence. His useful
ness is proof that all success as teacher of
truth must be founded upon solid thought
and moral worth. ......."
And useful thought is as :nuch Beccher's
character as humor. He often breaches
hours without single witticism, holding the
audience by logical force alone. The even
ing sermon which heard, on the Bible Doc
trine of Man, was one hour and twenty min
utes of solid Illustrated, closely applied,
bold and elevated reasoning. The first re-
mark made Of it by many was, that it was
strikingly full of valuable matter. Its phi
lantAropy was not theory, but personal,
whoe-hearted, Iife-rl,ling emotion. From
the preacher to the hearers the spirit of the
sermon was transfuscd. At its close an at
mospherc of love and of thought had been
breathed over the congregation. And this
overiiowing, almost passionate benevolence
this vigorous, practical, and prolific power OF
thought, is as mush characteristic of Beech.
Nor doe, he obtain either of these good
qualities by inspiration. He speaks extern.
pore, it is said. This is generally true with
regard to his words, but not with regard to his
thoughts. Every main part of his sermons
is thoroughly premeiitated. Ofeach of those
heard he seemed to have about ten pages
of notes before him. These contained the
main propositions expressed fully and care
fully, with the method of the discourse. The
illustrations and amplifications he supplied
extempore. He seems to study subject
profoundly, work all crudeness out of his
ideas, arrange them all in logical order, write
out his notes clearly, and, having prepared
himself with striking Illustrations, then put
his hand to the plow and look not back. He
never utters confused expression, or mud
dy idea. Though called to defend often the
same truths, he never repeats or dilutes his
happy sentences, and rarely his ideas but
amplifies by practical illustrations. Now
and then, even in the heat and fire of deca-
nation, he seems to hesitate very little for
the best and strongest words, and close OBJ
server may always notice that he commands
his powers by regal will, and succeeds, like
other men, by discipline and determination.
Not genius alone, but long training, of the
severest kind, has conferred upon him the
priceless gift oflucid and forcible expression
He is clear-headed man. He conoeiyes
strongly, and hence expresses himself with
force and precision. Like all great extern
pore orators, he has no halfknowledge.-
What he knows, he knows thoroughly. He
is hardworking man. OF all possible SUBJ
jects that can minister to his usefulness he
is student unequaled for eagerness and en-
durance. Few know how terribly he can
toll. His prayer is that he may be as rest
less and untiring as God; also as full of love
towards man, as full of loathing for sin and
of joy in virtue To this add that perhaps
orator never spoke on higher themes, or with
more favorable surroundings, or under great
er responsibility or to people more in love
with manliness and sloquence
No wonder we stood with the crowd out
side the church half an hour before tho donrc