The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-01-07

Henry waYA Descher Portrayed.
1 From "Notes from Plymouth pulpit psbsished
by Derby Jackson.J
MIR. Beecher is OF medium height, 10 full
in flesh, has strong wsll-d sveloped frame
every organ II native and healthy. He has
full connsnd Of his limbs, which ere pliaut
and and supple - : ehild,s his body 10 -
elastic - an India rubber Hall, and handled
BY him with about as much ease ~ he would
toss about ball. His face 10 full and fresh,
his eyes large, expressive and blue-some-
times gray; bis forehead 10 square and
broad ; his hair brown and worn long; his
glance quick, keen and discerning; his smile
humorous and pleasant.
What has been said and written Of DIR.
Chalmers pulpit appearance, manners and
diction, reminds one forcibly Of MIR. Beech
er. AZ plain Sin dress and gait as was
that celebrated preacher, and AZ impressive
in discourse as he, is the subject OF this
sketch. Alike in plainncss Of speech, in in
tense earnestnese, in quick and deep emo.
ton, in apt and striking imagery and illus
tration, are tho sermons Of these two--MEs.
Alike, in the sermons of each, when Mt full
food deep calls unto deep, spirit speaks to
spirit, and the nearer almost forgets that he
yet wears the veil, and dwell amid the false
and deceptive scenes OF the flesh. Often 1t
seems as if the Judgment were already set,
and the hearer there. Few, indeed, are the
preachers who have power to strike directly
to the heart, to lay hold with such forcible
and tenacious grasp upon the moral sense, as
does Henry Ward Beecher. Every mans
soul may BIO reached in some way, and Mr..
Beecher knows the open path. Let that man
who does not wish his conscience reused, his
| nerves thrilled, and his tears startei, keep
away from the genuine and imprisoned
power Of truth, as presented-as thrust IN
upon mems souls by MIR. Beecher.
cold, polished, cynical man ofthe world,
going one evening, at the invitation OF .
lady, to Plymouth Church, remarked upon
his way, 81 go to hear Henry Ward Bcecher
with the same feelings that 60 to witness
performance Of Burton. y
TIE sermon that night, though not one OF
Mr.. Bsecher's greatest efforts, was q power
full one, appealing to mans own conscious.
ness Of sin and i'll desert; every word told.
There was no escape. II was sxtempore,
only the heads thoroughly analysed and ac-
cnrasely worded, being written out. The
speakers logic, at which the visitor had
seemed inclined to sneer, was perfect; and
his presentation of the truth WAS truly ap-
paliing to all out of Christ.
The face Of the gentleman who thought he
would be amused that evening, belied his
feelings il be nas amused.
The aptneas of Mr.. Beecher,s comparisons;
the acu,eness with which he lays the knifeto
whvt NKHDs cutting; the unexpected descents
which he makes upon errors Of thought and
conduct, frequently exotic Irresistible laugh
ter. From this fact, those who lie in wait
seeking how they may harm him, have rep
resented him in the light OF clerical buff
foon. Nothing can be more entirely and
Indignantly false. lie 10 as far from ievity
and perseverance AZ those who purposely ma
lgn him are from noblepess and honesty
Gravity sits upon him with native grace.
But his imagination ia 10 rich and strong,
has how OF language so great, and the heart
that beats like o great hammer in his breast,
ia such volcanic heart, so impetuous, so
prone to overflow, that he does sometimes
lose the reins of prudence. Hc is occasion
ally like man who has struck his foot so
hard against stone that. to save himself
from falling on his face, he needs must run
awhile, though every step be upon vipers.---
The temperament which God gave man
must DO considered in judging Of hun and
considering that Of Mr.. Beecher, also the
multitude of things that be has said, and 10
forever saying and the pressure OF the va
rious extreme exctements which are upon
him ; it 10 y proof that he possesses = re-
markable share Of discretion and common
sense that he has said SO few impradent
things as he has said.
MIR. Beecher is frequently humorous, both
in tone end expression, when he is altogether
unaware that be 10 so. 1t s conceded that,
great as is this orator, and nobly as truth
end earnestness are stamped on all he Gays
and does, that master as he 10 Of gesture and
expression, there still is lowering about him
somewhat Of the ludicrous.
Certain motions he has which always in
cline one 10 smile. The wag OF his head
when he is about to clnch an argument the
shake Of his elbows and his knees, when he
knows that he has you penned the eagarness
with which he SEXES uron that devoted hand
kerchief, when he 10 about to "charge !" the
strength. with which, Az be commences his
tilt, be squcezes il Cunning his hand palm
towards his chair and bach towards the desk, |
leaning knuckles and thumb, one foot cross
ed over the other, and supported on his toe y
the force with which hc throws it from him,
as he comes forward to close in the conflict
ne has waged are all man9uvres certain to
be repeated almost constantly and ono can
not avoid being. amused by seeing them so
unconsciously, yet energetically, performed
Although Mr.. Beecher himself seldom np-
pears to be in much haste, there 10 always an
mir Of being in hurry about his clothes and
his hair. They manifest intentions Of going
forward, whether he goes or remains still
llis neck 10 70 short that he never ventures
a standing collar. This, probably, in con-
sideration for his ears.
Ono very remarkable singularity in his
face is the utter incongruity between ts front
md its side views. Upon being told that he
resemblei Henry Ward Beecher, relative Of
tina, Clergyman replied. laughingly, 81 know
that am said to look like him, but tits such
a resemblance as u sheep bears TO q ion.',
Now the fact Is. were that humble minded
relative Of thu famed sslion' great deal
more like 'sshcepn than be considers him.
self to be, lie might still bear striking re-
semblanee to his cousin, for though when he
turns full towards you, in The heat OF dis
course, Mr.. Beecher frequently does present
the appearance IT lion, it Is next to i'm
possible for II person OF an Imaginative turn
OF mind 10 view bis profile without being
strosgly reminded Of the ovine faces seen
and perhaps loved in the days and the years
gone by.
When not sin brown study," Mr.. Beech
ef's manners are the most free and genial