New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-04-16
ENGLISH VIEWS OF AMERICAN
PREACHERS.


Henry Ward Beecheris remarkable, though come
what eccentric preacher o. The Plymouth Chmch,
Brooklyn, lie sort Of audience hall There are about
il very few Of the usual and distinctive features OF
place Of Christian worship. In the vest pulpit, you
will find on Sundays respectsbleoosD psrson who
writes potes and looks about him, and makes himself
spe uIsrly at home, before service begins. lie wears
neither csssock, gown, nor surphce, nor bands, nor
any particle OF the clerical uniform. His vO,e is not
possessed of extraordinary porer, nor is it musical
His manner is ordinary in all respects Notwthstsod-
ing all these mediocrites Of the outer man, be 10 yet
the moot popular aud effective American preacher OF
the day lie owes bis power wholly 10 the depth and
force al orig Dahty of his thoughts the bOney, and
yet neither vulgar nor ureracefu expression OF them,
and the honest but not pre fatbtulness with
which be iDvegbs against Dyp0crlsy m every guse,
and immortality in every rank He regards every doc
trine of the Bible not mere part of theological
system dry and orthodox, but as bearing on man IN
some Of the varied phases Of bis hie To have value
he holds that a doctrue must be vital. .
These are the leading principles which give MS
preaching what such course Is sure TO eTeate-its
Just appreciation and great popularity. lie Iepudi-
atts ana mott justly every system whlc1 eIsfS toe
government of God above God Hmsel, ond suost
tutes laws for living prceence, and makes Deity sub
tervient 10 them. The heart Of human nature yssrns
fer what will s its fevered beatings, and sooth its
irritation and satisfy ira lor gngs sound theology
ought " be the possession OF the preacher but 1t IS
lfe.eivirg and life. sustaining preaching that Cust be
thu ministry Of the pit Carbon in the living tree is
delightful and fruit-bearing Carbon IN the diamond
il bright and precious, but cold ard indgestl6le
There is too, somethir large and comprehensive IN
the sympsthies OF Mr.. Beecber. HE heart has out
grown the restraints and tramDels OF parry.
Mr Beecher takes the sunny SHE Of life, and loves
10 dwell on all thst feeds the happiness Of tn human
heart. lie will not pick up withered leaves II there
be any pueen ores. de seer to Tevel IN bright re
bRious night. when ones fIiends die, we should 20
"to the grave not singing mournful psalms but scat
n9g ao.s Death was W .bs tong HgU
" Christians walk in black, ano sprinkle the grouad
" with tears, then is the time when they should iu
inmate. AS TIE disciples found the angels IN Chfsts
grave go in the grave where any Of his loved dsci
"pes lie are angels of consolation, if we would only
" see them"
Beecher has been accused, as most faithful men
have been accused of preaching pohilcs DIS views
OF the duties and responsibilities of the pulpit seem
much more expanded than those OF many OF his cotem
He is a man of thoroughly practical mind. He
seems TO despise all trifing with crest themes, ell
rrettiness Of fpeech, all playing al preaching
With BIN it is an earnest and fruitful work, and
solen nifty OF utteIaIce is IN his mind 40 apOogy for
dry and dull sermons.
Such outspoken preaching viii, OF course, give Of
ferse The mills Of Manch, ster would be bOrnfed.
The STOCK Exchange would expel the pescher. Bat
the preacher lie right, notwithstanding.
Some of his pithy remarks are ft TO be household
words:
belpins word 10 one IN trouble 10 Lie '~i:es rail
vsy between wreck and ri sad smooth On
rolling property.
tr1 that G1. in it, hew long would ttsfs 70
male 81 ,bapl As that bsye pinch In tbem how ons
Am,n BIO is in the right that be Is In tie majority
for God 10 on his side"
Beecber lie the preacher for the people. His ser
mons rot fierce vulgar, and vtuPerat We decIemar
ton without scintillstOn Of genius, however sn-
celely meant such heard in the Surrey Music
hall They ere pregnant with celestial ire, rich IN
Gus eestive and original thought Here aud there we
find Nuggets Of gold and gems OF the hTst water: iet
a.,bt ot ba nrd n n
TO profit or Of the hearers of 1t who are Ignorant, SIN
fol and unhappy. He says quaint things, but never
takes Jokes from Joe Miller and chIistens them Our
clergy may copy and study HE eIcelencies, and AVOID
his nterspe reed and sometimes provocative re Marks
He is rot a model, but he is better-he is captal,
available capital, on which Others may draw, and
send what they draw into currency IN tnoue9Is Snu
words that will do the world vast desl OF good.
He is foil of vigor; never dyspeptic In his dlvlnly
as in all likelihood he never Is 10 humber region.
He has carried into manhood the freshness ana the e1
ubersnt force of earlier days and overhows therefore,
with sympathy and communion with all nvlog ana
growing things. lie says oocasionshy an indi'cfee'
Thing, but rarely, if ever, q tame thing.
Another preacher, not so popular, perheps IS w afd
Beeeter. but vigorous thinker and an sble speaker,
lie Theodore Lsdya ard Cuyler. he is picturesque ana
together u,einl and able exponent OF his own ,cnoo
of teaching He ranks With Whist are called IL AMER
ics "the Reforming Preschers'-that 10, tue class
Who ally their influence TO every good movement ina,
touchek and Ialfes tne UONu'!IoutSh cHN
sections of society There is in this practical good
serse which comnends religion to those who ae Other
wise indispOs ed TO listen 10 Its claims. w
This is what is wanted in our own country we
have too much theology and too little reliance IN our
pulpits-too much systems and dosmas ara taen
relative positions and superposiiions II the C1s. s
system, ard far too little Of that homey, ln'ensen
and COMMON .epse Of those grand truths sn,eS
shire with the spenoor but also with tue S
stars guiding the sailor on the tsckless eco, AHu
NH tbs darkness OF mOOpless lBl's
DR. Stoors of BROOKLYN, is smother OF those msscu
line American mirds who, ignorant or disdain.ui "a
Theological dietsntism, give themselves up 70 inc
greatest good of the creates. number Dr. stotis =.
spythips but dull tame or pro- aic. Nay, on subjects
that rise above the every day relations OF religion anu
touch the springs and fountains Of truth he Is no. ohy
eloquent, but po Serfu ard rich and srgumen'su :,
Besidethese there are numbers of vigorous mods N
America whom we have spsoe to spare Tor discuss
ing. They have all gres. fault. they ira sns. 10
modes of expression alien 10 our TASTE, and genery
roTt at sh pressure Still they are sposeIini race
they do Themselves ard us credit II our chheIeh are
so healthy, what noble mother must they nave n'a