The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-27
THE WELCOME TO BEECHER.
Annual Festival of the Sabbath
School at Plymouth Church.


The members of HENRY W ARD BEEoHER's
congregation, last Tuesday evening, well
coined him back to his old field of labor.
Mr.. BREoHRR having declined any especial
demonstration solely on his behalf, the oc-
casion of the annual festival of the Sabbath
school was improved as an opportunity to
allow Mr.. BEEcHER's friends to greet him
for the first time since his return from his
tour in Europe.
The Plymouth Church was filed with
much Of the beauty and intelligence of
brooklyn, and not the least interesting
members of the assemblage were The happy
children of the Sunday school. The leo
ture room and the Sabbath school room
were beautifully decorated with evergreens
and flowers formed in notices, and vocal
with the singing of many birds; music
from HELMsMULLER's band pervaded the
building, and in the large room of the
church the stereopticon displayed upon
canvas the wonders of the world. Refresh
ments were provided in the lecture room,
and dispensed with accompanying smiles
by young ladies. At half-past 81 ght O'Clock
Hi. BEEcHKE appeared upon the platform
Of his church, and addressed the assem-
blage. He spoke as follows:
SPEECH OF HENRY WARD sxnoARR.
Even if it had been expected I could not
make speech tonight, for there are many
occasions in which the only expression one can
give is that of silence. 1t is only six months
since have stood here, and can truly say THAT
there has not been day-I might almost say
not an hour-in which 1 have not received
accession to the pleasure Of foreign travel and
INV 1N>1l -
thoughts; that have carried you with me, and
have been borne up everywhere by those recol-
lections and by that affection which never dies
l knew not how it might have been in years.
for time wears away at last the very stone, but,
certainly, in SO short time as six months
not only have lost no qhickening affection, but
have gained. And though have had uninter-
rupted prosperity-scarcelya cloudy day on the
shore-although in England, and France and
Switzerland, and Northern Italy, and Germany,
aud Belgium, where it pleased God to carry my
feet-in all these places, though l have had
prosperity day BY day and night by night,
have not stood in city, nor on a mountain top
nor IN any gallery Of pictures, nor any aoveliest
landscape, that was not homesick. Not for
any single moment have thought backward,
without yearning and longing to be back again:
and say the TRUTH lie not-I love this place
and this people and this work beyond all other
things under the sun. CGroat applause.) /
shall rot feel at home Until am priviledged
again to break to you the bread Of life: for
although love you individually and in families
collectively and as great community. it is in
my special relation to you as a minister of the
trgth Of Christ Jesus that feel that live.
And to come again-tO be permitted to
preach here's the highest joy that antici-
pate on earth. Ihave been called in the provi-
dence Of God to labor outside of the accus-
toned field of church labor, and l have coca
sion to ask your thanks mingled with mine to
God that have been preserved in all the ar
duous labor to which l have been so called.
But felt that this was really foreign: that it
was required by the exigency of our country.
To preach the Gospel for the conversion nj
men; for the edifcation of Christ's children.
That is, after all, my work, to which I was ded.
icated, to which l have given myself again.
and come back among you to be your elder
brother and instructor in Christ Jesus. and in
the simplicity OF the gospel, aud in the work
Of the gospel which for eighteen years and
more has been administered in the world by go
many thousand faithful pastors-in that work
desire still to find my honor, as l find it nv
constant pleasure. Pray for me, then, breth- !
rem and friends, not so much that may have
strength 1or outward work, as that I may not
better than the work. And so bid you ali
good greeting. I thank you for your kindness
to me, for these remembrances which know.
without your uttering, have accompanied me,
and for your kind and glad reception Of me ]
tonight. My first experience of foreign travel |
was In old England. We can all adopt the |
words, I think, Of Cowper, and none so much
as these who have been there:
England, with all thy faults, love thee |
still" loud applause.) Nothing was more
charming to me on leaving that arid ocean |