Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-04-22

Tri-wsshly. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS %
Editorial Correspondence.
a VISIT TO PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
New YORK, April II, 1854.
Yesterday being the Sabbath, I improved
the opportunity to visit Plymouth Church in
Brooklyn, to crafty long cherished desir,
to hear the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, the
most noted if not the ablest preacher ir
America or in tho world. The morning was
rainy, and not an omnibus wac to be seen on
Broadway, as they do not run on the Sab
bath but having secured an umbrella through
the obl;ging hotel porter, struck out for the
Fulton street ferry. This was soon reached
and was landed on the opposite side Of East
river at cost Of only two cents for ferriage.
Plymouth Church is situated but few
blocks from the ferry landing. arrived a
the church about half an hour before the
time for the services to begin. The congre'
cation were already collecting, and a number
Of strangers like myself were waiting to be
shown seats. We were fortunately given an
eligible place near the pulpit.
The interior of the church is constructed
in the form Of an smphithsater, with gale
~ entirely around it, a8olding fully half al
much sitting room a. the main floor. The
The choir occupy that portion of The gallery
Immediately behind the pulpit. The house
will accommodate comfortably about 1000
persons. am told that it is found 100 small
to receive all who usually throng thither to
hear the great preacher. On this occasion,
however, the rain kept many away and there
were q number of empty seats.
Being a stranger, or ga locker on in
Venice" observed some things in the de-
pertinent of the congregation which caused
me to believe that with all their fine preach
ing they need instruction in church etiquette
There was q constant hum of voices heard all
over the house, nearly everybody seeming 70
be engaged in conversation in an undertone
with his neighbor. Some bowed to friends
as they passed down the aisles others shook
hands, with greetings or inquiries concerning
each others health. This, 1 thought, was all
we'll enough in its place, but was it the proper
place? The sexton, or some other officer of
the church, made the circuit of the aisles
several times with his cap on. Perhaps we
of the rural districts are verdant in supposing
church to be the house of God, where we
should conduct ourselves with the utmost de-
corum and reverence, in order not to disturb
the devotions of others, even if we do not
feel devotional ourselves. 1t is said, however,
that Mr.. Beecher encourages levity in relig-
ieus assemblies. If so, we cannot expect to
find him q stickler for decorum.
In due time Mr.. Beecher appeared on the
stand-a tall, fine looking man, with keen
eye and expansive forehead. The hum of
voices was hushed, the be-capped sexton
subsiisd, and every eye turned towards the
preacher. After pulling off his overshoes
and fourshing red bandana, he proceeded
to open anl examine a number of letters left
on his desk by the clerk. This finished, he
leisurely surveyed the congregation, and then
opened the services with prayer. He speaks
with great distinctness, his voice being clear
and musical. He seldom raises it to high
pitch, but when he does it is with " thoughts
that breathe and words that burn" His pow
ers of description and command of language
are almost illimitable. He deals much in
similitudss, and enforces each point with
some kind of illustration. His subject was
the indwelling of Christ in the soul, based on
the text to be found John IL: 81, % and %.
His sermon was written, though he appeared
to confine himself but little to what he had
written, as he seldom looked at his manu-
script. Speaking of progressive Christianity
he said he had but little faith in " electrical
conversions" Mr.. Bsecher's preaching is
not always regarded a. orthodox, believe.
He has some peculiar notions, though in the
main his great heart beats in unison With the
views of all true Christians. He has and is
exsrting powerful influence throughout the
land for the cause of freedom and righteous.
ness. On his visit to Europe last summer he
did much towards turning the tide Of popular
feeling in England in favor Of the North.
With all his faults, the American people must
respect and love him. Certain it is that his
own congregation have high appreciation Of
his talents and worth, as they give him sal
ary amounting to nearly half as much as
that of the President of the United States
The great Sanitary Fair now in progress in
this city eclipses anything Of the kind ever
held before on the continent. There was a
perfect jam in attendance throughout last
week, and the receipts are estimated at $780,
600. 1t is expected that the total receipts
will reach a million and half. The fair
closes with this week. have no room to
write more concerning it at present.
ta3 aa5 80 j. M.
Bring them Out.
The Courier says it has in its possession
the names of "four Abolitionists of this city,
who labored zealously on the 5th and 9Th Of
April, to induce the soldiers to destroy that
Office" We challenge any person connected
with that Office to name the four persons, OF
any one of them. If your declaration be
true. let them be known and held up to public
execration. They certainly are not your