Ellsworth American., 1865-06-30
ELLSWORTH, MAINE, FRIDAY, JUNE 80, 1865.
Letter from New York.
New YORK. JUNE ), lSG

Letter from New York.
New YoRK. JUNE ), 1865.
No stranger comes to this city without
going to hear Ward Beechcr. Indeed
his Plymouth Church in Brooklyn is as
much of an institution here as Central
Park, Greenwood Cemetary, or the Five
Points Missions. So Of course included
Bcecher's church in my list Of places to
be visited, and devoted last cvcningOhc
Sabbath)to hearing this celebrated divine.
HOW TO GET TO DEEcuERs.
Our party stopped at the Hoffman
llouse-somewhat famous as being the
head quarters of General Butler last fall
when his presence inspired New York
with very wholesome scnsation-on
Broadway, one block above the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, and capital in every de-
sirable particular except price to that
fashionable resort. This gave us at least
four miles to traverse in order to reach
the centre Of attraction, Admonishel OF
the necessity Of srartiug early 1--WE would
obtain standing places. not to say seats,
our party took a street car, and by ma
king one change, in due time reached
Fulton Ferry. Crossing over to Brook
lyn side VIC had but u short walk. passing
up the main street and then three or four
blocks on street benoins to the right to
rcaci Plymouth church. "Whcre is
Bcccher's church, inquired of police
man. 20, you'll find it where the crowd
is. You can't get within two blocks of
it," was the curt reply. The almost
melting heat Of the evening, however,
had prevented the assembling Of the large
number usually gathered in the street
awaiting the opening of the doors to stran-
gers, who are aot allowed to occupy the
seats until the appointed time for meet
ing.
TIE CHURCH EDIFICE.
A plain brick building, without tower
or spire, and nothing in its exterior to in.
dicate its character unless its size may.
is Plymouth Church Eiilice. In the rear
reaching whole block to another street,
is another plain brick building with u
small tower, which is devoted to the use
Of Beecher's Sabbath School and lecture
room. The interior of the church, is
most spacious and inviting. 1t is evident
that in the construction Of the building,
all expense not absolutely necessary has
been avoided in the exterior and lavish
ed Oh the ntcrior-and hero in no case
for mere show, but always to secure the
comfort ofpastor and people. In this
respect the cdlticc is a model for church
builders.
TIE INTERIOR.
Spaciour galleries extend entirely
around the audialce room. The pews
are spacious and convenient, and at the
aisle end Of each is folding chair which
is turned down after the pew is filled, to
provide sittings i'll the aislcs. Ordinarily
every pew. every sitting in the galleries,
the chairs in the aislcs, the standing
places in the rear aud entrance and the
spaces about the door arc filcd-thc con-
gregation being very rarely less than
2000. Last evening, however in eonse-
qucnce Of the heat there WAS no necessity
Of using the chairs in the aislcs, al
though the pcws and galleries presented
nothing but sea Of human faces. The
pulpit is IA very small plain stand on a
large elevated platform, which stands
nearly fifteen feet from the rear Of the
building giving a small room back of the
pulpit, with gallery above the room ana
in the rear of the platform, where the
choir staul and the organ is located
The lecture room and Sabbath School hall
arc entered from the rear Of the church
as well ~ from the next street.
WARD BEEcHER.
Hcecher occupied chair behind his
little pulpit stand when he entered, and as
he looked about on the immense congrega-
ton, never falling of but constantly
crowding upon even the great capacity OF
his church edifce. he seemed TO appear
well satisfied with his field of labor,
certainly the largest and most important
filled by any clergyman in this country,
or perhaps in the world. The utteralces
from this place do not stop even with the
thousands who from Sabbath to Sabbath
draw around his pulpit, but on the wings
Of ne press are borne to all parts Of the
country. Bccchcr is one of the powers
Of the nation.
Not more remarkable is Bccchcr in
mental characteristics than in physique.
He looks the very picture Of robust
health and perfect physical development.
His stout framc, well rounded limbs. broad
chest, short muscular neck, round ruddy
face aud sparkling eyes reminds one OF
Juvenal's type of manhood, ''mcns saaa
IN sam cOrporc'-a sound mind III a
sound body. should expect that the
sermons OF such man would bubble with
joy and exutation and smack Of out-of-
doors life, for such a physique comes not
from the closet and the clolstcr. but from
the fields and woods. Notwithstanding
the immense strain upon Beecher's system,
cannot sec that he shows the least in
dieation of weariness or giving out. He
looks as young and vigorous as when |
first saw him dozen years ago, and good
for the work Of a generation yet.
FIGHTING 1T OUT ON THIS LINE.-Scna-
tor Chandler; in speech in New York
during the reception OF Gen. Grant, said