Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-05
Mr.. Beoohor,s church at Broolzlyn.

Harper for July has a ske.ch of a fore
noon at Henry Ward Beecher's Church,
which we copy
"Cross the Fulton Ferry and follow the
crowd, was the direction given by one who
kOew. to an inquirer who asked how to
fud Mr.. -Beecher's Church in BrookIyn.-
The Easy Chair remembered 1t on the Sum
dsy morning after the return Of the Fort
Sumter party, and crossing at an early
haur 10 the beautiful Spring day be step-
ped ashore and followed the crowd up The
street. That at so early an hour the cur-
rent would set strongly toward the church
he did not believe. But he was mistaken.
At the corner of Hicks street If that is the
nsme) the thrODg turned and pushed along
with hurrying esgerness as it they were
already too late. There were perhaps
thirty persOns, and il was bat q little past
niue O'Clock The street was dissRreeable
like a street upon the outskirts of city,
but The current turned from it again two
streams, Que flowing to the rear and the
other TO the front of Plymouth Church.
TIE Easy Chair drifted along with the fret,
AID as he vert around the corner observed
just before him a low brick tower below
which was an iron gate.
The gate was open and we all passed
rapidly in, going through low passage
smoothly paved and echoing, with foon-
tain of wafer midway and chained mug
"a kind thought for the wayfarer-Rnd.
that little chesp charity seemed already an
indication of the humane spirit which
irradiates the spirit of Plymouth Church.
The low passage brought us alto the mar
row walk by the side of the church, aud
to the back-door of the building. Tie
crowd was already tossing about all the
doors. The street in front Of the building
was full, aud occasionally squads of enter
pri-iDg devotees darted out and buried up
to the back-doOr to compare the chances
of gettiUg in.
The Easy Chair pushed forward, and
was wheeled by 9 courteous usher into q |
convenient seat. The church is q large, |
white building, With gallery on both |
sides, two galleries in front, with an organ
loft and choir just behind the pulpit. It is |
spacious and very light, with four long
windows on each side. The seats upon the |
floor converge toward the pulpit, which is |
a platform with mahogany desk, aud
there are no columns The view of the
speaker is unobstructed from every part.
The plain white walls and entire absence
of architectural ornamentstion inevitably,
and not unpleasantly, suggests the bare
cold barns of meetiDg-houses in early New
England. But this house is of q very
cheerful, comfortable and substantial as
pect.
There were already dense crowds WeGged
about all the doors upon the inside. The
seats of the pewhOldeTs were protected by
the ushers, the habit being, as the Easy
Chair understood, for the holders who do
lot mean TO attend any service, to notify
the ushers that they may fill the seats.
Upon the outside OF the Pews along the
aisles there are chairs which can bsrtprned
down, enabling two persona to be seated
side by side, yet with a space for passage
between so that the aisle is not wholly
cbuked- On this Sunday the duties Of The
usheTs were very difficult and delicate,
for the pressure was extraordinary There
was still more than an hour before the
beginning Of the service, but the building
was rapidly filling; and everybody who
sank into seat from which he was sure
that he could not be removed, wore an
edifyiDR expression of beamiuR content.
meDt which must have been rather exas.
Persting to those who were standing and
struggling aRd dreadfulIy squee1ed around
the DOORS
Presently the seats were all full. The
multitude seemed to be solid above and
below, but still the new corners tried TO
p ress 10. The platform was fringed by the
i'g3 of those who had been 80 lucky as to
fud seats there. There was loud talking
and scut1ing. and even occasionally a'lit-
tie cry at the doors. One boy struggled
desperately in the crowd for his lifs or
breath. The ushers, courteous to the last
smiled pitlfully upon their own efforts to
put ten gallona in pint pot. As the hour
OF service approached, a small door under
the choir, and Immediately behind the
mahogany desk upon the platform, opened
quietly, and Mr.. Beecher entered, BE stood
looking at the crowd for little time
without removing his outer cost, then ati :
VAuced TO the edge of the platform and
gave some directions about seats, He in
Dictated with bis hands that the peonle
should pack more closely. The. ushers
evidently pleaded for the pew holders who
nad not arrived; but the preacher replied
that they could not get in, and thai the
seats should be filled that the service
might proceed in silence. he turned and
opened the door. Then he removed his
coat, sal down aud opened the hymn book,
while the organ played. The impatient
people meantime had climbed nm To The
window ellis from the outside, and the
great white church was like q hive; with
the swarming bees hanging 10 ,clustefs
upon the. outside. S1i-r,-5 ~,
The service began with an invocation,
IL was followed by a hymn, By the leading
OF chapter in the Bible, and R-prSyer
The congregation joined ID singing, and
the organ skilIfully and firmly played, pre-.
vented the tagging which uBuRlly Spoill
congregational singing. The effect wal
imposing. The vast volume filed thu
building with solid sound. 1t poured out
at the open windows, and Hlled the still
morning air of the city with Solemn melo
dy. Far upon every sidethose who sat al
home in solitary chambers heard the preai
voice Of praise. Then amid The hush oi
the vast multitude the preacher, oyerpow,
cred by emotion, prayed ifefVently tor IN,
stricken family aud the bereaysd nation
There was more singing, before which Mr.
Beecher appealed to those who were sittinr
to sitcloser, and,fOr once to be incommod
ed that some more Of the crowd might pe
To-. dVn4 afoa . hm- 4 \ ~