The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-01
DAILY LEADER.
Mr.. Reeeher's church at BrOOkIyu

l. H0IP NE W C4ly A1 =
noon 81 Henry Ward Beecher's Church,
which We copy: 10000 aal- -aai
HCross the Fulton Ferry and follow the
crowd, was the direction given by one who
knew, to an inquirer who asked how TO
find Mr.. Beecher's Church in Brooklyn.
The Easy Chair remembered it on the
Sunday morning after the return Of the
Fort Sumter party, and crossing at an early
hour in the beautiful Spring day he step
ped ashore and followed the crowd up the
street. That at so esrly 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 tif that is the
nAme) the throngturned and pushed along
with hurrying esgerness as if they were
already too late. There we're perhaps
thirty persons, and it was but s little past
nine O'Clock. The street was dissgreesbls
like q street upon the outskirts Of q city,
but the current turned from it again two
streams, n flowing to the rear and the
/ other to the front of Plymouth Church.
The Easy Chair drifted along with the
first and be went around the corner OBJ
served just before him allow brick tower
below which was an iron gate. a.a .rll
LII k1S was Op5A.1n0 h6 IL Bh1oC4
rapidly in, going through q low passage
smoothly paved and echOing, with q foun-
tain of water midway and 8 chained mug
a kind thought for the wsyfsrer-and
that little chesp charity seemed already
an indication of the humane spirit which
irrsdistes the image of Plymouth Church.
The low passage brought us all to the mar
row walk by the side Of the church, and
TO the bsck-door of the building The
crowd was already tossing about all the
doors. The street in front of the building
Was full, and occasionally squads of enter
prising devotees dsrted out and hurried up
to the bsck-door to compare the chances Of
getting in.
The Easy Chair pushed forward, and
WIS wheeled by q courteous usher into 9
convenient seat. The church is 8 large
white building, with 8 gallery on both
sides, two galleries in front, snd an organ
loft snd choir just behind the pulpit. Its
spacious and very light with four long
windows on esch side. The seats upon the
floor converge toward the pulpit, which is
q platform with 8 mahogany desk, and
there are no columns. The view Of the
speaker is unobstructed from every part
The plain white walls and entire absence
of architectural o-rnamentation inevitably,
and not unplesssntly, suggests the bare
cold barns of Westinghouse in early New
| England. But this house Is of 9 very
cheerful, comfortable and substantial as
psct. rr be- syt-fr
There we're already denseeroWds wedged
about all the doors upon the inside. The
seats of the pewholders were protected by
the ushers, the habit being, as the Easy
Chair understood, for the holders who do
not mean TO sttend any service, to notify
the ushers that they NAV FL the seats.
Upon the outside of the pews along the
sisles there are chsirs which can be turned
down, enabling two persons to be seated
side by side, yet with 8 space for passage
between, SO that the aisle is not wholly
choked. On this Sunday the duties Of the
ushers were very difficult and delicate, for
the pressure was extraordinary. There
was still more than an hour before the be-
ginning of the service, but the building was
rapidly filing and everybody who sank
into q seat from which he was sure that he
could not be removed, wore an edifying
expression of besuing contentment which
must have been rather exssperating to
those who were standing and struggling
and ~dresdfufy squeezed around the doors.
Presently the streets were sll full The
multitude seemed to be cold above and be-
low, but still the new corners tried TO press
in. The platform was iringed by the legs
of those who had been so lucky as to find
sests there. There WIS loud talking and
scufHing, and even occasionally a little cry
at the doors. One boy struggled desper-
ately in the crowd for mis- life or breath
/ The usheIs courteous to the last smiled
p~itifully upon their own efforts to put ten
gallons in q pint pot. As the hour of
| seryi ice approached, a small door under the
choir, and Immediately behind the ma
kogany desk upon the platform, opened
onietlv, and Mr.. Beecher entered. He
stood looking at the crowd for a little time,
without taking off his outer cost, then sd-
vsnced TO the edge of the platform and
gave some directions about seats. he in
dicated with his hands that the people
should pack more closely. The ushers
evidently pleaded for the Pew-holders who
hsd not arrived; but the preacher replied
that they could not get in, and the seats
should be filed that the service might pro
coed in silence. he turned and opened
the door. Then he removed his coat, sat
down, and opened the hymn book, while
the organ played. The impatient people
meantime had climbed up to the window
sills from the outside, and the great white
church was like q hive, with the sWarmiDg
bees hanging in clusters upon the outside.
The service began withsan invocstion.-
1t was followed BY 8 hymn, by the reading
of q chapter in the Bible, and 8 prayer
The congregation Joined in singing, and
.I,11E,1f- ..1 a-,-lu n1auaAa MA
vented the Tagging which usually spoils
congregational singing The effect was
imposing. The vast volume filled the
building with solid sound. It poured out
at the open windows, and hIled the still
morning air ofthe city withsOlemn melody,
Far upon every side those who sat at home
in solitary chambers heard the great voice
of pra Sc. Then amid the hush Of the vast
multitude the prescher, ovsrpowered by
emotion, prayed fervently for the stricken
family and the beresved nation. There
was more singing, before which MI
Beecher appealed 70 those who were sittlnl
to sit closer, and for once to be incommodeC
tbstfsome more of the crowd might get in
and. IS the wind blew freshly from th,
omen windows, he reminded the sudienc
that a handkerchief laid upon the hesc
would prevent the sensitive from taking
cold. Then opening the Bible be read tn
story of Moses going up to PIsgsh, an
took the verses for his text.
The sermon was written and he reai
calmly from the Manuscript. Yet st times
rising upon the food of feeling, he sAo
cut a solemn sdjurstion q asserted a
opinion with 8 fiery emphasis that electrl
fedthe audience into applause. His actiol
was intense but not dramatic; and the Dc
meanor of the preacher WIS subdued an
= sorrowful. He did not attempt to speak l
detail of the Presidents character or csree
BE drew the bold outline in q few word
, and leaving that task TO 8 calmer and lite
moment, spoke of the lessons OF the hou
p They way of his desth was not tc be d
plored; the crime itself revealed to Il
dullest the ghsstly nature of slavery;
was 8 blow not st q man, but st the poop
and their Government; it had utterly fAi
ed; and, finally, though dead the goo
/. man vet speaketh. This discourse VI
brief, fitting, foIeible and tender with en-
ton, It was q msnly sorrow and symP
thy that cast its spell upon the great auc
81 onoa-oDd II Was 0OOd 70 besth6re, Mht