The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-12-26
Beeensr's Church on Sunday.

Beeen7Ts Church on Sunday.
The following, over the signature Of South
orner. appears in the New York News Of the
Sd, inst:
Knowing that Beechers church was be-
sieged by mighty throng of strangers every
Sabbath morning. | anticipated the com
mcncement Of the regular service by nearly an
hour and reached the scene Of Mr.. Beechcr'S
popular entertainments at 10 O'Clock. In front
Of the church l found six policemen on duty,
whose presence was essential for the mantle
nance Of order among the throngs Of hackmcn
and private coachmen, whose vehicles blocked
up tie surrounding streets
In front Of the church were large number
Of hosptabIe notices to strangers, prohibiting
them in the strongest terms from occupying the
seats until the pew-hoders were comfortably
provided for. As it was my misfortune not to
possess single acquaintance among the regu-
lar worshpers ia Mr.. Beecher's church, took
my place in foriorn squad of strangers, and
watched the gradual filling up of the body oil
the church. There was much IN the scene to
remind looker-on of the manner in which an
opera house is packed upon the occasion OF the
appearance Of a great performer like RIstori.
There were at least twenty ushers hard at
work disposng of the regular worshlpers
expected each moment to hear the ushers
bawIng out: Family circle, scat No. l8;"
DRESS circle, seat 25,' or orchestra stall,
No H."
But they performed their work with dexter
ity and politencss, and when the congregation
was seated, they commenced packing the far
of corners and the extremely back benches
in the remote galleries with strangers. A
small, bald-headed usher, with a red eravat
and fiashy breastpin, took me in charge, and
told me that there was vacant seat where
you see that tall chap in the Write overcoat,
standing up" | made dash at the designa-
ted seat, and was within FIVE feet of it when
another stranger escorted by rival usher
bolted into it with look Of triumph. A sol
emn looking Puritan, whose heart was visited
by timely feeling Of compassion for me, then
grimly beckoned me to his pew, and my
troubles were atan end
Half an hour in advance Of the appearance
Of Mr. Beecher, the church was packed more
dcnscly thar | ever remember 70 have seen
any cdifce packed before. The ushers had
filed every place where there were no benches
with chairs. and the hum of loud and ANNA
ted conversation filed the vast building The
conversation was not of religious character.
The severe looking radical who gave me share
of his pew was engaged in most earnest con
vcrsation with friend from Iowa, with refer
encc to the fate of certain $4,000" which
he had invested in a whisky disti!lery in that
State, and which had been shockingy mis-
managed and the recital of his losses and the
rascality of his agent made him so wrathy
that he characterised the aforesaid agent as
I'd mean. swindling cuss."
Similar conversations seemed 10 be going
on in all directions, and they were kept up
until suddenly out Of a concealed door in the
rear Of modest, plainlooliing pulpit emerged
a stout, mddle-aged, plainly dressed gentle
man, about fifty five years Of age. lie took
( his seat and looked quietly before him.
Beccher bears very close resemblance to
DR.. B, well known physician Of Rich
mond, but has more learned face and wears
his hair very long, somewhat after the fashion
of brilliant Virginia editor, lawyer and poll
tician now residing in New York. His face
is one of great intellect, frmness, kindness and
'carnestness while in person Becchcr is awk-
ward, thickset and commonplace.
AS soon as he entered, the organ com
menced playing, and my attention was dl.
verted from the famous divine TO the almost
equally famous organ Of the "Church OF THO
Purtans." It is tie most superb instrumen
in the country; cost $40, 600, and is as large
&c a t,rn-stnrind wooden cottage Tie reli
gious exercises preliminary to Mr. Beecher's
sermon were very simple A brief prayer, :
hymn chapter from the Old Testament
(Which was very well read, and another
longer and more elegant prayer, were all.
He then placed few sheets of manuscript
in the Bible in front Of him, and commenced
his sermon. The first part of it was an able,
well reasoned, clearly expressed and striking
theological discourse. Suddenly, however
he dropped the close. logical style, and en-
tered upon that portion CT his sermon which
he called the application" Of what had gone
before At this word there was a murmur 0
anticipated fun and entertainment which as
cended from the vast congregation. The fire
quenters Of the establishment knew that thu
curtain was about to rise, and the reverend
comedian was marshalng the happy hits Q
the invariabIc afterpiece.
Mr.. Beecher's duplication Of the forego
ing" consisted Of large and varied assert
ment of first class anecdotes, happy hits, hu
mOTOuS SdjiltS anu pulpiG PuiISCHClSS, WIFI
would have made the fortune of a frst-clas
stump speaker The Purtans grimIy grinned
smiled morosely, and sometimes laughed out
right. The young people of the congregation
Uttered and staggered at an awful rate. Tn
decorum of the vast assembIage, however
was upset by large, d-faced, good-lookin!
,, gentleman, who sat few feet from me, ant
looked very like Southern man.
He laughed until the tears rolled from hi
eyes, but managed generally 10 prevent an
/ very loud explosion Of meriment. Nj
Beechcr waited for the merriment to subsdc
and then let off anumber Of other funny things
The comic part Of the entertainment lasted 10
I at least thirty minutes, and was intensely en-
d joyed. Every one felt that Mr. Beecher La
2 done liberal thing in getting up first elias
? comedy, free of all charge, to his auditors.
5 WONDERS OF GREAT SALT LAKE-PECULIA
a BUoYANCY OF ITS WATERs.-All travellers
= writes a correspondent, have mentioned wit
e establishment the peculiar buoyancy of tn
water of Great Salt Lake, and it is truly SUI