Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-29
SCENE IN PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

besieged by mighty throng of strangers
every Sabbath morning, | anticipated the
commencement of the regular service by
nearly an hour, and reached the scene of
DIR. Beecher's popular entertainment at
10 o'clock In front of the church
found six policemen on duty, whose
presence was essential for the mainten-
ance of order among the throngs of
hackmen and private coachmen, whose
vehicles blocked up the surrounding
streets. In front of the church were a
large number of hospitable notices to
strangers, prohibiting them in the strong
est terms from occupying the seats until
pew.hoders we're comfortably provided
for. AS it was my misfortune not to
possess single acquaintance among the
regular worshipers in Mr.. Beecher's
church, l took my place in a forlorn
squad of strangers, and watched the
gradual filing up of the body of 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 great
performer like Ristori. There were at
least twenty ushers hard at work dispos-
ing of the regular worshipers. / ex-
pected each moment 10 hear these Nshers
bawling out, Family circle seat No.
Is, Dress circle seat %, or "Orches-
ira stall No. IL" But they performed
their work with dexterity and politeness,
and when the congregation was seated,
they commenced packing the far eff
corners and the extremely back benches
in the remote galleries with strangers.
A small, bald-head usher, with, red
cravat and hashy breastpin, took me
in charge. and told me that there was a
vacant seat where you see that tall chap
in the overcoat standing up" made
dash at the designated seat, and was
within five feet of it when another stran-
ger, escorted by a rival usher, bolted into
it with look of triumph. A solemn
looking Puritan, whose heart was visited
by timely feeling os compassion for
me, then grizzly beckoned me to his pew,
and my troubles we're at an end.
Half an hour in advance of the ap-
pearance Of Mr.. Beecher the church was
packed more densely than ever remem-
ber to have seen any edifice packed be-
fore. The ushers had filled every place
where there was no benches with chairs,
and the hum of loud and animated con-
yersation filled the vast building. The
conversation was not Of religious char
acter. The severe looking Radical who
gave me share of bis pew was engaged
in q most earnest conversation with
friend from Iowa, with reference to the
fate of a certain $4,000, which he had in
vested in a whisky distillery in that
State. and which had been shockingly
mismanaged, and the recital of his losses
and the rascality OF his agent made him
SO wrathy that he characterized the sfore'
said agent as "d-d mean, swindling
cuss.
Similar conversations seemed TO be
going on in all directions, and they we're
kept up until suddenly, out of a con-
ceaIed door in the rear of modest,
plain looking pulpit, emerged stout,
middle-aged, plainly dressed gentleman,
about ffty-five years of age. He took
his seat, and looked quietly before him.
Beecher bears very clsse resemblance
TO DIR. B., a well known physicisH OF
Richmond, but has n more learned face,
and wears his hair very long, somewhat
after the fashion of brilliant Virginia
editor, lawyer and politician now resid-
ing in New York. His face is one Of
great intellect, lirnness, kindness and
while in person Beecher is
awkward, thickset and commonplace,
AS soon as he entered the organ com
menced playing aud my attention was
diverted from the famous divine 10 tho
almost equally famous organ Of the
Church OF the Pertains il is the most
superb instrument in the country; cost
$40 600. and is as large as small two
stsried wooden cottage. The religious
exercises preliminary to Mr.. Reecher's
sermon Eere very simple A briefprayeT,
a hymu. a chapter from the Old Tesla
nent which was very well read, and
another longer and more eloquent prayer
we're all
He then placed a few sheets Of manu-
ser;pt in the Bible in Font Of him, and !
bis sermon. The irst part |
OF il was an able. veil reasoned clearly I
expressed and striking theological dis. |
course. Suddenly, however, he dropped /
the close, logical style, and entered up |
on that portion Of his sermon which he /
called the application " Of what had
gone before. Al this word there was
murmur Of anticipated fun and enter
tainment which assembled from the vast /
The frequenters Of the
knew that the curtain was
about to rise, and the venerable comedi-
an vas marshsling the happy hits Of the
invariable afterPiece
Mr. Beecher's application Of the
so-ceoing" consisted Of q large and va
ried assortment Of first class apecdOies,