The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-04-20
Beechcr In the Lecture Room.


Many persons wonder what tho Sc
cret is of Henry Ward Bcecher's sue
cess He has been nineteen years the
pastor of one church His utterances
have been more widely published than
those Of any other man. He is as
fresh, as popular, rs powerful to-day
as ever He has the largest regular
congregation on the continent 1t is
not drittwood, for every pew and seat
and stool is rented Should Il hun
bred pews be vacated to-day, a hun
bred families stand ready to take
them. His church membership is
100 Seldom communion passes
without additions on profession as
well rs by letter. His Sunday School
room is unquestionably the best, and
is the largest in the country, except
one. It's appointments are perfect.
An organ, piano, and melodeon
furnish the music The music is won
derfrl. A fountain plays in the cen
ter OF the room, and elegant paintings
adorn the walls TIM room is crowd
ed; additional Bible classes, which are
needed, cannot be formed for want of
room.
Those who Judge Of Mr. Beecher's
ministry by the odd, fncetious, or
pithy sayings that run the rounds of
the press, get as good an idea of him
rs they would Of n house in Rome, by
examining brick taken from its Chin
ney 1t is in the lecture room quite
as much as in the pulpit that one
finds the hiding place of Mr.. Beecher's
power. The room is of immense size,
capable of seating a thousand persons
comfortably, and is lighted from the
ceiling. II is above ground and every
way attractive. At the regular meet
ings OF the church tho room is full
and often crowded 1t is uniformly
so. Such n church meeting cannot be
found ON this continent. The singing
is a remarkable feature. The great
choir of the church are almost all pro-
fessors of religion. They uniformly
attend the meetings, and the singing
is led ly the conductor Of music in the
church Mr.. Beecher takes charge of
his own meetings. There is no pull
pit in the lecture room. A platform
is erected at one end on which is
placed single Office chair; small Ia
BILE is at the side of the chair, not in
front of it, on which rests the Hymn
book and the Bible. There is moth
ing between the pastor and the flock.
A hymn is given out in the Plymouth
Collection. Some one is invited to
lead in prayer. Several hymns and
prayers alternate. Singing comes in
between every exercise. The hymns
are never shortened but are always
sung through. Remarks, questions,
difficulties, are solicited from any who
are present Brief exhortation and
volunteer prayers come in. Mr.. Beech
er, sitting in his chair, explains some
text; gives exhortation; answers all
the questions proposed; replies to all
suggestions, and explains all difficult
ties The same earnestness, raciness,
eloquence, tenderness, righteousness,
that mark his moro elaborate perfor-
mances, come out here in all their
freshness. He is tender, fearful, and
alfeetionate in spirit as woman.
The services last an hour and half
and are always too short Everything
about the meeting is interesting.
Nothing is prosy nothing tires. The
lights are seldom out till half past
nine or ten. The people are 10th to
60. The young want to take his
hand; and inquirers. for such general
~ are present, want to say word to
one whose tender spirit longs to guide
them in the way Of peace. No one
can Judge OF Mr.. Beecher as preach
er who is not familiar with his lecture
room. BVlleigh, in The Boston Jour
ad