The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-10
Etc, Etc., Etc, Etc, Etc, Etc.


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1t is a matter OF general notoriety thst, ever
since the publication OF the Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher's letter declining to serve as chaplain at
the approaching convention OF soldiers and
sailors to be held in Cleveland. the utmost
surprise and dissatisfaction have been mani
tested by the majority OF the memoers OF his
congregation al the sentiments expressed in that
communication. Some OF the more lnercurial
OF his flock denounced his conduct in unmes-
sured terms; others ol more temperate judg-
ment maintained that hls heart was all riEht
although he was unfortunate in the expression
OF his real sentiments upon the vital questions OF
The times; while the chosen few,n those who
are admitted into the suNc'1la SanCtOiun. of Mr.
Beecner'e inner life, could be seen going about
since the explosion OF his Cleveland bombshell
into the radical camp nOddng their heads
significantly and sa ing, Never you mind,
Beecher is too cute to sell his brthright for n
mess OF pOttage to the COpperneads; he II turn
up all right in time, and similar expires SONS.
This laLter class being so well acquainted with
the theological summersauts OF the Plymouth
Oratdr, we've prepared to witness the political
slcrObatlc performance to winch mis- congIega-
tion were Unexpectedly treated yesterday morn.
ing. As has already been observed, Tor the past
i'll Plymouth Gharch-so much so that some
were apprehensve that Mr. BcecheI's ALLEGED
detection from the radicals would cause q per
mancnt disruption OF the church organization,
and the consequent dspcrslon of hundreds Of
the sheep and lambs OF ms fold upon the barren
rocks Of Brooklyn Heights.
This beng the state OF affairs, il was supposed
that the Rev. Dir. Burton, Who IS temporarily
supplying MI Beecher's pulpit with great ac-
ceptability, would make some public mention
OF tine prevailing topic OF the week. The spa
cious building was hlleI TO repletion yesterday,
although 1t was positively known that Mr.
Beecher would not ocCupy mis- accustomed place
till the 10th instant.
1t appears that ON Saturday evening n member
OF the church received lengthy comm mica
tion from Mr.. Beecher, explanatory OF his pre-
vious letter upon political subjects. As many
of the officers OF the church as coEld be sum
moned together at such short notice, met in
council TO determine what was best TO be done
with the political epistle. IT was unanimously
resolved that after the officiating minister mad
finished his gospel message, one of their number
should mount the rostrum, and proclaim to the
assembled multitude 'the gospel according to
Beecher,n so that until the conclusion of the
religious exercises" none but a few OF the I'M
tiated were aware what was about to transpre.
Before Mr.. Burton pronounced the benedic-
ton. he said:-"Mr Beecher has addressed TO
Captain Charles Duncan letter IN relation to
his recent political utteranCes and the position
which he now occupies At an informal meet
ing OF such brethren rs could be hastily gathered
last evening, it was resolved that the letter OF
Mr.. Bcecher be read to his congregation az the
close of the service lhis morning, by Captain
Duncan. "The reverend gentleman then pro
nounced the benedicliOn, and remarked, "NoW
we will listen TO that communication
Captain Duncan emeroed from one of the pews
and mounted the stand and, amid the breath
less attention OF the congregation, spoke as toll
lows:-'I will mention that the immediate
cause of the letter was the report that reached
MIR. Beecher from all sides, either true or other
wise, of the great sorrow that existed in his
and 1n1Afr AZ
land letter. This Lever was borne to me yester-
day afternoon by Mrs. Beecher, with the request
from Mr.. BePcher that some OF his valued and
judlcous friends, and as many of the brethren
OF the church as could he got together, should
be consulted. Ii they thought il wise to have it
read, he desiled it 10 be read; II not not. 1t
was his wish that Mr.. Burton should read the
letter, but IL was thought wise by the brethren
10 tax MIR. Burton, in addition to his other
duties, with that OF reading this long letter: so
II was decided that | should trv to read il. I
WIZ read II ihe best can, and if stumble You
VIII ne KIND enough TO bear in mind that YOU
would probably stumble if you were here"
Uaughler.)
Captain Duncan then proceeded to read Mr..
Beechers latest Illumination, which it is need
less TO say was listened to with profound atten.
ton. When the temporary occupant OF the
stand from which alleged theological and poIiti-
cal heresles mingled with UNPARALLELED fghts ot
elOquence, have long been Illuminated cDnoe IA
the passage in the letter wherein Mr. BeecbeI
announced himself opposed 10 the details of tbe
"A theatrical
phrase, ''came down. That sentence was foI
lowed by loud applause IRON rhe audience floor
. The gallery and the upper gallery, where Nh,
''gods' are supposed TO dwell. II is not impro
bable that If an outsider had wandered into Ply
mouth Church at this junCture, amid the still
ness OF the Sabbath, and witnessed such desc
Grafton OF the day within the precincts of th
temple dedicated to the sacred exercises OF wor
ship he would have IMAGINED himself suddenl
usbered into the company of set Of infuriate
enthusiasts instead OF gathering OF protesse
humble worshippers OF the Almighty. At tn
conclusion OF the reading OF the epstle, whic
wound up by saying he was ''sickn and ''alone
which might properly be paraqhTased-
An around NV iarm j roam,
Sick, and sad, and lonely.
The laughter in which the audience freely IL
dulged a moment before alta wlttcism OF M
Beecher's relative 10 the 'narrowuessn of th
Presidents sphere, suddenly turned into q
preesions Of pity and commiseration. M
Beecher having satisfied that portion of h
hOek who supposed that during his RbsenC