The Portland daily press., 1867-12-11


"Chips," lively correspondent of the Bue
lalo Express, writing from Lockport, reports
a decidedly Beecherish lecture by Rev. X
Beecher, of Elmira. N. Y Thomas is not so
well known as his brothers Henry Ward,
Charles and Edward, and his sisters, Harriet
and Catherine, but his independence OF
thought and expression plainly indicates that
he can be no one but Lyman Beecher's son.
The subject OF his lecture at Lockport was a
"Search for Summer in voyage from New
York to Rio Janeiro, touching at st. Thomas,
Para, Bahia and Pernambuco. The following
extracts will be found entertaining, especially
the account of the adventures OF the Southern
chivalry in Brazil:
The strange Obseryances of the Roman
Catholic Church were dwelt upon to the great
amusement OF the audience. A procession
was described which was gotten up on the
most magnificent scale. Whenever it paused
rocket was let OIL, "Why is that?" inquired
Mr.. Beecher. ITO attract the attention OF
the Almighty, and induce him to keep off the
rain" was the response. "But there is a sec.
ond rOcket-and a third-what are those for p'
"One for the Son, and one for the Holy Ghost !,
was the answer "Now,r said the lecturer.
"lest any one may think am making snort of
the Roman Catholics, will tell what Prot
estant clerg yman did in Plymouth Church.
a man whose head will one day be circled
about by the saints. He was praying and
wrestling with God for souls, and in the ex-
element OF the moment he took his coat on
tirety Oft, and went on with his PRAYER.
(MEM.-This incident did not create much
sensation in the audience, but Mr.. Beecber
should remember that the people have ceased
to be astonished at anything his brother NAV
do in Plymouth Church)
Rne queer customs OF the Roman religion
suggested the interesting inquiry in his mind
as to whether the childishness of these peonle
impresses itself upon the church ceremopiak.
or whether it 10 the church that makes the
people childish. 1t was an inquiry which the
lecturer did not entirely answer; but he ex-
pressed one conclusion to which we heartily
say amen. "For my own part" said he, al
have altogether ceased to assume that any
particular denomination is wholly bad or
wholly good. ! have seen so many rascallv
Congregationalists, and so many SANITY Ro.
man Catholics, that l have grown careful
about sectarian judgments"
He said he was strikingly impressed with
the fact that in South America society ia
founded on religion. There is no sectsrian-
ism everybody belongs to the same church !:
and the devotional feeling is astopisbinely
prevalent. 1t is different here. have now
been here for fourteen years in charge of INV
church at Elmira, and whenever L approach
the subject of Christ and Him crucified, they
immediately conceive the suspicion that / am
trying to build up Beecher's church. II any
special appeal is made, the question is at once
asked, "What denomination is it for?" And
r. ioI, crrl,a ~
OF almost any town in the State tor Elmira
and not go wide of the truth.
His second conclusion was amost capjtal hit
at the "chivalry;" and to those who had lust
finished reading Johnson's sixth essay on the
disqualifications of Africans for anything but
sertdom, it had a special meaning. 81 was
impressed with the fact" he said. "tbat in
Brazil, monarchy as it is, distinctions of
class and caste are utterly unknown; black
and white mean nothing there, socially and
politically; the one enjoys the same civil
rights as the other; the blacks are wealthy
and powerful in an equal degree with the
whites lin short there are no political distinc-
tions OF any kind made on account of color
On the steamer with me were several passen.
gers from Charleston, who were abandon
ing TINS country forever. They talked with
me freely, knowing my name was Beecher
that they never could and never wouU Iive
where their negroes were to be elevated into
anything like equality with them. .You
Yankees" said they, "may, ii you choose, 60
to Charleston and live with them, zoe wont.''
Arrived at Rio, the party stepped into the ex-
press Office, where darkey as black as any
they had left at home sung out to them &c
take off their hats. The chivalry stood dumb
with indignation; the colored person insisted
the chivalry declined; and in the end, the
chivalry were ignobly marched off to jail b.
a black policeman!