Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-12-12
EIcmry Ward EBeechcr.

For many years MIR. Bcecher has been a
power for good in this community. He has
exerted an immense influence, not only over
the congregation OF Plymouth Church, but
upon o laEge class Of liberal and progressive
Christians in this country and in England.
Nor is it difficult to understand the secret
of this influence. Christianity, as he under
stands it, is present fountain ofinspiration,
instead of being the formal dead letter that
in the teaching OF tCo many diVines it be-
comes. He regards il as o living force, able
TO grapple with and overcome the evils Of
the day, and to lie the inspiration Of the
great philanthropic movements and progress
siye reforms that have been the glory of this
age. Conservatives have blamed Mr.. Beccher
bitterly for turning his pulpit into theatre,
in conventional phrase; in other words, for
discussing in his pulpit practical questions
Of vital interest and importance, instead of
confining himself exclusively to the discus,
sion Of dogmas. But The earnest and eloquent
'preacheg has well haown that the spirit of
the age was with him. sad that thus alone
could he accomplish the work laid out for
him to do. a~
Nsr has he ever neglected, emineatly
practical as his preaching has always been,
the spiritual aspirations ard needs of his
hearers. The mission of the minister, in his
opinion he has so defined his own idea of
his ministerial missions that of O doctor
of sick souls" and this expression gives the
clue to the strictly religious aspect of his
professional career. His purpose, that of
curing the spiritually sick, and the profound
atliy of human nature to which it has led
him, have furnished the soul physician with
that endless variety OF mental phenomena
which is the ground Tork of 30 much of Mr..
BeeNher's preGch!sg. 1t is the inspiration
of this purpose that has made his sermons
so vita, and LeeltL.g giving. and that has en-
abled him to exert an extraordinary inilG-
rgnce upon other minds, both in the pulpit
and out of ii, by impressing them with the
| conviction that the motive Of his desire to
act upon them wa; love.
The collection of Mr.. Bescher's sermons,
Just published in two handsome volumes,
will receive welcome that is seldom award.
cd to any work, from the host Of his friends
and admirers scattered in every city and
village throughout the Union. The coIlec.
ton consist of forty.siX sermons, selected
from about FIVE hundred, with the view
excepting that all political discourses have
been omitted, in order that they may bs
compi!ed in a separate yolume-of giving
correct idsa of the range of subjects that he
has been accustomed to discuss.
IN literary point of view these sermon!
have the merits and defects that belong tC
cxtemporaneous discourses as a class. Tha
highest eloquence, which takes captive alike
the intellect and heart, the eloquence of
style 10 which profound thoughts are har
ln0niously embodied in tho brietest and mos
choice language, they do Rot possess; no
should we look TO tiud ii fn shed and scho
lastic form of expression in ,ylmons SO essen
d TALLY oral. Judged as the ..s utterances o
a great and loving heart, as the spontaneou
appeals Of powerful, emotional man, striv
ing with all his strength TO lift his hearer
froa the dominion of sin uIG sorrow to th
highest and noblest plane of human teelin.
and action, their wisdom and healthtul in
lluence vii! be appreciated while Their use
fulness will be increased by the fact that
SO many rc.dera the written word will b
viyifed By NJ recollection of the ringing
voice, the vehement action and the vas
amount of magnetic energy which lies en-
chained and inspired within the auditorium
of Plymouth Church.
In the preface to his sermons, Mr.. Beeche
writes rs follows:
81 have always been glad that chose tn
ministry of the gospel of Christ as the bust
ness of my life. My work has been joy T.
me all the way. cannot conceive OF ano
ther profession in which the noble enjoyment
are SO many, and the drawbacks are so few
If when ana too old to labor, these serm on
shall still he read, it will complete my salts
faction, and extend my joy and reward dow
to the very end OF my life"
These words have peculiar interest, sine
they testify to the benefcence and useiulnes
of the preachers career. The work whicl
is Joy to the iaborer is, usually, the wori
which he is fitted and commanded to do
and the self.approval of COED mans con
science is the assurance of God that the seed
of truth that he has sown will live and bea
fruit after he himself has passed away
i Harper & Brothen.)