The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-14
PLYMOUTH CHUNCH-aHOogLYA.

Discourse by Rev. Henry Ward Beecber.
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher delivered q highly m
teresting discourse in Plymouth Church, which was,
as usual, crowded to its utmost capacity. The
reverend gentleman, without much preface, pro-
ceeded to contrast men with animals, holding that
in some respects the latter had superior qualities.
He forcibly pointed out the many discrepancies OF
some men, In comparison with which he alluded to
the many well known good traits OF domestic ami
mals Many men in their social condition were
little better than beasts Could the Indian, with his
nature undisturbed and undeveloped, be compared
to the lovely singing brdf There were 1,ooooooooo
Of human beings on the globe, by whose death
nothing would be missed; there would not be one
single affection, one idea nor moral sentiment lost,
for their power OF productveness was nothing.
How many were there whose sole ann was TO MAIN
tain life. and who were glad only to have enough TO
eat and drink TO have sufficient to sustain sim
pie vitality. They did not aspire to anything
higher than to eat, drink and sleep. In what
respect, he would ask were such people better
than the brute' Yet such men were favorable
specimens. Those who worked merely to crafty
their passions were SIMPLY worse than the beasts.
Then, there was the lazy class OF human beings, who
did almost nothing, men who lived by their wits,
diving their probosces into everything that did not
concern them, hangers-0n, those who always meant
70 DO something oat Mere aways az ~, there , was
bring about casualties, the men who steal with cir
cumspection, aided by remarkable knowlenge Of
human nature and adrotness-they were called
flnanciers. Others stole with impunty that for
which poor men were sent to jall--they were desig-
mated operators. Having alluded to swindlers
generally the reverend gentleman went on to
state that man must produce something,
must do something towards benehting the
condition OF his fellow man In order to fulfil In
some measure the ends for which he was created.
II society could only be rid Of its rogues II society
could only he freed from the wasters what would
happenY Every lock would be dragged from every
door and the tone OF civilization as y now
stood would disclose remarkable change,
while the people would be relieved from
a plundering taxation. The miscreants who thus
swindled their fellows were at the same time open
moutbed and impudent. Besides these were the
destroyers OF men. Animals fed on animals and
men fed upon men. The capital OF New York had in
measure learned TO feed the passions which destroy
men body and soul and involve them In ruin. There
was surely nothing like this In the animal kingdom,
which merely destroyed by retail while men ami
hilated ny wholesale. He commended that among
the most pernicious characteristics OF New York
were liquor and lust. II they could be squeched
the position OF the government OF the state would
rise triumphant. lie adverted TO another class Of
men whom he termed the mites harmless, no doubt,
but frivolous and imbecile These two he considered
beneath the animal kingdom. In conclusion he
clearly showed that every man should have some
great enn0bling object In life and not render his
existence useless to himself ana others; that he
should be the servant OF his fellow man by In
manner contributing 10 his moral advantage.