The New York herald., 1869-01-01
TEMPERANCE MEETING IN HR0OKLYN.

Remarks Of Mr. Beeclscr at Plymouth Church.
There was very large assemblage gathered
within the walls OF Plymouth church last evening"
upon which occasion temperance meeting was
held under the auspices OF the temperance society OF
that church. Captain Duncan presided. and cha
racteristc discourse in advocacy Of the cause was
delivered by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecler, who In
the course Of his remarks, expressed himself sub
stantally a. follows:-
Every circle tends TO take Its course frsm the gra
dations OF society surrounding 1t, and 7oung men
have been going abroad until there are more Ameri-
cans abroad than any other, and they careful In
every instance 10 test the quality OF he wines.
anese an.a return nome Win certain motions OF wine
not need temperance influence. There ire those in
the community whom we are bound 10 respect; yet
In this matter OF wine drinking they exercise
perncious influence. Then there Is amther infiu-
ence by which the cultivation OF this taste
for wine is encouraged. There Is Cailfonia, which
s destined AZ no distant day to produce grapes
than any vineyard IN Europe. Those VINO raise
grapes and manufacture wines are MT likely to
Italy AID Switzerland they tell me that ,funKenness
does not prevail 10 any extent; yet II IL fact that
they partake SO freely Of wine that theJ keep their
tions are more numerous there than elsewhere. He
was satisfied that wine would never be
sn% substitute & for s wnssey IN America u acts IS
We do not drink In this country for purposes OF the
palate The drinker here goes Into the hrroom and
water TO wash Il down. They Tell you the don't ike
IT, but take II as q stmulant. In Europ, they enjoy
liquor. and sip with evident pleasure q the palate.
Mr.. Beecher then cited an incident showing the pre-
valng spirit Of extravagance OF the p,ople OF the
day and the profiigacy OF those who spend their
money by thousands on lace slawls and
such costly articles Of dry goods, wio cannot
afford any aid TO the Church charity when called
upon to DO so. They think almost aiwgs Of pam
dering 70 their animal wants to the excl don OF the
spiritual ON the subject Of stimulars, M pre-
scriDed by physicians he remarked that le had been
asfonished TO Hnd that barrels Of whisky are Kept
In wafer cure establishment. While napy physi-
cans are aieviaing by the ADMINISTRATIVE of spirit
uous liquor the pangs of the body the are pilng
up everlasting torment for the sou. lie
believed, however. that q reformation was
now widely acting and asserting itelf among
.ne mes =, asernly; s, our cmae here is
brings INTO play artificial stmulants then reaction
sets IN with the most bancfu effect. Mny persons
have found this ont, and yet they rejtt the tenn
perance doctrine. The Bible, too, has leen niscon-
strucd IN relation 70 its teachings on ln.s SUBJECT
The scripture stands simply 10 facts. 1 only Iays
down the lesson that we must not do that which IN
Injurious lie dld not believe In coercion
ali things by persuasion, but notlsng by per
suasion. Attempting TO egislate on ine subject
has hurt the cause Facts In our neigH,orboou re-
suits nave shown have been premature. hS did not
say that u was wrong 70 try u, however md IN a
future day, when we have better tone of morals,
we can try II again when the present rsachon sub
sides God has SO bountifully built ii b he has
within himself oil the stimuants that are peedful.
and, AZ a matter OF daily and customary uSc, man
does not require stlmuants Of this KIND, Every
man must have his stimulant Va pre-
as witness the men Who endu,e the
RreatcN fatgne--thst stinulants were n1i fcaulred
by them IN giving them strength. The diet of mest
n@Ieaa @ ana conee was more WHOLESOME than any
other means of bodily stmulus There " more
strength IN grain of coffee than con be found IA q
whole barre Of liquor There are yonlp men no
VIZ ieAl yea thai Way can ieaye OF oI.IS When