New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-23
FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RI.
DICULOJS.
BIZ A POOR CONTRIBUTOR.

Henry Ward Beecher, like all great men,
| is something of a free-thinker and actor.
As a preacher OF the gospel, he does not
| necessarily confine himself to gospel lessons
but frequently branches ont and takes in
lessons of everyday life that are well
worthy of thought and comment. He is in
10 sense hide-bound in matters of religion
or morals, yet is strictly moral and devoutly
religious, according to his own ideas.
We had heard great deal of this great
preacher before we ever saw him, and, Of
course. had much curiosity to see and hear
him; and, as fate would have it. the first
time We had the pleasure of seeing him was
at a great gathering in Irving Hall, New
York. where a very select party had met
10 see a couple OF experts play game of
billiards for a certain wager We were told
that the Rev Mr.. Beecher would certainly
be there. among other distinguished char
acters, and this very naturally increased
our desire to be present.
An invitation had been rendered us by
friend to attend Irving Hall on this occa-
sion, and he had actually invested twenty
dollars in purchasing couple of tickets to
secure our admission to this meeting of
promiscuous characters. to witness stroke
of the fine arts executed with the billiard
cue. The evening set apart Tor the trial of
skill between the knights of the cue turned
out to be a stormy one, and We were some
what inclined to doubt whether we would
be gratitied upon that occasion in seeing the
great pulpit orator and hesitating about
ont IN
witness IA game of billiards. Our friend
found it necessary, in order to secure our
attendance. to assure us that there could
be no doubt but our curiosity to see Mr..
Beecher would be gratitied if we went, as
he was not man to be kept from places of
amusement by bad weather.
SO this decided us that we should go, and
sure enough Mr. Beecher was there, the
observed OF all observers. The game of
billiards was played and he seemed to wit
ness it with as much interest as those who
had their thousands bet upon the result. 1t
is true our curiosity to see him was here
satisfied, but our desire to hear his sublime
elo1uence was yet unappeased. and we had
made up our mind to go and hear him the
first opportunity.
Unfortunately, we had to leave New York
without being gratitied in this respect. Ii
we could have been present when the fol-
lowing incident occurred we are satisfied
we would have found Mr.. Beecher fully
under the inspiration of his most eloquent
mood, and would have been gratitied to our
hearts content, in all that We had ever
imagined of his power to startle and cleo
trify others.
1t is said that but few Sundays ago, as
he was about commencing his sermon, a
stout, fatherly- looking man was endeayoring
to make his way through the crowd, to get
within better hearing distance of the dis
tinguished orator. At that moment Mr.
Beecher's voice rang out the words of the
text: who art thou p 'Who art thou ?"
again cried the dramatic preacher. The
stout party. thinking himself in the wrong,
perhaps, by pressing forward, and believing
himself to be personally addressed, startled
the brethren and nonplussed their rever-
enced chieftain by sedately replying:
I'm pig merchant from Chicago, sir. l
hope yoa amt mad. There amt nary
chair, or else I'd sot down"
II is said that Plymouth Church did not
recover its serenity for ten minutes after
the stout party had concluded his speech,
and that it was some time before Mr.. Beecher
sufficiently recovered himself to proceed
with his eloquent discourse.
This is really jumping from the sublime
to the ridiculous, and must have been
hugely enjoyed by all present.