The New York herald., 1870-05-23
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

A Quiet Sunday at Plymouth Chnrch-Mr.
BeecLcr on Plymouth Church Matinees and
on Soul-EuiidinG.
congregation that did not stretch itself into the
corridors to Its usual Overfiowing boundaries took
part with its ordinary unabated interest in the
vices OF Plymouth church yesterday morning. Both
the dress Of the ladies ana the floral decorations or
the church were rather more subdued In their tone
than hitherto during the fine Sabbaths OF this spring.
This toning down Of the eXuberance of life SYM
pathized In by the PASTOR and Mr.. Beechers con-
gre.ation only gave
WHISPERED LAUGH
as the preacher mimicked word and gesture ever
and anon the characters he put before his audience
Previous to the sermon were the church and gene
raj announcements. Among the latter were Eliza.
beth Cady Stantons lecture to women only on
wednesday, In Brooklyn, on
MRS. M'FARLAND,
but which Mr.. Beecher announced without naming
the subject. Among the former was the announce
ment OF the last OF the Plymouth organ con.
certs. or, as more wicked AMI more cynical
people designate them, plymouth church
matinees.r There IS to be q concert next
Saturday by blind musicians, for The benefit Of the
blind. Mr. Beecher took occasion to remark In this
regard that this series OF concerts had been the
most successful ever held, not only as to attendance,
Dut also aS 10 tIle VI nhu
been submitted to the pubic. he claimed that Ply
mouth church had by these concerts greatly i'm.
proved the for music IN the city; that The soec-
ton OF pieces with which these concert Is began ould
not now be tolerated: nat the programmes were
rem rkab:e now Tor the number OF CLASSICAL pec s.,
or IN more popular language, thoughtful music, in.
siead OF the emo iona; and that organ playing
mad been shown by these concerts to have
possibilities that few years ago had
never been dreamed OF. There was another
outcome OF these Saturday afternoon concerts
that Mr.. Beecher did no mention but which he him
self must be scous OF as he is OF the develop
ment OF musical taste-very probably more so. This
Plymouth church on Saturday afternoon as tr ystng
and gossiping pace for lovers. Beethoven, Mozart
and Haydn's divine melodies are all lost upon the
Young men and madcns who are
CONJuGAT1NG THE VERB TO LOVE
through all its moods and lenses Whlle inc organ
swells forth its peang notes and loud feirans.
Mr. Beeclier's subject was described by himself as
"Soul-DulIdingr but would be better understood,
probably, in the moro orthodox pnraseoogy OF
christian perfection or sanctflcaion.n The text
seeccd was 81 John xiv, q, 25-"Judas saith unto
him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is 1t that thou wilt
manifest tliysef unto u, and not unto the world
/ Jesus answered ard said unto him, II a man love me
he will keep my words, and my Faith sr VIII love him,
| aud we Will cone unto him and nake our abode
with him. These verses contained that
| PATHEFi AND SENTIMENTAL LANGUAGE u
| which was shown by Christ very frequently during
ms mission here on earth. Language that was diti-
cut TO bc understood by the sup, ially minded,
| ana frequently regarded by them a, wld powerful
anu sentimental; but to great minds those words
were irausht with beauty aud with instruction.