The New York herald., 1870-12-26
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

Observance OF the Festival Of the Nativity
mt Plymouth Chnrch-i:vergreens, Flowers
and S0ngs-A sermon the Joy Producing
Power OF Christianity.
The Festival OF the Nativity was celebrated In
Plymouth Church. yesterday with latitudinarianism
Of rituasIn that would have shocked the early Pur-
tans OF Plymouth. although the service differed very
little from that OF ordinary Sabbaths. The most
richly Illuminated red-ietter day Of the church was
marked by special loral decoration, and by anth
and song OF appropriate mental and metrical har-
mony. A Christmas tree, 80 tall that lts lopnost
branches hid the face or Miss Morgan, the new con-
tralto aud other feminine members OF the choir.
attracted the eye Immediately on entering the
church, and was an elegant hint that after the SER
vice OF day santa Claus could put IL to good use
for suspendng Christmas presents upon for the
children of the Sunday schools. The 0llyes stand
had fir tree branches so entwined around II as TO
give good representation OF
MALTESE CROSS,
and the minister's table had stand upon It or dark
green foliage interspersed here and there with
geraniunis OF carInlne hue. The service OF song
was opened by the "song OF the Anges,n an anthem
by Mr.. Zundel and which, for operate effect, could
scarcely have been surpassed. One OF the Choruscs
was strongly suggestive OF the "Whisper chorns'
III "Les Brigands.n Mr.. lockwood, In the tenor
solos, and Miss Thursby IN the soprano solos, dls
tinguisned themselves, aud taking into considera
on the zero condition OF the atmosphere, may 10
said to be in excellent voice.
Before the sermon Mr.. Beecher had several an
nouncements TO make, not the least important Of
which was the annual auction of the pews on tho
evening OF the first Tuesday In January. Attention
was called to The printed diagram OF the pews OF
the church, which were TO be found distributed
Literally In the pews, and to the desira-
bilIty OF those VINO intended TO make any
fhn, N
study both price and location. The usual annual
reference to the newspaper criticism consequent on
the sale was deferred until next sunday. Ihe text
selected was from the gospel or Saint Luxe H.,
I0-ll:-"And the angel said unto them, 'tear not,
for behold bring you good udings OF great Joy,
which shall be to all people; for unto you Is born rhis
day. tlc city OF David, Saviour, which s Cnr.st
the LorG.'" Mr.. Beecher began the calculation OF
the text and the expansion OF the theme of his dis
course which he designated 'The Joy-producing
Po er Christianity" with his usual careful reading
from his manuscript OF number OF wen constructed
sentences Oh the universally or the observance OF
Christmas Day throughout the civilized world, and
then warming up to his subject he burst INTO ex'
temporaneous flashes OF eloquent rhetoric, and
dealt with the suggestive thought that seemed ia
arise so spontaneously 10 the influence oi Chris
tanity upon the world. In answering the
question, '.What is Christianity, itselis ne SAID
1t was system made up out Of the life and teach.
Ing OF Jesus Christ that merely tells US where ths
came ager IS tudy 81 IL "a e 20
signed by God to educate The mnd OF the race to Its
fun capacity The germs OF tins Chrlstianiy were
with Christ ana illustrative and prophetic OF the
smalness OF tue beginning he had SAID His king
dom not or this world Christianity never was
SO imperfect as when Christ lived. Men talked
about gong back to the time Of the Apostles. They
might as well talk about going
10 find the best timber the building OF ships. The
absorbing power OF Csristlanity 70 encompass an
that worthy was illustrated oy the reference 10
Paus Epislle 70 the Philippians. and the passage,
| "Whasoever things are pure, and whatsoever
things are truen &c But men answered & TO al inns
about christianity bringing joy into The world, ana
said"It all very well FOR these nignty angels Va
talk about on at earth 1 ana e good Maep M ee
Me- I'm I'm shls world !, J yoa gu .sl1 snal 81 n;ys ,Ss
prosecutions, all in the name oil Chrlstlity, sala
tney. Well Christianity for all This was 10Y; me
chastislng nnuences, the periods OF suffering were
all trials and perecrng processes out Of which Joy
| came MIR. Boecher mere gave . number OF familiar
which were the chiselling OF the sculptor the
block Of stone the housewives cleanliness ana neat
J ness, the school period by which biocknead was
/ TRANSFORMED INTO GENIUS.
IL was the law OF tile world that through suffering
| should come perfection, and pain was Gods md
/ wife, which helps virtue into existence No man
takes cross upon MIN for mat which Is spiriuai-it
is always for that Which Is animal The cross is mol
taken upon him his love- for his faith, but upon
his PRIDE his passion or his lower nature. So Chris
tlanlty gives the promise that higher or more
I
! Thought that The sun Of righteousness had gone as
far back in its OF winter in the world as II was
likely to 60 ana nenceforth we should be getting
| nearer and nearer to that glorious summer when
! Christianity would snine ON all the nations WIN
/ more respendent brightness than II had ever Sh0ne
i before. Even the Christmas Day emDlem OF
tnis for the 2lst was the shortest day; but on the
! Goth the first lock from the covering OF darkness
had been won by the sun, ANA was brought back as
I trophy that the haa gone as far towards the
darkness OF The days II could CO. and tnat we uad
| commenced our annual return 10 ihe days oi ile
| rich ana
| REFULGENT SUMNER.
they wished TO see what JOY there was In Cnrls-
anity let them look at the writings OF the Apostles.
| The most ilustr,ous literature the globe vas
that winch had been written by the ouLcast Apos-
| Ties, Gods vagaboIds Of the earth.
The sermon was closed with reference to tho
hardness of the Old times, hundreds or years ago,
and fifty years ago, and TO the Joys and privileges of
the present. and The thankfulness we ought 10 feel
in this festive OF the year for the JOYS aud
| nrIviinpcs with which we were surrounded