The New York herald., 1870-02-07
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.


Murder in New York Ciiy-NIr. Beecher
and the Unitarisns--Chrislianity Without "a
Cbrisf.
II Is very interesting sight for person who has.
nothing IN particular to 10 sunday to pay visit
to Plymouth church and there witness the avidty
with which the Gospel is sought after. Let such an
one betake himself to this wealth bound church,
seal himself among the choristers and watch the
worshippers tbcy come in. Bankers, brokers
and merchants, who for the last six days
have been eyeing their neighbors' business with
feeling far from that incucsted by the teachings
Of the sacred Book. come up the aises, beamng,
perchance, with Christian Smiles and beautiful az
to their broadcioth, and humble their seats at
the foot Of the altar. There are their wives ana
daughters tripping lightly besde them, nodding to
friend here aud admirng duck OF a bonnet there.
looking eagerly around for some decorated pew TO
hold the Prince, but meeting with disappointment,
and finally seating themselves, thinking, doubtless,
now nice 1t Is To he member OF Beecher's church.
And in they come, filling every seat every char
cry STEP out 10 the door up the gallery the
very ceiling. Over This vast assembage his eyes
wander until some familiar face greets them. Yes
there Is Paymaster Eldrldge, U. $. NJ one of the
faithful OF Beecher's mock. Then there Is II. H.
Cianin looking as modest and unassuming as the
humpest clerk IN his establishment and II. G.
words and Rookwood, the artist singing his
prayers fom the choir Now he sees Moses
=. Beach, ana in close proximity Joseph
Howard one OF the veritable pillars OF
the church. More there in the circles
OF arr and politics and letters ana commerce.
as the eye wanders rom row to row; and as IL
reaches the EXTREMIST part OF the church, far re-
moved ifoni the pulpit, IL encounters a solitary
black man, alone OF his in all that vast assem-
bage, and accorded the privilege OF q back seat.
How lie rcves in Beechers eioguence may be Judged
from the smiles which play over his features rs the
spirit OF Christ led out by an able hand, enters his
very soul. Bot the eye becomes weared OF this yarl-
colored spectacle and settles now upon tine form or
the much abused and much beloved man. Beecher
the cause OF thus great gathering. Soon the
nutterng or silks ana the mnttering OF empty
YoSsips cease the old men adjust their glasses the
young their delicate eyebrows on their upper ips
ana Miss Thursby opens the ceremonies by singing
Uom The messiah y How beautiful are the feet of
those VINO preach the Lord.r Then Mr.. Beecher ut-
Tered prayer, calling in the sinner To seek the
dwelling or Christ ana not be content with viewing
IL al distances He would not despise them, but
would soften their hearts ana draw them towards
Himself; he prayed tnat they might learn to keep
their hands from their brothers throat that hO-
nhess might prevail through all the world.
Following the singing Of the 2l6th hymn the
preacher announced the annual contribution for
CITY MISSION; he was not satisfied with the Offering
maze last year by his church; where 1t stood three
on the list II shoukp have been first Tor the wealth
ana the numbers and the intelligence OF the congr,-
CATION should have warranted this. The church tnat
stood rst was called aristocratic, having
i've CONGREGATION, but kind of conservatism which
he liked; conservatism which allowed the mem
bers OF the chnlch 70 think of the poor and outcast.
racy the true principles of democracy but there was
u good deal OF democracy lie did not believe In; ne
liked the self-dcnying, IaoorloIs democracy.
fhen the whole congregation burst forth In
another anthem, and Mr.. Beecner read from Paul's
Epsue TO the Ephesians, Ill.,, l7-l9:-"That Christ
may dwell III your hearts by faith; that ye being
rooted and grounded In love, may abe conpre-
need with all saints what is the breadth and length,
ana depth and height ana to know the love OF
niled with all the funess OF God." This eplse con-
tained the very supreme Of philosophy these words
touched on the very laws OF Christianity, which DIR
Tered IRON all religions Dy demanding giving up OF
the heart 10 Christ The Christian religion was not
u system OF laws, not q philosophy Of truth bus a
The personal relationship or the heart to
Christ which is the seminal form in Chris
tan, but brought him TO the central point OF
Christianity. The heart allegiance Is all the Chris
tanIty one can have, as outside Ol experience IL
nothing but II pale reflex like 10 a lunar rainbow
The New Testament recognizes Christ In three ways
by the senses the intellect and the heart The re-
cogntiOn Of Christ by the sense Is not preeminent
and al the present ~ hopeless the intellect may
furnish an important guide to His knowledge, YET
The love OF Christ IS generated by the heart. But
there were those Christians who dd not believe IN
Christ. They could be likened 20 Il man having hls
brains and nervous powers taken out ana yet con
nue to eat ana drink ana live THIS Christianity hau
no Christ, ana IL was cowardly for these people
call themselves Christians. They had obliterated IFS
very genius. taken out the very essence yet they
would not give up the name.
The speaker then gave more elaborate detail OF
the three methods OF recognizing Christ, ana al times
was very eloquent, tears arising 10 his ana his
congregation fairly lifted mp by the heart spoken
words Of the preacher. In the Of his discus
sion ON creeds--for every man every party had a
creed or platiorm-he ALLUDED to the fact that the
want OF certain creed, some years ago in oxford
or Cambridge was fatal as 1t was u crime. Murder
III New YORK, ne said, was not fatal; in fact mur
der IN that city is not fatal. And sensation which
found vent in smile, ran through The audience at
the remark.