The New York herald., 1870-03-14
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
plYmuuIH CHURCH.


and Its Onicrrs--A sermon the Hum0r-
ous side or Human RIiscry-Beechcr-SLIs ike
Illustrations.
There was no crush Of eager worsnippers yesier-
day morning &C Plymouth church. The uslers had
m easy task IN finding stngs for the strangers for
many OF the pew-0wners dh not put In an appear
auce and the result that after the entire con-
eregation was accommodated there were good
many empty pews-certainy an unusual event IN
the history OF this church when Mr.. Bcecher
breaches. This was OF course. attributable to the
wintry storm, for the inciemency Of the weather
kept many away who were unable 20 encounter the
stormy blast OF snow, sect and wind. Plymouth
church congregation Is not local congregation,
made up OF residents who are WITHIN the sound of
the tollng CT the bell. They come from every part
OF the city, ana also from the nelghbOr1ng city OF
New York, magnetized to a regularity IN at-
tendance by Mr. Bcechers el0quence and his earnest
enuncatlons Of Gospel truths This fact in the make
up or this church and congregation Is one OF very
significant interest to those amongst the number
who have grown up with the growth OF tue church.
To thoughtful men, who have It's future interest at
heart ana who look at it occasionally from the hu.
man standpoint of looking before and after Involves
the question TO the future OF this church whea Mr.
Beecher Is no longer the pastor. and is removed
either by nrmty OF body mind or by death by tha
spell OF his great powers he holds this vast congre-
~
disruption to those who follow after hin ts thor
oughly believed by those who know best the heter0-
Een0u5 elements that compose the multitude VINO
listen to him Sunday after Sunday. IL
may therefore be useful TO take this op-
portuDity In this connection or giving a
short summary OF the rise and progress Of church
that fills 80 large space IN the mind Of the reli-
gous world, and the future of whcn Is Taught with
anxious thought TO those who have the best right
have anxious thoughts about 1t.
Plymouth church stands upon ground comprising
seven lois. running through from Cranberry to
OraDEe streets. 1t was purchased in 1923 OF John
aud Jacob "a. Hicks for the erection Of On edGce for
the use OF " the First Presbyterian church.n The
population or Brooklyn was then less than 1000.
1t was regarded by cautious men US hazardous
enterprise, for the church was built IN what was
tnen cultivated nelds and far from the settled
portion OF the village, though now III the dcDsest
part OF BROOKLYN Heights. Tue pastors who laboled
1928 to 1929; ey. Daniel L. Carroll, d. d. from 1929
70 1898; Rev. Samuel u. Cox, D. D., from 1927 TO
present house OF worship upon Henry street.
q ts lsas John T. Howard s1p, then member member
premises were for SALE obtained the refusal
consulted with David Hale OF the Tabernacle church,
New York. as to the expediency OF establishing
couraged ny the promised support of MIR. Hale MIR.
Howard completed the contract OF purchase on June
II, lS4s Possession was given on the 1oth Of May
establishment OF the new church was held at the
house Of Henry Q. Brown. on saturday eyeaing.
May 8. lS47 There were present David Hale, Of
New York: Ira Payne, John 4. Howard, Charles
Rowland, David Griffin and Henry o. Brown, or
BROOKLYN IL was there resolved 'that religious
shall be. commenced, Dy Divine PERMISSION
sunday. the 10Th day OF May" a1d on that
morning IN 1s47, the meeting house in Cranberry
Henry Ward Beecher who was then pastor Of the
Second Presbyterian church In Indianapolis, had
visited New YORK at tins time at the request Of the
American Home Missionary Society TO make pub
lie address at It's anniversary. He was invited to
mgly preached, both IN the morning and evening"
to audiences which crowded every part OF the build
by unanimous vote elected Henry Ward Beecher
to be their pastor. ON the 19th Of August Mr..
torate ON sunday, tine 10th Of October, lS47, he
commenced hts iabors. In the morning the church
was about tnreelourths iuii ana entirely fu In the
four months, after which the building vas generally
crowded both morning and evening. From the year
lSl0 20 1868 there was frequent recurrence Ol revi
walls at the church and large accessions to the
her OF ils MEMBERS With a few exceptions. cQnse-
Quent upon Ill health visit to Europe ana a lectur-
ing tour In behalf OF tile abolition OF slavery, Mr..
Beecher has Iabored steadily at his post since lSd1
lie has a summer vacation every year, which gen.
orally lasts upon an average about six weeks.
on the 18th OF January, ls49, Plymouth church
was seriously damaged by fire. and 1t was decided
that the church should be entirely rebuilt The
ner stone OF this edtce was laid May 29 18A9 and
the building was completed so as to be occupied by
the congregation on the first sunday OF J3nGary.
1850. Tie church lO5 feet long, so feet broad and
43 feet rom floor 10 ceiling, and accommodates
about $500 people. Lecture rooms and school
rooms were also built, and the entire cost OF the
church about S360GO ana the former about
$i3,0QQ In 1866 new organ was purchased at an
expense or $4,000. In 1858 the pew rents realized
$ll, ,l57 aud in 1859 about $4,000 The Bethel, IN
Hicks street. has been bnllr by the church at cost
of about $4,000. Schools, services Sunday even
ings, lectures and free reading room are part or
the agencies of this Bethel 1t has done and Is dong
vast amount oi good to the neglected part OF
the population 1t is rumored that some Of the
members OF the church are thinking OF organizing
movement for new Bethel In another part OF tue
may be said TO be a church IN earnest.
The following are the names OF the deacons upon
afr fhn 1.vrA nDff fhfa
manly rests:--Messrs b. r. Jones. Il. q. Fisher, Z.
A. Graves, g. A. Hail, s. b. Halliday, O. B. Coones
A. Hill, l.. w. Manchester aud w. r. West Church
Treasurer, o. b. Coomes: Auditory Committee, L.,
Palmer ana H. Morrin; Treasurer Deacon's Fund,
Is. C. Fisher Clerk Of the Church, Thomas g. Shear
man.
Mr.. Beecher's subject yesterday morning was
upon the duty OF Christians trusting In God.
founded upon the last clause the sixth chapter OF
the Gospel of St NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. unto the day
is the evil thereoI'-and was very earnest, elo-
GUS side or human misery that the strangers laughed
outright and the more experienced hearers smiled
and tner has From the
a chars Of life. that every man would
philosophy as we'll as Christian truth FOR
the man who follow It would on economic reas
s0ns likely to succeed, a3 success WAS measured
even on earthly principles He then commented
upon the modern spirit OF enterprise the large de-
rland II made upon the energies OF men, ana more
feels that lie is destined TO be somebody IN life
Every boy was taught to believe that he might be-
come President, civil Justice, or something else.
Any man who had not this spirit Of enterprise was
deemed to be mean-splrited; such man was born
OF poor parents he was contentcd with his position
was happy; but such y man was deemed unit to be
In the whir OF The progress OF civilization. You tell
men tina, 'they are not 10 lay up treasures on
earth, and they do not understand it,; II they 40
they do not believe 1t. In the earlier
days OF the history OF society there were
not such large demands made upon life.
Now the world has become very much
Ike treadmiii. Formerly the wheel went
round very slowly. and nen coulf keep step on II II
rapidly that Is required all the powers Of man TO
Keep up. Then there was the great phantoin OF
keeping IN appearaIces-onc Of the greatest hum
bugs OF the present day. What was II to keep up
appearances9 Why, is was TO bring out that which
was worn with dust and moth eaten for their friends
TO gaze at and to be envlous abont 1t was life OF
fraud tnstcad OF sincerity. Then men looked for
excitement instead Of JOY. Excltement came from
development or that which was spiritual. There
was spark OF humor in the proverb, (which Of You