Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-09
Letter from a Rowing Correspondent
A Man Among Men and Woman Among
Women.
TROY, n, Y, MAY, 1871.

TROY, N. T., May, 1871.
We never SO truly appreciated the grandeur o.
mind as a few Sundays since, in Plymouth
church. listening to Henry Ward Beecher. He
stood alone-simply apart from any of the or
nate sacerdotal sppliances-in that plain, old
church, which he wisely refuses to have mod
ernized after the styles of the day,-with nc
external garniture, save a simple desk on a very
green carpet, with a deep basin of delicious
blush and red roses on either side his feet. All
was forgotten but the speaker and his utter
ances. The Sabbath there was made for him
and not he for the Sabbath.
His theme, Glove Service" founded on Gal
| 8, 1874, was treated in his own manner. 1t was
dashed here and there with the deep colors OF
his enthusiasm, as when he analized true friend
ship to be the slavery of one for another in the
most complete self-renunciation, simplifying this
idea to a theory doubtless admirable in a SER
mon and in Seneca's Morals, but unreal to the
refinement of the barbarism of tyranny. 1t
was toned down with the rich, dark shadows of
a few home-fgures, naturally and thrillingly
grasped, such as he alone can use to embellish
the most common facts; and finally wound up
Suppose person were to plant orange and
lemon trees in Canada, and pray God to give
him big cropsl People would say that the CHM
ate of Canada was not calculated to produce Or
anges and lemons. If a man will 90 to the
southern part of Florida, he need not pray much
to get large crops of oranges and lemons; but
if he goes to Kamtschatka he cannot get them
by any amount of praying. And we must have
right conditions or we cannot have right virtues.
Here are selfish, worldly men, full of the bar
tering spirit, full of traficing affections; here
are men that live in a low and chilly state. and
yet they are praying for these higher graces,
thinking that if they could get them they would
rise into a warmer state; bur they must get into
a warmer state where these graces will grow,
before they can have them. Change the climate
of the soul, and they will become spontaneous
and fruitful. For, as selfshness is the bane and
the of life, so this love that is dsinerested
and that serves, is the bounty and divinity of
life."
AS we saa~the surging tide of admiring peo-
pie leave this house of worship, many of them
through a very plain basement alley, query
arose whether it would not be better for the
churches everywhere to depend less on architec-
ture, upholstery and extravaganza outlay general
ly, and more on strong, clear, natural thought
armed with the sword of the spirit. Place and
power. Genius expressing popular truth is the
multiple of power, The bishops (worthy menI
who go about the country defeating houses of
public worship with solemn teaching of the alb
solute necessity of building up grand churches
in furtherance of salvation, would do well to
consider the propagandism Of a power which
radically touches the hearts of the people, even
our free, firm-thinking young men, and hence
leavens society with woodworking reforma-
tons. Our youth are athirst for sympathy
that works through pomp and circumstance
even to fhe hidden sanctuary of the soul.
Where is the priest who is mighty in this exam
pie?
A short time since, in this city, we heard
a woman cut away right royalty from
the desk where sat bishop and
his cabinet, and in face of a crowded house of
Witteumeyer, who became
famous in our civil war. The windmill which
most zealously received her blows was woman's
vanity, displayed in personal appearance, to the
detriment of her usefulness in the church. Her
self amodel of the absence of this trait of femi-
nine depravity, and gifted with the JUNCTION of
the sex when we have made up our mind, she
succeeded in tearing the fine things of gay
women to the absolute charm of her male audi
tors. 1t was well worth while to see some of
the ministers get happy and hug their gold
watches in their pockets in unconscious ardor
as they folded their arms and throve on the
thrilling denunciations. 1t was a very fine
short what may be called perfect
success, inasmuch as she told the needed truth
with excellent effect.
Ever since Adam resorted to that convenient
Subterfuge in guilt, "The woman thou gavest
me did the mischief" it seems to impart rare
consolation to the male portion of mankind to
have women receive their righteous dues. Mrs.
W. is benefactor. Long may she wave her
hand in purifying power over the devoted heads
of worldly hooking INnmenl L II IL IL