The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-06-04
a Comic sermon at Plymouth
Church.


Beechcrs discourse on Sunday was on
Doing as you have mind TO, and
contained many passages in the most
humorous vein Of the preacher, as the
reporters tel lIus, provoking the smiles OF
the congregation. Among other things
he said
You see people come into a room; they
are going to be very proper and they
are going to DO the correct thing, and
the room is full OF invited guests, and
Won gee az they come in that they are
overwhelmed almost with the thought
of themselves. But you see also that
they do not know even what to do
with their hands. Mr.. Beecher walked
across the platform, initiating this
awkwardncss, awaking a very audible
litter. You see another person come
in who is accustomed to be in society
there is no awkwardness; there is grace
in every movement quite an ease OF
manner. You see finely formed, lusty
Young man, taken of the farm, and put
under the care OF q drill sergeant 10 be
made q soldier of. Iou see him as he
stands in his first drill; he does not
know how to hold himself perpendic-
ular; he leans his body either TOO for.
ward or too backward he cannot
move his arms except he does il heavily
and gauntly, and his movements from
first to last are quite ridiculous.
You go few months after TO that sta
ton and you see this same recruit trans.
ferred into an orderl Y; you see him sent
as an orderly to deliver a message, and
you notice with what grace he gives the
salute TO his superior officer, and how
every muscle OF his body is in strict
and prompt obedience to his will, and
how they move with a freedom that
is quite unconscious. Look at a
boy learning to play the violin.
Mr.. Beecher here intimated the awk-
ward holding OF the violin the unsCien-
tifc bowing of the first lessons, and
then, with a mimicry that was quite
startling in its eXactness TO the or glnaI,
showed with what grace, with what
ease. that youth, after long series OF
lessons, played so gracefully that he
knew when and how to draw his bow
for the lighter and the bolder music,
and to do each in such a way that he
seemed to do it with the unconscious
ness of breathing. The moral illustra
ton was taken from the condition OF a
boy who had been brought up 10 regard
living, thieving and deceit the right
thing to do, and to do it cIeverer than
any other boy, and the long, weary
time that it took for that hoy to rid him.
self Of habits OF his youth but now By
and by the royalty of truth developed
itself, and his character grew to to be in
the condition OF truth speaking
upright, honest boy.
You get an accountant TO look at
your books; you see him pouring over
the columns and muttering to him self
two and two, three and two are five
and turning up his hand to count his
fingers. Why how long would you
keep that man? Laughter You
smile at that in arithmetic, but that is
just what you are in grace. Gou are
Just as much a Christian as that man
is an accountant who does not know
his business. There was n mother in
Israel once who used to hear me preach,
and she was a great comfort to me.
When | was pathetic she used to weep
when ! was encouraged she looked so
bright and happy that felt quite GER
tain was getting along quite well, but
/ learned that when she got home she
was q shrew, and that spoiled it all.
You must not leave anv opening for the
assaults OF the devil. You must a5 the
apostle saws, put on the whole armor
OF God.