Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-21
An English Estimate of Beccher.


1t would he no compliment to call Henry
Ward Beecher the American spurgeon. He may
be that, but he IS more. If we can imagine Mr.
Spurgeon and Mr.. John Bright with cautious
touch Of Professor Maurice and strong tincture
OF the late +. W. Robertson-if it is possible TO
imagine such compound being brought up in
New England and at last securely fixed in
New York pulpit,-we shall get product not
unlike Henry Ward Beecher Mr. Beecher is
quite as remarkable for what he lacks as for
what he possesses. With the exception of a
strong and energetic pcrsOnatY-which is high
ly orlginal-he is almost without originality.
he mas no mental monomania no idOsyncrasy
no new doctrine" no new "tOngue," no new
revelation and it is altogether remarkable
tnat the two most prominent preachers
in England and Amererca respective
~, should be alike in this, that they
have added nothing to the fertile field of
theological dogmatism Perhaps we ought TO
be thankful for the omission-it NAV be a hone
full sign Of the theological times-a new era NAV
be dawning upon a world "weary of the heat
and dust OF controversy" when men shall no
more run to and fro CRYING Lo heiei and Lo
there! because they will feel that the kingdom of
God is within them. Perchance the still small
voice of common sense has whispered in the ear
OF each orator, There is quite enough theology
in the world, you need not manufacture anv
more; do yon not think it is time to see about
the religion of the people? There has been
tiNht1 VI AuCOlO8l WllUDut EellglOIl, can Won not
fit up some Of the old theological vessels Of
wrath y with good sound freight of religion
and morality, instead Of sending to sea great
argosies of pain and havoc, without a human
heart on board, full Of birthstone and all ablaze
like so many iire-sbips
As both Mr. SpurIeon and Mr.. Henry Ward
Beecher are emphatically men of the day, each
has unconsciously reflected the characteristics
of the vast dissenting body over which he pre-
sides As English dissent in its general tenden-
| cy IS narrow and evangelical, SO American dis
sent is broad and latitudinaran and their fem
denotes are faithfully reflected on the one hand
| ny Mi. Spurgeon, aud on the other by Mr. Ward
| Beecher 1t is perfectly extraordinary how
able and powerful the great Baptist can be
within his very narrow dOctrinal limits-it i,
| equally remarkable now wide and catholic is the
| teaching Of the great American CONGREGATIONAL
and yet how devoid Of anything like doctrinai
| novelty. whether this be strength or weak
ness, we must leave others TO decide: we have
already limited at our own views of the question
| nc VINO mas no one doctrine around which all
| others group themselves, and which in hi.
hands becomesa new truth, will leave no school
behind him, because he will either leave nc
| formulas or too many. He who has some
one point which he has the genius n
bring out at the right time, or fol-
the first time, will leave school strono
and coherent enough, but pledged to snpnorl
one dogma at the expense Of every other. Ii
| MIR. SpurgeOn fails 10 leave q school il will moi
be for want of his definite evangelical cast Of
doctrine, but merely because he is the eloquent
! exponent OF dying tradition. The crowd!
| that ilck every Sunday TO the Metropolitan
| tabernacle are not really drawn thlther by the
doctrine preached there-the same doc
trine is constantly heard elsewhere, and in.
| spires the impartial listener with something
very unlike religious emotion. Had Mr. Spur
| geon lived century ago, when conversion WA
| proclaimed in the form Of a mighty reaction
| against the slow churchs-that word would hav,
been nearly as electric in the mouth Of his fol
lowers as II Is in his own, and he would have
founded school; but as it is, conversion hai
become the stock in-trade Of the slow church
| which has, In fact, preached itself TO death witt
The watch-wofds Of the faith Ii once prosecuted
! But MIR. SpurgeOn resembles the last rose o
| summer. His fragrance is undoubted, his 70
business, eonsidenng tue time OF the year
femarkaDe--only he stands blooming alone
] HIS religious influence will, we doubt not, b.
lastlngi but his doerinal influence will be moth