The New York herald., 1872-10-14
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

The First Contribution Towards the
Golden Wedding-An Old-Time Crowd
and q New Departure 1T Plymouth
Church-Sermon by Mr.. Beecher ON the
Past and the Future-What He Heard
at Four O'Clock ora a Summer Morn
Ing.
| The first Sunday OF the second quarter OF a
century OF the history OF Plymouth church was
opened with an Old-tlme crowd yesterday morning.
Every pew was crowded, every standing place was
occupied, and the throng swayed itself into the
lobbes. The colorless cheerless and cold morn.
ing, with gush occasionally OF the cutting north
wind, did not drive any OF those who were outside
worshippers to neighboring churches, where they
could nave heard the Gospel proclaimed with
more physical comfort. Bravely these outer-temple
worshIppers bore the Autumna chills, and II their
cOuntenances were any index to their feelings
they soon got Summer within their souls. Alter
the singing of the anthem, in which Miss Lasar
rendered the solo with that grace, finish and
tenderness that has given her so high place in
church music, Mr. Beecher led the congregation In
q short opening prayer. which was followed by the
reading of chapter from one OF st. Pauls epistles
Then "Rock Of Ages" was sung, and this won
drous hymn sounded the keynote OF the morning
service. From this point to the pronouncing OF
the bcncdlction and the singing OF the closing
church and congregation had taken "a new de-
parture,' and as il a new campaign against the
Devil and all his works had received Pentccostal
baptism.
Mr.. Beecher's subject was "The Past and the Fu-
ture ofChrstian Life" His text was selected from
the third chapter Of Paul's Epstle to the Philip
pians the twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and part
OF the fifteenth verse-"N0t as though had al
ready attained either were already perfect, but
follow after, II that may apprehend that for which
also am apprehended Of Christ Jesus. Brethren,
count not myself to have apprehended: but this
one thing do, forgetting those things which are
benind and reaching forth unto those things which
are before, press toward the mark for the prize OF
the nign calling OF Goa 90 IN Christ st Jesus SMS Lei 9s
The introduction Of the sermon set out with
slight reference to the circumstances under which
when he believed 1t TO be the last epstle he should
write to them and previous to his expected
what Mr. Beecher said was sometimes regarded as
dlcult passage namely mi follow low aiaer' tna1
AN IDEAL OF CHARACTER
that he himself did not apprchend or could real.
lie, but which was imaged Tor him or apprehended
in the mind OF Christ. slight reference to the use
Panl made OF the past In his varied experience pre-
pared the way for the main subject of the sermon.
The past had its uses for men. TO take retrospect
rightly was hcalthfu, but the past was to be used
as wine in medicine, and not as food. Inc past
should be used as granary from which men take
seeds to plant for q new harvest. Tho use OF the
past IN this direction was c0mmended but NOR
bid melancholy that settled itself down on
mere memory and gained from II no new
vigor for the future was yehemently de
OF scorn, now and then interspersed with
that Characteristic mimicry OF the characters de-
sclibed, that Is peculiar TO the Plymouth pulpit.
The best way to deal with old sins was to nave
new life II was sill. worse to go back and have
a contentment with the past personal history.
What mans past in this world was is not a lair
epitome OF what he is or what he is TO be: the
| ftiture would develop undeveloped conditions.
Men too often regard the future us release from
| labor. God Is an artist, ana works behind screens.
IL Is In their ultimate state, and not III their pud
| ding condition, we know what flowers are: and 1t
| Is so with man. We don't know what God Is doing
| for him. He was truly man who was iull OF Ell
| terprse had created new thoughts, mad spread
| for himself better table, nober thoughts and
higher endeavors, These were specially the sign OF
/ SOUL LIFE.
Those faculties, then, in which VIC take note of
| the things not seen the spiritual, aud when they
| are mace active within us, are faculties that lay
hold OF the future ior and Is specially the work
/ OF mankind. The shrinking souls ot the Church
were severely dealt with. These were the men CT
nty who think that their work Is done or they have
done enough. Then there were the lazy Old men,
who muttcred chidsby about the past; the sent
mental young men, WIG were sickly and iacSa
and look iorlorn. we live only under good innu
ences. We are like trees, we need to be well
shaken. Under loving and vital influences God
is with us and Immortality is ours. IL
too late to be sowing seed. All this which was
| true OF the individual equally true Of the
| family and was equally true OF the Church. 1--WE
have,n said Mr.. Beecher recently passed through
passed through. God grant that out OF that expert
ence we shall distribute seed that shall ructfy for
| eternity" We have working Church; we have more
Prayips iatlers and mothers. more leryepa zealQvs