The New York herald., 1872-09-30
PLYMOUTH CHURCH SILVER WEDDING.
A Peculiar CelebratiOn-A Brilliant Pro.
gramme-The Past and the Present OF
Plymouth and It's Pastor.

A Peculiar CelebratiOn-A Brilliant Pro-
gramme-The Past and the Present Of
Plymouth and It's Pastor.
The custom of celebrating the silver weddings OF
men and women Is common enough not to require
any special notice, but the commemOration OF the
wedding OF a mNister to his church Is an event
rarely If ever heard Of Such a commemoratiOn is,
however, to take place in Plymouth church, Brook
lyn, during the second week OF October, and due
preparations are being made to insure brilliant
beginning, continuance and ending to 1t. Twenty
five years ago. that is to say, in October, 1S4 Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher, then rough country
diamond came from the West to take
charge OF the little church then organ
lied by twenty-One members In Brook
lyn. lie brought nothing with him
as he himself declared on an anniversary occasion
few years ag0-but his horse and bride and sad
dle-bags. But he had beneath his outward seem
ing an intense love of truth and justice and an
equally intense hatred of injustice falseho0d and
oppression. The slave power was then spreading
itself, and he shot at it every time 1t showed Its
head, and he never once missed his mark. He had
too much faith in God and in revealed religion and
too much native common sense to believe that God
could smile upon or approve such q system Of in
iquity as American slavery. And hence he de-
nounced 1t unsparingly, and he lived to see its
bloody downfall and to
PREACH IT'S FUNERAL SERMON
at the raising OF the old lag over Sumter at the
close of the war.
But naturally enough Mr.. Beecher had among his
own church people and congregation some who
argued the divinity Of the slave abominaton
from its steady expansion and who feared
that some misfortune would overtake the church
and the minister that should utter a word OF
protest or remuneration against 1t. Hence they
DerSuaQc r. BepCher
within its sheath or to strike In some other direc
ton. But he quickly settled the question by telling
them that unless he could preach the truth of the
Lord as he understood 1t he was ready to take his
saddlebags, mount his horse and ride straight
Nature and grace had combined to give him indie.
pendence enough to refuse any compromise with
s hea 5 Was re@ a arnap n&
either side than was fired by Mr. Beecher from
Plymouth pulpit; The South heard the reyerbera-
But both still exist, and in few days hitting
will be egeS fH se or c5uSsR 5aSSF saSS
Jpy J last committee was appointed to make suit.
able arraheements for this occasion, This commit
tee has a,n1ognced It's programme WHICH comprises
O'Clock on each Of the days appointed for the com.
miaemora!ive exercises. Beginning on Tuesday, Oc-
afternoon Of that day there is to be gathering -
the Sunday school children connected with Ply. |
mouth church, the Bethel and Navy Yard Missions |
church, Mr., George A. Bell, who has nt,eeen con- !
Seeted with Plymouth sunday school from It's rise,
and who mas been sdcccessively its superintendent
and the superintendent Of its mission schools also, |
will have sole charge of this part OF the festival. |
In the evening of October there will be a reunion
OF all the officers, teachers, &C., who are now or
have ever been connected with these Sunday !
schools ON Wednesday evening, October 0, there |
will be a reunion OF present and former members,
and on Thursday evening" October 10TH historical
meeting will be held, at which addresses will be de-
livered by Mr. Beecher, Rev. Dr. X. s. StOrrs, Dr.
Buddington and others, and on Friday final
prayer and conference meeting will be held, after
which the Lords supper will be administered and
suitable words OF parting spoken. To acc0mmo-
date persons residing at distance
PLAIN LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED
In the church every day. The church and Sunday
school rooms Will be gsrlanded and decorated
with flowers, and the choicest music will he rem
dercd by Misses Clementina Lasar and Antoinette
Sterling, and Messrs. flill Camp, Zundel, whitney
and others. The admission TO all those services
will be by tickets which are given only to members
or ex-members, as above, and to pastors and duly
accredited delegates from other congregational
churches In Brooklyn and New York, who are in.
vited to participate. The membership OF Plymouth
church Is 3,300--s0 that were the committee in
cned to open their doors promiscu0usly to the
public they could only 10 so by driving members
away; and this will hardly be expected; but, as
far as possible, every one entited by the above In
vitatiOns Will he accommodated at this peculiar
s.lU Uunvsl. l.vs l.I.t t.Ax