The New York herald., 1873-05-05
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

The May Anniversary at Plymouth
Church-The Annual Display OF New
Members and FlOwers-A Failing or In
Both-What NIr. Beechcr Intends To
DO About Baptizing Childrcn-A Ser
mon on the Limitations of Human
Thought and Experience.
Yesterday was the May anniversary at Plymouth
church. and this circumstance, united to the genial
sunshine that burst in beaming rays upon all
church-goers, again filed the house to its utmost
limits. 1t has been the custom for many years past
to signalize the first Sunday in May at plymouth"
by the reception OF large number Of
members to the church and by an In
crease Of the usual floral display. Both In
members and flowers there was this year q falling
of. The former only numbered seventy-four-
twenty-three by letter from other churches and
ffty-one by profession OF faith-as against 120 the
corresponding Sunday of last year. ''Ihe knots Of
flowers and buds and garlands gay" that Tenny-
sons May queen so exultanty expected to gather
were denied by the Infrendliness of the season to
the May queens OF Plymouth church, and conse-
quenty the garlands, the knots OF flowers and gay
buds did not extend beyond the confines OF the
platform, instead OF bur iening the gallery circle
and sending their perfume over the house, as on
previous years. The seventy-four candidates were
admitted as members in a short, solemn, dedica-
tory service, and their dedication was witnessed
and endorsed by the rising at the commence
ment OF this service of all the members
OF the church then present. In the
notice that preceded the singing OF the hymn be-
fore the sermon Mr.. Beecher announced that
should next Sunday prove fine the children Of
members OF the church and of all believing parents
desiring baptism would have an opportunity
Afforded them. 'If 1t is asked" said Mr.. Beecher
III che children OF parents who are not believers
viii be baptized II they come,
l SAY, YES,
but say so OF the authority that is within me- and
not OF this church, which, by It's rules and regula-
tions has laid down the distinction that had just
alluded TO. II a child were nigh unto death, and
the par ents would feel happier If the child were
baptized, why should not do it II the parents
did not believe in Christianity, but wished their
baptism as saving grace, but 1t certainly
would not do the little child any harm and it
| might do the parents great deal OF good"
The sermon was on the limitations OF human know
ledge and Experience and their expansion in heaven.
| chapter OF the first epistle OF St. John-"Beloved
now are we the sons OF God, and 1t doth not yet
appear what we shall be; but we know that when
we shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall
| see him as he Is" "That must be a very poor
heaven" said Mr.. Beecher, at the outset OF his
discourse, land that must be an ignoble capacity
that capable OF being iairly compassed by mans
thought. What woulu that mind be That child
could only understand How large would that
mindp l should be sorry to have no
Qrander God than that which l can hold In
my own poor conception" The bountifulness
OF God In the fulness OF His creation and the helps
to our knowledee here that lie had given us were
then Illustrated, In the course OF which the
preacher said that Mr.. Tyndall in one OF his lee
lures had said that light, when II was noticed by
the spectrum, had beams that were
BLACK TO OUR EYE,
and rays too, that were formerly unknown. This
light mad been coming TO us and had existed for
ages, and yet had only Just discovered 1t. When
his Mr. Beecher's) dog greeted him with evident
signs OF affection, ne longed to break up that nln
that debars the dog from a higher knowledge OF
him. He would be sorry not TO be more than the
dog could understand. All that the dog knows Is
by the animal In him answering TO the animal that
| hs rsco0nixes In the one whom he greets. was