Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-02-26
Beecher OFF for the West.

In consequence Of the storm there
was but slim attendance at Plymouth
Church yesterday morning as COM
pared with tue usual throng, tue
church being only about two thirds
filed. Previous TO the sermon Mr.
Beecher ANNOUNCED that for the next
two sabbaths the pul pit would be filed
by his brother, DR.. Edward Beecher,
and that the usual communion on the
first Sunday of March would be post
poned to the second Sunday OF that
month, in consequence OF his intended
absence. He continued 1T is now
twelve years since | have taken the
liberty OF leaving my own church, but
have generally made 1t u point UNIFORM
ly to be present and do my own preach
ms both morning and evening, ex
changing almost never, and then groan-
ingly. Now, then, it is only fair that
the pastor may take little liberty
You stay away when you have mind
to, and [ ought to have the liberty to
do 50 occasionally. La this instanc e
the absence is more than ordinarily in
terestlng to me. 90 back to the old
familiar places IN which my own pub
lie life began. No one can tell, no words
can express (here Mr.. Beecher paused,
almost overcome with emotion) 1.-The
depth of affection that / feel for the west
aud to tins hour feel the pain of sep
aration from there. l go back to places
now where cities are through which |
have waded knee deep IN mud. go
back to make circuit OF 3, 200 miles
and deliver seventeen addresses IN only
twice as much Tune rs 1t took me 10
go 500 miles When | Journeyed first
from Cincinnati Twelve yeats ago
made substantially the same circuit.
Then it began on the Monday follow
ing the bonn bardment of Fort Sumter
and the proclamation calling out 10,
0UO troops. As made my trip [ ran
along the verge Of line OF fire, aud
Was greeted with the roll of the
fire, the tlumpet's sound, the flashing
Of the bayoneg, tears and parting salu-
tatlons at every station. | went TO Cir
cinnati, and that goodly people were
so alarmed lest Kentucky should come
over aud swallow them up that they
would not let me speak, and | had to
shake off the dust Of that city from my
feet. | had to go on without the lux
ury Of telling them what | thought Of
them Times are changed a thous-
aud years ago did not include SO great
a change as that by which twelve years
have made IN this naton-so great a
change as that by which slavery has
been torn up by its roots arstocracy
shattered never to be restored such d
as this followed by So peaceful an ad
iustment Of things has never before
taken place in so brief time. | make
now my pilgrimage 10 the West again
under aspects a Thousand times more
pr0pitious, and with the assurance
that | am a citizen Of a country free III
fact aud which can travel 10 every
part without peril to life or limb. When
last went West | kept the hne-Ma
son and DixOn's line and there was
danger i'll saying that God made men
free and the devil onl y took their liber-
ties away, but now there is no such
danger, AMI there is not State in
which [ cannot travel unmolested !:
there is not a state in which [ cannot
state whatever is right for mau to
say. | glorJ in the emancipation of
my country; glory in this with a
joyous spirit, with badness [ cannot
express | am proud now of my coun-
try | rejoice in her destiny. | may
never again have an opportunity to set
my foot in the West. and | 60 with
gladness, and, although you cannot
participate in my enthusiasm, | know
you sympathlze with it in the largest
degree. | shall be absent but two
Sabbaths, and be with you Ga the Sec
ond Sunday in March for the commun
ion Of the church. ~ Y. World