The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-12
PLYMOUTH CHURCH. BROOKLYN.


PLYMOUTH CHURCH. BROOKLYN.
Cluster or Babies for Baptism ae
Plymouth Church-A Young Noncon-
formist and PrOtester-An Hlcgfble
Notice and . Hearty Laugh-A Sermon
About Babies and Advice to Persons
About to Marry by MIR. Bcecher.
1t was ''baby Sunday at Plymouth church yes
terday morning. The broad Catholic and largo
hearted announcement OF Mr. Beecher given last
week that the children OF all parents, whether the
latter were believers or not, needing baptism
might come and welcome, resulted In the presen-
tation to him, just before the prayer thas
preceded the sermon OF twenty babies, borne in
the arms OF their fathers and accompanied by their
mothers. One little fellow, whose mother and
father are members OF the church. turned his face
resoutely away from the pastor at the supreme
moment when the baptizer's moistened hands
should be placed on his head, and with no Ian
guage but strong, healthy, good-natured cry, APP
pealed to the congregation against the novel pro-
4oeIS...ss This incident brought out unani-
nous smile, which Mr.. Beecher turned 70
spiritual account in few words spoken, before
leading the congregation in prayer. He said that
1t always seemed to him remarkable that children
behaved so well at baptism. They did not oner
one thousandth part of the resistance to an ordi-
people did to the strivings OF the Spirit OF God,
which they did understand, and which they too
often willully put aside. One Of the heartiest
laughs probably ever heard on a Sunday morning
was brought ont yesterday morning, by comment
OF Mr. Beecher's on
= AN ILLEGIBLE NOTICE
sent to him t5reed. He kept the audience waiting
in silence few mon6nts wnsle he looked down
half sheet of note paper, evidently In great per-
plexity. then taking his eye from the paper ne
said :-'T wish that people who send me notices 20
read would remember that am getting older
don't want them to write In q larger hand,
but l do want them to write in suk,
and not in colored water.n He then
read the notice, with frequent trippings,
and after laboring through 1t, he to the fol.
lowing concluding line "Further parti culars will be
given In the daily papers," On reading this ne ex-
claimed with heartiness that was irresistible and
which was received with peal OF laughter.
babies was preached and the text was selected
from the eighteenth chapter Of the Gospel OF st:
Matthew and the tenth I'VE, yerseTaks heed
w wa behold the face Of my Father which is in
sss 81 s ss @h s there
coming forth OF life, when the trees and hedges re-
new their leaves and blossoms and when tne AMI
mails rejoice in their own rude way. the feenng
Of JOY and the delight of sense are Ia, as
this time universal, and when beautuuL
chfNlren-Or all children are beautiful TO
those who own them, In common with the animals.
gambol ana play in manner that to the tnougnt-
Gle of tSe oa,abos ofthe animal Kingdom there was
no feeling of neral responsibility to cloud the en-
oyment OF the pms ns ther nrobaSe
future without a icelnc OF sadness. He should
therefore, look at e s,nr
o. childhood. because - he aAs convinced that
thousands of godly men and ~ sMem ha% l,, tneaa
JOY bettled by this feeling FIRST "a c N s,a
were largely dependent for their cfane.s Ia n!e
upon their organization both physical and n n'a =,
Men and women OF impaired physical constituHoss
are permitted to have offspring. People come to.'
gether in the married state with tll-asSofteu
faculties. aud with temperaments calculated
to make their lives miserable all their life long.
There is no angei standing to warn them OF tre1r
folly. After thousands Of years, and after sciences
has done all that it can, the instruction that Ia
Probably they but twenty years of age. How
little do they know of themselves how illpreparcd
.be thought of q child who was sent upon the
stormy sea In a schooner ully equipped. as far as
locomotive power was concerned, but no one with
best he could to make successful voyage Yet that
is the way many children were sent upon their
journey OF life-children who are born In conse-
quence OF the ignorance OF their parents, without
the means OF acquiring knowledge OF the laws OF
the world, society, or themselves Consider too,
how little those are likely to know who are made
teachers OF children. Consider this, too In the light
Of Calvinism and you follow the irresistible n. logic
mate conclusion, cannot see how man dare to
enter into the family state The chances of failure
in lie, looked at in this aspect seem to me as q
hundred to against success. In support OF this
view Mr.. Beecher read letter that he had
received from lady, in which tine dread OF bring
ing children into the word to take this dreadful
risk had prevented her assuming the crown OF
wifeho0d, and
THE JOYS OF MATERNITY
To all this, however, there was o bright side for
Christ had said that 10 all children there was
special mnstration. Leaving out the question OF
the disabilities under which so many children are
brought into life. let us In how many ways the
birth OF children inspire US to better living and
doing; inspires the brain to an action that results
in disinterested affection. There is an untold
amount OF resources Of nobler life that would
not be brought out in US except for our love Of
children The preacher here dwelt upon maternal
love and instanced the affection OF every one in his
fathers family OF eleven children. He concluded
by giving advice to persons about to marry, urging
more caution in the selection of partners for lie,
and said that he had no objection TO love at first
sight II 1t were sustained and strengthened by the
second sight.
n