Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-09-04
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Iue press tOutSiIc of New lOrtl Is
quite generally coming 20 the conclu-
SION hat Plymouth Church, headed
by lis playful pastor, is not a healthy
religious institution. lie Boston posf,
paper that has t.Len decidedly
conservative course II the Beec.ler
business, concludes 4 long article by
saying:
The prayer tin~s, 100, are ;al
from being an insignificant f,aturc in
this ecclesiastical comedy. Applause
prevents the interest from tagging
defamation and supplication becom:.
oddly confused, a verdict Is snungIeJ
lnto prayer, and accrsers are de
n0unccd as conspirators of the yipel
family which the brethren al last have.
got beneath their feet. Tie "p1olhct
Of the nineteenth century" who fos
the vacation term only has consented
to take the part Of . ''playful behe-
moth" laughs to scOrn al impHtati0ns
aimed ut himself, though as the New
YORK IrcniJ3q Post SAWS, many al
Beecher's best friends dosbt, =" Enti.
Moulton's statement is daeisively
solved, "whcther he is not cccup1iD
a false position IN the pulpit ard in
society" Public Judgment. however,
shows symptoms Of steadily settling
down. where the foundations are Sc
cure. The whirlvind IL gong ~ HOW,
bat the still, small voice i heEf.,. al
this roar. Society and p,u:riic morals
they are indebt, q to his still, small
voice. j good many people, still uair-
fected with the idolatIy q men and
money, that i so conspicuous
in the texture Of Plymouth
Church fellowship, axe silently rut-
ting themselves the q1i>s1Iol., what
if ell ministers were = pick
their associates after this free fashion.
nnbCsOm themselves to "blackmailtrs'
IN closer confidence, hang thus crate
fully on the nechs Of outside ''Ica-
then" live in the power % such great
darkness" resort to devices 10 save
themselves" call ia Others to ''tie N
threatening storms" and T'ot az"
counterpart with unbciieyers to do&der
the influence Of 'fdeaco1!s' NJ etiI,@gs
AMI destroy the ''near and rc1t DAN
ger, the woman how long conl.! the
Church maintain its place AID ez@Ei
its riglltful force i'll society, plea,IEg
for their playful pastors III the regular
prayer meetings that they sit ''tIlrcneG
above their carnai natures, and tina
their "great, iocund strength mHsf
be allow cd, like tie behemoth, p.AbtT
of room for play and recreation sic
honest souls, Heaven bless thcm s:l'!
are much too serious for THIS W"'4"
they are in. They have rot e1"n%i 9.
Of great iocund strength J.
them. Tncy are too Eaftrr-o--ta''
to comprehend the game Of on
pioying MoultOnS 10 help ,.rci' i',Gi7
from the church rolls, ana; al" ron
someness of introducing ''i'ar s"A
Moltke'' rs side counsellor IL f.&d-"&
off the assauiting criticism "a ~
ecciesiast cal courcil- IHcy a.h o."
unsophisticated to understand --oN
such clerica! sports, extending o.
term OF four years, shouid iaF IN
effect to deepen and siren 5titeil :" ~
tors growth IN spiritual lit, ;" ''';'' r.
plain, business-like, consistent az"
terrific statement Ike that of The iTit i-''
who was confded IL until the N'T.
last moment, without lerr""fA g.
"biacl1mail' to be heard CT ser! ''t'.-
where, elances off like ran from
tight roof, and only suggests anc'.--'
character for a hotel parlor cE'afade.
Ills is indeed the mystery OF lh>S''
ries. IF IiltOn and Mouiton are IN
scrutakle and hard TO find en-,
mouth Church and its pastor oeiE III
most penetrating wit that ever worh'''
on any problem, human or divine.