The New York herald., 1874-07-22
THE FRIENDS BEFORE THE FIGHT.
From Henry Ward Bcecher to TIL heodore
TiltOn.

From Henry Ward Bcecher to Theodore
TiIton.
LONDON, Sunday, Oct Is, 1868.
MY DEAR THEODORE
You know why have not written you from Eng
land. Ihave been SO iull OF work that could not.
God has been with me and prospered me. have
had health and strength and courage, and, what
is Of unspeakably more Importance, have had the
sweetest experience Of love to God and to men of
all my life. l have been enabled to love our enc.
miles, All the needless ignorance. the party per-
versions, the wilful misrepresen tations of many
newspapers, the arrogance and oostinacy too often
experienced, and, yet more, the coldness OF
brethren OF our faith and order, and
the poisoned prejudices which have been
arrayed against me by the propagation OF un-
truths or distorted reports, have not prevented
my having q love for old England, an appreciation
or the good that Is here, and a hearty desire for
her whole welfare This count great blessing.
God awakened in my heart desire to be full
and true Christian toward England the moment
put my loot on her Shores and He has answered
the prayer which He inspired. have spoken at
Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Liverpool,
and am now in London, preparing for Exeter Hall
on Thursday next. l have been buoyant and
happy The streets OF Manchester and Liverpool
have been nled with placards, in black and white
letters, full of all lies and bitterness but they have
seemed to me only like the tracery Of dreams
For hours / have strlven to speak amid
interruptions OF every kind-yellings, hOwliDgs,
catcals, derisive yels. impertinent and insulting
questions, and every conceivable annoyance save
personal violence. But God kept me in perfect
peace. stood in Liverpool and looked on the de-
moniac scene almost without a thought that 1t was
me that was meant. 1t seemed rather ike storm
raging in the trees OF the forest that roared and
m r.
sonal or wllful IN II against me.
You know, dear Theodore, now when We are
lifted by the inspiration Of great subject and by
the almost visible presence and vivid sympathy
with Christ the mind lorgets the sediment and
realm OF peace, as untouched by the noise below
as Is bird that flies across battle field Just so
e peace e. as ever YER " heard In the loving n meetings
OF dear old Plymouth church. And again
and again. when the uproar ragged and could not
speak, my heart seemed TO be taking in the infinite
fulness Of the Savour'5 pity and breathing 1t out
upon those poor troubled men. never had so
much the spirit OF continuing and unconscious
prayer-or, rather with communion with Christ.
have ielt that was his dear child and that his
arms were about me continually; And at i, times @
descended upon Inc SO that could not Keep tears
OF gratitude from failing Tor SO much tender good
ties compared with these lntenor intimacies OF
GodY 1t is NOS the path to the temple, but the In.
goodness Ssd Of God. And have been able 70 commit
all to Him--mysel, my family, my iriends-and IN
especial manner the cause OF my country. On
Theodore, I have felt An lnexpresstblc won
der that God should give it to me to
do something for the dear land. When,
sometimes, the Idea OF my being clothed
with power to stand up In this great Kingdom,
against an inconcevable prejudice OF violence and
mistake, and clear the name OF my dishon0red
country and let her brow shine forth crowned
with liberty and glowing with love 20 man, have
seemed unable to live almost. IT almost took my
SOULS breath away
! have not, In a single instance, gone to the
speaking halls without al the way breathing TO
God unutteraoe desires ior inspiration, guidance,
success, and have had no disturbance o! person
ality. have been willing-yea, with eagerness--
to De myself contemplate IN mems sight, II only
my disgrace might be 10 the honor OF that cause
which Is intrusted to our thrice dear country. l
have asked OF God nothing but this, Make me
worthy TO speak for God and man.
never ielt my ignorance SO painfully or the
great want OF moral purity and nobility Of soul as
when approaching my task OF defending Liberty
in this her hour OF trial have an ideal OF what
man should be that abOrs for such cause, that
constantly rebukes my real condition and makes
me ieel palnfully how little am Yet that u