The Portland daily press., 1874-10-06
Beecher at Home.
His Receptiou at Plymouth Church.

New YORK, Oct 4, 1874.
Plymouth church is always the scene of a
great ovation to its beloved pastor, ON the first
Sunday of October, when he returns to his pull
pit from the summer vacation. But the gath
erng to-day far eclipsed all preceding ones in
numbers and enthusiasm. An hour before the
service commenced crowds began to assemble
in front of the doors, awaiting the chance of
ad mission after the regular congregation had
taken their places The interior was tastefnlly
festooned with flowers and evergrecns and the
large platform ON which the preacher sits was a
perfect conservatory. AS early as 10 o'clock,
pretty much every seat on the floor and in the
spacious galleries was occupied. Promptly at
10a o'clock Mr. Beecher made his appearance,
and there was perceptible hush of silence, ey-
cry person in the great audience intent on OBJ
serving the face of the man who had since he
last sat there, passed through such fiery fur
mace OF persecution and conspiracy L never
saw him looking more finely. Itseemed to my
fancy that his countenanee had been transfig-
ured by suffering. There was evidently a deep
current of emotion running with electric force
through the hearts of all present, expressive of
sympathy, tenderness and unabated trust. 1t
was not mass of curiosity seekers, but of
faithful, loving, generous friends, who came
there to welcome back, with atfectionate greet
ing, the minister in whom detraction had not
shaken their confidence nor weakened their re-
gard.
After brief lapse, the doors were opened
and every available space in the building was
speedily filled with men and women, and eager
faces peered through the shutters which COM
manded view of the altar.
The initial exercise was the singing of the TIE
Deum in superb style by choir of between
thirty and forty practiced vocalists. Nearly
every word of that grand poem was euunciated
with distinctness and the performance was ex-
ceedingly impressive. Then followed short
invocation by the pastor, the reading of por-
ton of the With chapter of Matthew, the singing
of hymn to which effect was given by the
joining in of the congregation, and the prayer
uttered with that fervor and beauty of diction
for which Mr.. Beecher has attained such celeb.
rity
There was another hymn sung and then came
the sermon from the text, ''Thy will be done in
earth. as it is in Heaven" Matthew vi-1O.
1t was not discourse which gave evidence Of
elaborate preparation. 1t was preached from
notes but was mainly extemporaneous. There
were some remarkably fine passages in it, as
there always are in the sermons of this wonder
fully gifted man. and at the close he spoke with
depth of feeling and in such touching accents
that there could hardly have been an unatten-
tive listener in the whole house.
When another hymn had been sung and the
benediction pronounced, there was an instinc-
tive movement towards the pulpit, and when 1
left Mr.. Beecher must have already shaken
hands with several hundred of his flock. Such
warm "God bless yous,' such evidences of af-
lection were pleasant to hear and see. The
Plymouth people were all there. There are no
wanderers from that fold. They know there
noble pastor as none others can know him, and
they have no more doubt now of his goodness
and worth than they had before brace of con-
splrators sought TO trade in or. destroy his good
name.
Mrs. Beecher came in for her share of the
ovation of welcome. The family pew was filed
with the relatives of the pastor. Rev. Charles
Beecher and Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe were
there and received abundant congratulations.
Their faces were radiant. Perhaps, on the
whole, one of the most charming incidents of
this rare occasion, was to see the stad and solid
men of Brooklyn. great merchants, lawyers,
judges, teachers. representatives of every use
full calling, entering into the spirit of the scene
with irrepressible enthusiasm. There can hard
ly be more intelligent body of worshppers in
the United States. and they are not men, eth
er, who are susceptible to delussns. They have
level heads and clear judgments, and among
such steadfast friends Mr.. Beecher can bear the
unfavorable comments which will occasionally
deract from the completeness of his vindica-
ton With equanimity or at least with patience,