The New York herald., 1874-10-03
The Friday Night Prayer
Meeting.
ADDRESS OF THE PASTOR.
Twenty-seventh Anniversary Of
the Society.
OVER THREE THOUSAND PERSONS PRESENT.

pastoral work, after his summer vacation, It was
expected that the lecture room would be in
sufficient Tor the number or persons desirous OF
being present. This expectation was realized.
shortly alter six O'Clock the doors OF the lecture
room opened, and before halt-past six, 1t
was found that the crowds demanding admission
would speedily fill the church. IL was therefore
opened; at twenty minutes TO seven. every availa-
BILE place that gave sitting or standing accomnoda-
ton 10 the church was occupied and though
even the outsides OF the windows were thronged,
II Is supposed that many hundreds went away, un-
able TO yet nearer than the outside OF the vest
bule Among those present In the audience who
we're prominently connected with Plymouth
church we're MRS. Beecber, Mrs. II. B. stowe, VINO
Il a member OF the church; Mrs. Perkins. sister OF
Mr. Beecher; Rev. Charles Beecher, Of Florida, and
DR. Edward Beecher The diaconate was repre-
sented oy deacons Becner, Howard Hutchinson
and Robert Raymond. There were also present
Mr. H. ". sage, Mr. Cleveland, Mr.. Moses Beach
and Mr. James Freeland, Mr. Charles Dennis Mr..
Alexander Stoddard and Rev. S. B. Halliday, as
slstant pastor. Mr.. Horatio King, who presided at
the organ entertained the vast audience until the
time appointed for the commencement or the
service, namely, halfpast seven. The platform
was tastelully decorated with flowers. the Mount
Ollyet stand was filled with plants OF rich au-
tumna tnts. About twenty minutes past seven
II. u
the back or the platform. The well-known chair
was pushed aside and then was seen the familiar
lace OF the Plymouth pastor. The audience ap-
piauded vigorously and ladies rose In their places
waving their handkerchles, apparently with great
delight. Mr.. Beecner appeared not to notice any
OF these demonstrations. and taking little hymn
book from the little table, proceeded in his usual
manner TO turn over the leaves Tor the selection
OF a hymn. The choir sung apparently lmprompIu,
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
TO the tune OF 'Old Hundred" the congrega-
ton rising and joining in with earnestness and
viQor. Tnls was followed by q SOLO, 20, rest IN
the Lordn by Miss Dunphy, the leading conuralto
OF the choir. Mr. Beeeher then advanced to the
front OF the platform, hymn book In hand. There
was hushed attention wnen II was found That,
instead OF giving oat the number OF the hymn, ne
was ABOUT TO say something.
Mr.. BEEcHER's FIRST ADDRESS.
Mr.. Beecher sald:-"l could have wished on my
people IN the lecture room, that being our usual
custom but i recognize the reasons that nave
made It Impossible for rs to :, assemble -
slble let imagine that we are meeting as
usual in familiar Christian brotherhood. We nave
struggled together IN the great battle OF lie; we
are come together for Gods honor not TO gaze
upon each other, but to worship, to hold sweet
fellowship, to strike the same old chords we have
vibrated for nearly thirty years. for 1t is the even
ing OF the 30 OF October. Twenty-seven years ago
/ took the pastoral charge OF this clurch ana So
ciety. 1t Is fit anniversary OF our first autumnal
meeting, and IN the beginning OF this meeting let
that one name which is forever above every other
name be the only one asserted, the one thought OF
all and the only one. His presence Will then DIFF
fuse fuse a 0enedic'lon around thus great congresa
Mr.. Beecher then announced the 6eoth hymn
commencing:-
When / survey the wondrous cross,
reading it with evident feeling from the first line
to the last Mr.. Beecher then led the great con-
gregation in prayer, the leading thoughts Of which
were as follows:-
Thou ever blessed GOD, Father OF our Lord Jesus
Christ, we render Thee hanks for all the mercles
tue knowledge OF the riches OF His love- for His
life. for all that We have derived from His lie,
INTO heavenly places; for Els leading OF souls
through darkness to light from trouble and sor-
row and sname 10 glory. Thou art our HE our
fuences Of that life, ana kindie a hope
OF Christ Jesus, our Lord, in every heart.
More are they who are for us than those who are
against US, since Thou hast given US the earnest
OF Thy Spirit. o. God teach how more and more
to glory Thy name Draw near to all who are
struggling with their pride, and are cast down
and wearIed oy the unequal conflict Draw near
to all t1at are struggling with inbred sins and
passions. Help them to learn truth, and may
tney learn to stand in the circle where Thou art.
May they be able TO overcome all and walk among
men In all sweetness and purity. Make Us 10 ieel,
not That the things that are seen are without
value, but that they are OF great value. Grant we
may know how TO adorn lie. Gift us with the
peace of God, with the presence OF divine truth
ard love, with the peace OF God that passeth all
understanding.
This was followed by the Cloth hymn Of the Ply
mouth Collection, commencing
Love divine al love excenng,
sung 70 the tune OF "Beecher." The pastor called
upon Brother Robert RAYMOND to pray, OF winch
the following Is an outline:-
BROTHER RAYMONDS PRAYER.
Oh,Cod, We sGnctily Thy name for all Thy mercies;
we thank Iaee lor all our prosperity as Wen as Tor
all tne sorrows that have sprung up IN our midst,
lor gSnlhu every rown Ihou hast permitted US 10
see Thy smlilng iace; Thy finger has pointed the
way, and we thalg Thee for the checkered lot
with which Thou hast moulded and fashioned US.
NOW, when we are assembled here on so solemn
and touching an occasion, we ask rhee only this,
that Thou wilt meet rs here, where Tnou hast so
melted together under the sweet songs of Zion.
Oh, God, Thou hast never yet hidden Thy face
away from us, though We have FORGOTTEN Thee.
anu now we pray that lA0u wilt stll be with us.
We need Thy presence and help and we pray that
Thou VIII come 70 rs, now that wesonce more md
ourselves IN our accustomed channel OF laUor. We
have not been guilty OF trdnA4erring the glory OF
the eiyer 70 the Instrument through which IL IS
and TO Thee shall all the glory be given.
we know we are put instruments in Thy hands.
on, God may our dear pastor be strengthened.
We thank Thee for the measure of strength Thou
hast bestowed upon him. We prav Thee 10 bless
through the sea, let rs come lorm as with Gym
balls, and wilt Tnou crown feeble efforts with
such prosperity as fhou seest fit. We commend
to Thy care this people and church '.ay peace
and prosperity rest within these wa a TO Tny
name, Father, son and Spirit, be !. ,yerlast-
Alter this prayer the elotn hymn Wa i. com.
malclng:-
Your harps ye trembling saints
Down from the willows take.
MR. BEECHER's LECTURE ROOM TAR
MIR Beecher preiaced his remarKs py .eu az
the fourteenth and eighteenth verses 0f the n
cuaper OF Second Eplste Of the COrinfhl
KNOWING that he which laised III le
Loru Jesus snail raise Us up also by Jel
anu shal present with yO1. VIII
we look not at the things winch al
Been bgt at the things winch aie not seen f0r the
.hings winch are seen are temporal; out the
ihings Whlcn are not seen are eternal.r Mr..
Beecher said that 1t might be safely gald that
every person who has experienced a change oI
nent KNOWS now much more precious are the in
visible thlngs oil lie than tile visible IL is not the
mothers hand, but tue love that moves II. 1t is
not the WORDS that speak in the tntlmacies OF
Irendsnlp, but the disposition thai lies beneath,
III 10 the inner man that gives power, not tn.
outer. Let US turn our thought Tor A moment 10.
night 10 the richer grounds OF our love Ior the
Lord Jesus. The inner qualities that 20 70 make
up manhood are those that speak with slmple
and ample force. lis by the recognition or
this truth that our spiritual lie ia ar.
rested; that we have the light that en-
aples us TO begin that uutempestuous life