The Portland daily press., 1874-11-24
'ay Night Talk.
THE LESSONS OF THE coNTRovE--
LIGIoN. IN IKE


LIGIoN. IN ne
The lecture room of Plymouth church was
filled on the occasion of the last Friday evening
prayer meeting. On Mr.. Beecher's table was u
vase con tanning ferns, coored leaves and flow
ers Of brilliant hue. Prayers were made by
Messrs. Davidson and G rbutt. After the reg
ular preliminary exercises, Mr.. Beecher said
among other things: II suppose person who
really wished to lead a Christian life would, if
he could be endowed with the power of looking
upon all the professed Christians and churches
in the world soon come to believe there was no
real Christianity. The organized religion is
the worst kind, and it is what most skepsics
found their disbelief upon. But II this person
could see the individuals who devote their lives
to charity, who nurse the sick who cannot af-
ford professional nurses, who cast about them
an atmosphere OF sweetness and love, he would
certainly beleve that whatever became of the
records and of the Bible, hele was an everlast-
ing religion 1t one looks at the development
of the power of God in one human soul he
must believe in the power of God in humanity.
Now /, as a Clergyman, must necessarily see all
things that occur in my congregatiou-the con-
troyersial conflicts that are going on about the
philosophy of religion-and must
able Christianity; and in observing
them do not wonder that there are infidels in
the world. Indeed it is a wonder that there
are not more. When 1 see the amount of de-
S1Hu auu urCClt Ildb tuctc Is III TctiSfuut Il say
do not wonder % see so many skeptics, and
yet oh the other hand, my personal experien-
ces, calling to mild the individual religion, the
sweet characters have met cause the bright
sun of Christianity to rise bright in my sight,
and throw its beautiful light over all things
forever. To-day, Il we look out on the denom-
inations situated on the outside of religion and
see the controversies that perplex them, we
see how utterly divese arc tie thoughts of in
dividuals believing in the same creed"
nt.Ara At.,..k IL.
difficulties met by Paul when he attempted to
bring together the members of his belief in one
bond of unity. Continuing his discourse, he
| said: snow it is true that if men believe in the
same grand thing there is no diversion among
| them? The spirit IS given man that it may
impart to him individuality, sweetness, and
| spiritual beauty. We are al members Of one
| body, as are the limbs of the human body, but
| still we belong to the same body" Mr.. Beecher
| sgnifed that love was the cne thing which
| should be used to draw together all these
branches so that they would act in unison. He
said: "If there are any quarrels, any disputes,
\ or any rivalry, the person who has the most
| love is the nearest to God. When the last day
shall arrive and God and Christ shall come to
the front, there will be things that will not be
thought Of. The question whether man was
| Baptized by plunging or sprinkling will not
| arise, the question whether unbaptized hands
haye lifted bread to mouths will not be thought
of, but love and faith and charity will rise eter
| nal in their grandeur and will live forever. II
Is not an unimportant question how to bald
| and organize a church, but it is necessary tC
have t. e power of love and individual religion
shine forth prominently among the parts of it:
| composition. When q man builds a house IN
| which to winter tender pants and vines, IL doe:
| not make any difference Of what material it L
| built; but suppose he should forget to put il
any furnace. The roof and sides of the house
are all right, but what does it all amount to !
| YOU have forgotten to warm it. Let us unfolt
/ faif NOT in bnt in Christ tha
| prince of love who unfolded his life to let u
| see that God was Summer"