The New York herald., 1874-01-07
.BEECHER'S AUCTION.
Sale of Pews in Plymouth
Charch Last Evening.
An Advance on Last Year-Intervisw VITA n.
Dsechsr-Dr storrs and Dr.. Buddington
Lay Down tho Weapons Of Their 10
beIlion - The Plymouth Pastor
Does Not Go to England.

nr Beecher's pews were sold last night In Ply
month church. Brooklyn according to the annual
and time-bonored custom. The church was full OF
enthusiastic would-De purchasers, ready to pay
.nv prlce TO hear their favorite pastor. There had
been a grest many people who foretold that the
ssle this year would be . nzxe and . mere bur-
Rescue OF former years. There were even
MANY members OF the church who feared
this also and even Mr.. Beecher him.
self was not entirely easy in his mind on
that score The persons who believed most in the
great prescher-in his honesty OF purpose and
purity OF morals-thought that. perhaps, some Of
the nock had been alienated by all that had been
sand and whispered about. In this light the sale
was triumphant vindication OF Mr.. Beecher and q
proof Of the stesdast adherence Of church to him
a. wen a. . complete and stunning blow to those
enemies OF Plymouth church who have endeavored
70 make capital out OF the scandals. whether true
or false, which have been directed against its
pastor. When 1t became quite apparant that this
was the spirit OF the evening the pulses OF the
multitude present beat faster and more enthusi-
astic, and the sale may have felt an immediate
effect from IL
At seven O'Clock the hour when the sale was ad.
verttsed 70 begin, the building was full, not alone
IN the body the church, but in the galleries and
choir All came furnished with their diagrams
and their pencils. and, with little more bolster
business. one might without great dtfnculty have
imagined oneself at a horse SALE in which Derby
coming into tine place would never have imagined
this was q holy gathering for the sale OF pews
the place and the surroundings and the people had
been studied by the stranger twhoever he might
BEL he would perhaps have had reason 70 come
back on the nrst impression and have enjoyed
the sight OF 1000 people IN eager strife to
pay high and indeed fancy prices for no other
reason than to hear the teachings OF Christianity
The 6QQiucalt and both sublime and
dron.
On the platform stood Mr. Beecher himself the
one man who drew all TINS concourse together,
looking as he does on sunday, not whit different
dressed; the same bearing; the same expression
OF countenance; to be sure, not the Beecher OF two
years ago-not so young, not so buoyant-a tinge
sadder and whit more gray; but still the Beecher.
silver stiIl Behind him stood the auctioneer-one
Hoyt-and two or three deacons, and below Ed
ward Beeener, the great PASTORS brother, white
ily features. Out further the audience, com-
prising some OF New YorEs most wealthy men,
the ANNUAL ceremony Of renting the pews Of
Plymouth church had once more come round and
ne hoped would be as successful as 10 years past
going to England 10 preach. He would go II his
congregation urged him very hard. but he would do
He had no desire to preach anywhere than IN Ply
mouth churcn, that suited him, and he supposed
he beoneed de to Certain extent to them He
would therefore, stay II they requested and the
thought OF bis being there should not interfere IN
the slightest with the price OF the pews, and he
hoped 1t would not. Tue object Of the meeting was
70 listen totheauctoneer, not to him. and he would
Then there was q general rustic OF papers and
pencils and an influx OF coughing. The auctioneer
gave the people some time to get composed, and
chow much do you give me for the nrst choices"
he cried. "How much for the first choces Now,
ofer. Remember all you ofIer Is premium over
and and above & the regular price OF the pews. How
Two hundred said one
Two hundred" began the a1e,ioneer, in the
1.-TWO hundred and fifty, seventy-nve. three hun
dred, three twenty-five, nifty, sixty. seventy
Hns d9e Us az Ave @oys
you're about it and make it an even number"
..Four hundred for the nrst choices What 90 you
NJ: A. y; ovingson took pew s. as this price.
my GaAs ses 'n1Sa aaSs less pew
Sheppard having seeA third FOR
ase 'as sass s T. @
Duryea, $3.50; NJ. S. Bead, s4Oo S, W. White. 1896;
r. .. Benedict, $ao5; D. $, Arrow, $.os; Deacon
1895 J. q southwortn, $500; J. Howard. Jr., 1895;
g CARL $3.50; .. W: Peck. $500; A. storrs $3.50;
cs1n oan, 'sss ss;O: Nu'cnnsSS sm9n :sss :sss
g. wendell, sssS; Or. Conkin, es75; Aaron
aeTss s, s sse " u sm s7s :sd M Isws M e. MsIs
$3.50; L Palmer, 1886; G. L. Benedict, $685.; 9. Z.
Evans $3.50; g. P. Mills, $685.; J: Murray, $3.50;
$3.50; " 9. Fenner, @ $50; G. /. James $50: Il.
Copperwhaite, $500; Green & Daily, $81O; J. T.
Howard, $50; A. Robinson, $3o5; A. Studwell,
Another lot went at just such big prices; all
these, 1t must be understood, being premiums
selves, none OF them falling below $50 for
those named, and some going as high
for some time the prices kept up much above
those OF the year previous and IL was noticeable
that the bidding was more brisk than in years years
priced pews the prices fell of little from last
years prices. and 1t looked ior time II the sale
the lower priced pews were put up, the rates
again ran up and many better prices were given
for inferior pews than for good ones.
While the auction was going on Mr.. Beecher
came down nom tine platform and sat beside the
aWeII, it's going better than expected - he said
gleefully, as he rubbed his hands with Joy. "What
DO you think OF those for panic prices! Iguess the
sale viii foot up more than last year."
"You seem to be very happy about this" said
the HERALD reporter.
'T am to tell you the truth. 1t shows that there's
life In the church. and when in such times these
We bring such prices It means something. And,
s'there have been things going about town. and IL
Just as well to knock them on the head by show
ing the people who get them mp that some
Ooub Dtlctc Tic stoTicss lie prizes oroukut are
q vtndicarion in themselves. But no more Of that.
am glad In my heart the seats are selling go we'll.
Some people, you know. think that we're dead
church. The other day lady and her daughter
applied to DR.. Cuyler for q letter TO this church,
and this reverend gentleman said 'oh, don't go
down there-y0u'll find yourself In a decaying and
tast dissoving church, Some people do have
great deal Of Christian charity, you know; but
they came. nevertheless, and l suppose they're
being gradually lost beyond redemption. We can
stand this sort or thing, you know. l myself am
only sorry for Brother Cuylcr."
Mr.. Beecher ratified on In this way for some time,
pleasantly chatting and occasionally saying pass
ing woro TO members rs they passed In 'front.' OF
niIn. The aucticneer was working hard all the
tame.
by the way. Mr. Beecher." said the HERALD re-
porter, you spoke oi England tnls evening. Have
you made up your mind one way or another about
going theref-
Yes; have made up my mind not to go.n
but ah The English papers are speaking Oh your
ADVENT there as matter 0i certainty"
II knos IL but can't help what they say. dld
fhink seriously OF going, and II my congregation
should urge me very strongly I might do so yet;
put there - no chance OF that. cannot bear the
idea OF hard work over there / don't mind going