The New York herald., 1874-08-04

JKk HERALD, IU ESDA l .
been held on Saturday afternoons, and the great
church organ 1.-THE largest, with one exception. in
Anerica) mas pealed iorth. on sunday mornings
ana evenings, Its tidlngs OF great Joy. Here the
Prince OF Wales, and Presidents Lincoln and Grant
s1e service here nat GSn
haps, ID the history or no church has IT been car
ried 10 such high state OF perfection The visitor
TO Plymouth Tor the hrst time will probably never
forget the inspiration melted by the vast assem-
blage rising and literally singing with all their
heart and soul "rne Shining Shore" 'Jesus, Lover
oI My SOUL" or "Homeward Bound.n
NEW YORK ROUGHs AT CHURCH.
Probably no church in the United states has ex-
perienced so many ANXIOUS, exciting antmemor
able sunday services as has Plymouth. 1t was on
sunday evening; June s, 1855, that the services
been reported by the New York papers of that day
that gang OF New York roughs expected to visit
disturbance. The Mayor OF Brooklyn ana the
ChleI OF Police were notified, and large posse Of
the evening services, while NUMBER OF the regu-
lar attendants OF the church armed them
the ru1nans a good warm Congregational recep-
ton IN case they should attempt to demolish the
church % building or disperse the congregation AS
the hour ior the evening service drew nigh
crowds and gangs OF rough looking men from tne
worst localities Of New YORK ana brook. brook
ana Orange streets and on adjacent corners, and
when tne church was opened 4 number OF them
walked in, but behaved with great decorum when
they observed the immense crowd In attendance.
Alter remaining awhile they passed out mutter-
damned aboutionlsts and negro worshippers.n
Finally, as the audience were listening with al
most 0reathess attention to Mr.. Beecher, some
thing struck OF the windows to the east OF the
pulpit, ratified against the glass; causing consid-
cradle excitement among the ladies' and other
persons present wnO sat near the windows, and
then dropped ON the window Sill For few min
utes the excitement was intense, but after time
gre. alton regained. lt was subsequently dtscOv-
cred that the object thrown against the window
was bullet, evidently used by some mischievous
person with view OF creating 4 sensation or Tor
the purpose OF raising prodigious excitement in
THE SALE OF LITTLE SLAVE GIRL.
On Sunday morning, February S, 1850, little
mulatto save girl, ten years old, and valued at
$500, occupied seat by Mr.. Beecher on the plat
form. she was brought to BROOKLYN from Wash
lngton, ID. c., by Rev. Bishop Faikner, then
member Of Plymouth church. but now pastor OF
the Mediator congregational church, Rochester
avenue and Herklmer street. The reverend gen.
tleman having obta,ned permission from her mas
ter, and determining to secure her freedom If pos
slble, he introduced her to Mr.. Beecher, by whom
she was presented during the services OF that
accompanied by a statement OF the object IN view,
and request tor q liberal contribution Of money
The collection taken up that morning in the
churcn, together with collection taken up for
afternoon, amounted in the aggregate to $1,000.
The interest manifested by the congregation In
audenes Mss Rose Terry sister Of Major
General Terry dropping god ring in the contr.
button box as 1t passed. This ring was alterWard
placed by the pastor on the finger OF the little
slave girl with the remark that 1t was her freedom
ring. She was then named after Mr. Beecher and
Miss Terry, Rose Ward.
LIVE SLAVE WOMAN.
On Sunday, June !, 1851 a similar incident
called upon his congregation to witness .'live
slave woman" and introduced young girl about
by her master that II she could raise her freedom
money among her white abolition friends he would
be willing to release her from slavery. Accord.
Wit npFa IN aolO an wa q
North, with the promise that II the money was not
raised she would be returned. Three hundred
collected when she was brought to Brooklyn.
When the announcement was made to the con-
$500, exclusive OF jewelry, had been raised by col
lection IN the church the applause that followed
lasted for several minutes.
THE FIRST LONG ISLAND VOLUNTEERS.
On sunday IN April, 1881, during the stirrin
and and x exciting period Of cary rebellion % days, Mr.
Island gniantry) volunteers. better known as the
Brooklyn Phalanx,n and of which one OF his sons
contributed at the conclusion CT the morning
vices the sum Of $4,000 to aid in equip2ing the
regiment for service in the field.
In the autumn of 1862 the church played its part
Wen in providing accommodations for the de-
eeps ION 'Ie s Way to the on o. occup% e
cushioned seats.
TIE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF FORT SUMTER.
On April H. 1855, large number OF the members
OF Plymouth church and Mr.. Beecher celebrateu
Sumter, by Major Anderson. the steamer quaker
City conveying the PNmouthtes TO the Tort where
turn, while stopping at Fortress Monroe the ex.
cursionsts were greved to hear that the four
teenth President OF the United States Abraham
Lincoln, had suffered death at the hands or
THE ASSASSIN JOHN WILKES BOOTH,
ana when the party reached BROOKLYN IT was pub.
sermon on the martyred President on the follow
Ing sunday morning. April "A, 1865 The services
on that memorable morning In spring VIII never
be forgotten by those who participated in them.
They are vivldly portrayed in Ha'per's Magazine
by an eye witness as iOliOws:-
Presently the seats were all full. The multitude
seemed TO be solid above ana below. but still the
newcomers tried to press in. The platform was
fringed by the legs OF those who had been so lucky
as to find seats there. There was loud talking and
sculillng, and even occasionally little cry at the
doors. one boy struggled desperately lOr his lie
or breath. The ushers. courteous to the last,
smiled pltiully upon their own efforts to put ten
preached small door under the choir ana imme-
dlately behind the mahogany desk upon the plat /
stood looking at the crowd for little time without
taxing OF his outer coat, then advanced to the |
edge OF The plat torm and gave some directions
about seats. He indicated with his hands that the
peope should pack more closely. The ushers eyi-
de1tly pleaded Tor the pewnolders who
that they could not get in, the seats should be
nled that the service might proceed ID silence. (
moved his coat SAT down, and opened the hymn
book, while the organ payed. The impatient peO- +
from the outside, and the great white church was
like hive, with the swarming bees hanging in |
clusters upon the outside.
The service began with an invocation it was |
followed by hymn, by the reading OF a chapter In |
the Biole anc prayer The congregation Joined !
in singing and the organ skilfuliy and firmly
piSyed, preventing the tagging when usually
spoils congregational singing. The effect was i'm I
posing. Inc vast volume oiled the building with |
solid soUn0, 1t poured out at the open windows, |
and filed the still morning OF the city with !
solemn melody. Far upon every side those who
sat at home III s0iitay chambers heard the great
voice OF praise. Then and tne nuSl OF
THE VAST NU1sEiruDE,
the preacher Overpowerea 9y emotion, prayed
lerventy ior the stricken family arS the pereaVeu
natlOn, There was more singing, DehTe Wnlcn
MT. Beecher appealed to those VINO wee snetlng 10
slt closer, and Tor once to be lncommoIed, rnat
some more Of the crowd might get Ia; and az Inc
WIND blew freshly IRON the open windows, he is,
minded the audience that handkerchief laid upon
one o heaa would prevent the sensitive from taking