The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-10-03
Beecher ut HONG ArnIn.

Church was packed with poople this
evening to hear Mr, Beecher on his return
from his summer vacation. Large vases
Oil overs stood at each end Of the plat
form. At seven o'clock there was mo-
standing room, either in the church or
passages and ladies Were frequently horne
ont during the services In fainting con.
ditton. Among those present were Mrs.
Beecher, Charles Beecher, DR.. Edward
Beecher, Col. Bcccher, Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stowe and assistant pastor Hal.
lIday, all the members oil the late Inyesti.
eating Committee, Prof. Rossiter, w.
RAYMOND and the trustees Of the church,
Promptly at 1880 O'clock Mr.. Beecher
came on the platform and was received
with loud storm Of applause. He gave
out the hymn, praise God from whom
all blessings flow" which was sung by
the congregation with great spirit. Mr..
Beecher then offered a brief prayer, in
which he thanked God for this meeting
on the 27th anniversary Of his pastorate Of
the Church. he prayed that much good
might accrue from his labors during the
coming season, and returned thanks 10
God for all his past blessings.
Another hymn was sung and prayer oil.
lered by Prof. Raymond. He besouRht
the Lord TO bless tho man on his right
hand, and gave thanks for the trials OF
discipline brought upon their pastor,
which was tor the glory OF Zion. :
Alter the congregation had sung an.
other hymn, Beecher rising to his feet
said thst he would rather meet his friends
as usual at the end OF his vacation, but
he was anxious that the good old Gus.
tomary Friday night prayer meetings
should not be departed from. They were
as In 30 many years before, at tho
commencement Of what might be con.
sidered new year to consecrate them
selves, to spread Cbrists Kingdom on
earth. When troubles carried US away un.
der burdens that VIC had not the strength
TO bear, and under waves Of sorrow when
our strength failed, Gods strength began.
When sorrows were no longer TO be
tolerated, and men came to the end OF
their endurance, then In its plentitude
and abundance came the everlasting
presence aud power ot the almighty.
Then men looked back with amazement
to think that their courage ever failed.
When atllction or trouble was on man
he should not hold down his head as
prisoner in chains, it was for US to lit up
ourselves from the visible into the inVisi-
BILE, and though there might be troubles
low down God was above the clouds.
BE made an appeal 10 the young men
Of The congregation 10 grow up in right
eouanesS and the spirit OF truth,
and say to Themselves, l shall not
crumble in the dust, but shall
rise irresistibly in the power oil the heart
Of Christ. ask not your confidence or
sympathy, but tho unity OF q blessed hope
that you feel sympathy for the weak to
lift them up and save them for Christ.
he alluded very remotely to the dis.
cipline the church had gone through,
which he thought was only kind OF q
grindstOne to sharpen their weapons oI
spiritual warfare for the remainder of the
year, and he thought they should be all
animated by spirit Of love, Joy and
peace in God. This had been their ami
mating purpose for twenty.seven years,
and they would come out OF this tribula.
tion for no other purpose than the glory
of God.
Another hymn was then sung and the
benediction pronounced by MIR. Beecher
which ended the proceedings. At their
close the friends OF the pastor closed up
around the platform, shakiugihands with
and coDgratulAtipg him; and 1t was fully
half an hour before the church was cleared
OF the throng which filled it.
The Plymouth Association, at the close
OF tho proceedings, held private and
informal gathering for tho purpose Of
rendering reception to MIR. Beecher.
They gathered in their meeting room,
above the lecture room, in large numbers.
The room was handsomely decorated
with flowers and banners, on which wero
inscribed Love" "Hs Banner Over Us
was Love-" and similar inscriptions.
When Beecher appeared in the room,
after receiving the greetings of all his
friends in the church below, he was re-
ceiVed with loud and long continued ap-
plause. At It's close a young lady sang
"Home, Sweet Home" 10 an accompani-
ment, which was followed, alter brief
interval by the songs, "Auld Lang Syne,"
"The Last Rose Of Summer" "The Mar.
sellaise," and other well known airs.
Mr. Beecber then promenaded through
the room and held brief conversations
with those present, which brought the