The New York herald., 1874-05-23
FRIDAY NIGHT TALK.
Good Letter = Work Better than
Preaching.

Good Letter = Work Better than
Preaching.
Plymouth lecture room and parors were
crowded as usual last evening. Prayers were
offered by Brother Edgerton and Mr.. Beecher him
self, who prayed 'not for ourselves whose cup is
full OF marrow and fatness but for those who are
In sore need.n After the singing Mr.. Beecher
said You recolect, some OF you, that about
Christmas last winter. read letter out OF the
depths, by one signing I'm Despair" The letter
was printed in the
CHRISTIAN UNION,
and the remarks which followed its reading here.
1t was made q matter OF some criticism IN ortho-
dox journals. stating that in my reply l made
omissions in regard TO the future life. 1t passed
from my mind, and to-day received letter from
the same woman will read it. but do not wish
the reporters to take it as do not wish 1t
printed. win give them summary OF it; that
Will be sufficient Here Mr.. Beecher read the let
ter, which was expressive Of hope in the reforma-
ton of her husband, thanktuness for Mr.. Beechers
counsel and cheer, and ended in saying:-
am thankful, surely, and did not feel so crushed,
very happy I shall not sign myself lin despair" but
with sincere thanks for your k1dps; WOMAN
That is a beautiful letter. Now, the first thought
in my mind was one Of great Joy. kind OF Won
sit mere in the enjoyment OF personal religious ex
perence, and that the hight should shine also In
here, IN venture to say that where there is one
we know OF there are scores and hundreds that
are helped OF which we know nothing. | am much
that is not vain thing to pray, not vain thing
to ask God Tor things that seem impossible; and II
there ever was one past hope II seemed to be this
and whose husband inherited 1t, and
night 1t would useless to send pray ers for
the salvation OF such man as TO send match un-
lighted into the night and expect 1t to make light
Rntf fhQra 10 N n 10 nf
the unjust judge woman asked to be revenged,
and kept asking and at last the Judge said, Il
tinued importantly will move the heart OF beast,
how much more win 1t move the heart OF loving
God? The power OF reaction, the
SWING OF LOGIC
is immense, and this was parable given that
they might know that men ought TO pray unceas-
ingy. This woman was evidently OF sensitive as
well as sensible nature, and was well nign giving
up everything, but was encouraged to go on and
pray, and there now seems TO be light.
The next thought: it Is not likely tnat man, the
victim OF SO confirmed habit, which Is SO danger
Gus, affecting the whole nervous system and de-
stroying that which is the root OF all power-the
moral stamina, 1t IS not likely that he Will succeed
without stumbling, and one IN her position ought
not TO indulge In an easy hopeuness that will be
dashed by the recurrence OF the evil; and to all
these this word goes pray and do not iail." But
in such circumstances to endure the afiictlon II
one IS IN cage OF wild beasts has he not right
to go iorthS do not undertake to say; but | do
undertake to say that when one has the grace
given TO do 1t IL Is noble thing and acceptable TO
GOu. some W0uld say, "He was worthy In the
beginnings II she had mad easy liie with moth
ing to trouble her, see what power there is reg
ion." But. on the other hand God needs great
are sentines Il by day and & oy night also Cod re.
call one TO bear with husband or wife or child
to call one to the greatest stretch or patience
a wreck or household, q wreck OF husband; but
right from the midst OF ruin emerges the light OF
the example OF that heroic woman who has no
fhoun for harQ q ~ IN
ransom ? Is 1t not reproduction IN a small
sphere of what Christ did IN large sphere2 Ana
whoever mas grace given them 10 go through such
awful days the more conspicuous they make the
example OF the lie OF Christ on earth.
Christ: but to stand in an emergency-ior one 10
stand and preach Christ by example, IKE this
woman-iew pulpits have the opportunity; aud Il
II peases God TO give her regenerate husband
her lie will be far more fruitful than II she had
gone through life without sorrow.
Here Mr.. Beecher gave opportunity Tor remarks,
and brother said :-"You have told US we must al
ways pray; Dut is there anything else we can doY
] have a case IN mind OF poor Iamiy' ana late,y
back 10 drinking.u
MIR. Beecher said well, sir, you have great
eases-what do you do with case OF sickness tnat
won't get wellrp
"Well,n said Mr.. Bescner, 'trust grace In the
other case. regard drunkenness. alter certain
stage, disease and where II mas not heredltary
tendences-where 1t is begun IN the indivldua.
going beyond certain point regard alcoholism
as a disease and 10 be treated not alone with
moral suasion but with
PHYSICAL CONCOMITANTS.
In regard to intemperance It Is necessary that
you should treat 1t In three ways-phy sicaly,
socially and morally. But You can't give any
general directions which viii not have to be
adapted. IL wants some one to watch and WORK
and pray, and stand by them constantly; then,
| believe, 1t can be cured, aud II there Is
no one the prospect Is very discouraging.
How often DOCTORS presence, II he be happy,
good -natured man, cheers sick personl His race
IL better than his pills. And how often sepuchral
doctor carries death in his face and looks d man
into eternity. He ought not to practice; he ought
to be sexton. Uaughter.) That Is one reason