The New York herald., 1874-06-15
PLYMOUTH OHURCH.

PLYMOUTH CHURCH
Mr. Bcccher ON Uncharitable Criticism,
Evil Judgments, New York Justice,
and Tweed ON BlAckweii's Island.
Though the weather threatened rain yesterday
morning and most who went out carried umbrel-
las Plymouth church had not spare seat or stand
ing room unoccupied when the bell ceased tolling.
AS the sexton ceased the call to worship the noble
organ peaied forth charming voluntary under the
touch OF Mr.. Bradley young English organist,
VINO occupied most acceptably the part SO long
flied by John Zundei, who has gone to visit his ma.
tive scenes In the Old Republic OF Switzerland
The organ prelude was followed by Barby's king
al-g0rious,n in solos, by MIR. Hii, tenor; Mr
Camp, barytone, and Mrs. Hutchinson, cOntrato,
with choruses by Mr. Camps strong and well
drilled cnoir the whole rendered with nne eject
ana forming magnificent opening service to the
devotions OF the vast throng which filed the barn.
like edliice. Alter the usual prayers and hymns
Mr.. Beecher asked the deacons TO take up mid
summer collection, to be used by them in relieving
distress In the diocese OF Plymouth church, while
the bulk OF the wel-to-do portion OF his nock
should be enjoying their summer vacation in the
mountains or by the seaside. Then ne read
the notices for the week, including one OF q
sunday school picnic on June rs. He had three
engagements, he said. which had been made for
him for that day in different directions He could
be three distinct places at once-must either
stay a. home and disappoint the expectations OF
all the three or choose between them. He thought
he should 60 with the Plymouth Sunday school ex-
pedition, and be obliged to excuse himself from
attendance at the two other services. These pre-
liminanes being finished, Mr.. Beecher read his
text from Matthew, vii. l-"Jufge not that ye lie
not judged.n Both the context and many other
passages OF Scripture show that this Is not pro-
hibtion OF proper judgment as to conduct and
character. These are properly Judgeable, are fair
subjects of honest and sincere judgment. In an
other passage we are instructed that we are to
know them by their fruits, and to judge OF them
by righteous Judgment What Is forbidden In the
text is an unjust and partial judgment, that habit
OF mind by which we are always critcisng men
than their excellencies, as though they were
our antagonists and we their enemies,
with severe. unjust, harsh criticism. He
who habtuay forms sucn evil judgment Is
un0er condemnation. This spirit excludes him
from fellowship with men and from the Kingdom
OF God We are 10 discriminate between good and
evil truth and falsehood ii a man assas me
with vltuperation 1t would be false charity to say
he praised me, or II caught him IN my cherry tree
borrowing them Things are. and they should be
judged as they are. The safety OF yourself, your
family and the community demands It, 1t Is not
THIEVES IN THE TREASURY,
\
trust and responsibility. Neither does the text
to Judge under the law, nor by those whose office
1t IS critcise justly and atry in matters OF pub
lie concern. But the text iorblds all undertaking.
OF all infdelity that is worst which alls IN
sympathy with our fellows, to see all the faults
sns Strength ana the good they Exhibit THIS
disposition springs from the magn influence
which is in us. and not from our better side. We
/ weakness.
and it Ill becomes us to crltlcse each other Tor our
q the head should reve who
have weak lungs, or those WITH weak st0machs
should seorn those with broken arms, setting
themselves in partics according 10 their various
Ills, 1t would resemble
THE AyrAGONIsM OF THE CHURCHES.
They are all IN hospital aud need the divine aid to
cure their weaknesses and their mani old ailments.
In the modest, primitive forms OF society the trait
OF prudent suspicion IS NECESSARY 1or personal
4 is dark remnant of that low form OF lie, little
removed from animalsm. IL Is not your duty to
play the devils part and spy out or PREJUDICE the
ialiings OF your neighbors. Charity lorblds US to
expose anothers faults. II you must fight wick
edness stay at nome, where you VIII find work
enough in yourself to employ you all the days Of
yonr life. Some men take credit to themselves
and burt out what think." II man should. be-
cause he is plain, blunt man. spit right ana lele
society No fellow is SO blunt as a bun, yet they
! are rot regarded desirable as equipments to an
orphan asylum SO % man who go goes through tne
II
of Christian civilization. Others always decry q
generous act. WATT they say, .tIIl we see what
at the blood OF all, detracting from the merits Of
/ everybody, willing to credit none with good In.
Symmetry does not exist in this world. Blessed
/ be God that there Is large class OF men who are
the right ar and rv9g wo 9r
abide the measure Of Gods tnought.
We are to 1orbear uncharitabe criticism
in the orm OF wit, the coin Of criticism current
everywhere and everywhere received with smiles.
goodness If thy brother hath aught against tnee
make thy peace with him before bringing God thy
GOD CAN WAIT; MAN CANNOT.
Kindness TO our fellows is one OF the nrst
requisites oil godlincss We are not TO serve God
by walking over other mems heads. We are to
1 honor all men, treat every man as though he was
made OF GOD. see through lens the vastness OF
the full grown oak may shade an acre. Not all
/ temples and works OF art can equal III grandeur
to seek for iailings to MI the cnalice, which is
from below, not from on high. No evil report
lacks listeners Ships are not sent to sea II there
Is no harbor for them to land their cargoes. 1t Is
| rare that gathering OF hall dozen persons does
not greedily hear tale OF scandals scarcely a
church which does not adversely critcise other
churches. We exalt the virtues of our friends
and condemn the balance or mankind. This
springs from seiishness and fills society with
/ wretchedness. We throw out ichor not bounty.
Religion becomes the mother OF uncharlty, separ.
atna, dssntegrasng and arraylng men against
one another. Parents who sympathze with their
children most apt to DO this; and 1t Is IN this
spirit OF sympathy that we should Judge the acts
Of our fellows. We are apt TO think III OF the un.
successful Thrifty Yankees do not ike shiltess
shack. / would almost as soon be In Italian
dungeon as New England poorhouse. New York
has, TO my knowledge, been most wonderfully gov
erned for the last twenty-seven years since have
known IL. Men have been elected Aldermen to
make for the interests OF themselves their friends,
their party. They were ION the make" 1t would
have been most strange only IL was so common.
At length man rose out OF this state OF society
whose boldness and success led TO his exposure.
GOES TO BLACKwELL's ISLAND
and the whole community sing pRans about the
triumph OF justice. II Justice had its way, SO, 900
men would be there. SO a man goes 10 Congress
! and falls, naturally, into rings OF railway iObbery
or other scncmes Tor preyng upon the public. lie
| Is exposed, and the country rings utter denunca-
4 ton OF the fraud, and the man who has betrayed
his trust becomes O Judas-an Arnold. Yet, not
he alone, but the community is In iault. The
stream nows no higher than its source. Public
lack OF virtue Is the unclean sprig OF Official cor.
\ ritntion From Sneda the ,,sa.t 81