The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-02
BEECHER's FRIDAY NIGHT TALK.

bcrship OF Plymouth Church-Thc Ne.
cessity OF Joining q Church.
Mr.. Beecher entered his crowded lecture room
last evening with q smiling countenance, tndica-
tive OF mind at ease After the usual services he
said The TACT that we on the eve OF the COM
munion season OF the year; the fact that there
SO many who begin their outward Christian
life at this time, brings back to my
mind o long course OF Gears and .
long experience. My ministry has extended
over nearly forty years, and have, during that
time, labored In the east and In the west extern
sively, and have been through great many
periods of excitement and have had q
great deal to do in bringing men women and
children into the Church. In relation to lead
ing Christian and cody life my Views have
not changed, but have grown intenser. recog-
nize the fact that persons may live out OF the
Church and be useful and salurary. II man 70
living truly cody Lille we have no right to say
he Is not Christian II he Is outside OF the Church.
While l. therefore, insist on this charity OF judy
ment am sure that 1t Is only exceptional cases
that are found where Christian life Is pursued a.
well outside the Church as within, not because
the Church Is the recipient OF mercies GOD re.
fuses outside but for reasons PLAIN to every one.
In living q Christian life alone one must lose the
social and sympathetic influence. 1t is to llve ~
benefit for If religion Is anything 1t is social The
whole meaning OF religion is emotional, sympa-
thetic, aHectional and benevolent. II 1t means
anything 1t Is that men are to lay aside indiffer-
ence and selflshness and now naturally together
and towards God. To be brought into the
SYMPATHETIC CIRCLE
and into fellowship makes religion quick and easy.
and, might almost say, spontaneous; and, more.
over. while uniting with . church ID NOT bondage,
yet 1t Is restriction. man ought
not to do anything wrong nevertheless we are all
frail and the re are great many times when men
would do things from which they would be greatly
guarded by coming into the Church. We see this
every day in the household. What helps one men,
Der to resnr evil is the opinion Of the rest OF the
household and that which is true OF household is
true OF the Church. Look, for instance. in this
church; in many respects 1t labors under disad-
vantage; the church is so large that you can't
know everybody, but you can form acquaintance
in circles. You have material to form nine or
eral influence, SO that when . brother who
has been associated with US many years goes
anection more ike tie feeling Of family than Of
o church.. Here Is an instance, letter from q
member, who has been absent many years; 1t says.
''Please see that am not dropped; won't 60 out
OF the church; l have been well reported to
deacons Tanning ana Morel; am not voluntarily
She was not dropped but she was AFRAID sne was.
When some church members go away 100 miles
they don't take particular pains to let people
know they are church members. There are COM
ing into this church next Sabbath about 100,
four-1fths upon profession OF faitn and ! think
coming into the Church as they would 60 to q
hotel. Many persons put up IN churches IN that
pay for what they eat and that is all This Church
Is not o
HOTEL OR BOARDING HOUSE,
but household; and those who come here have
feeling OF brotherhood, and we don't understand
that they come as men who nave become saints.
they should stand up and say, .see we were sin:
ners once like you, but we are converted
n0ws s sin . IN AND ns
to restrain his natural tendencies and spirituaze
them and live on Q higher Christian plane, aud, II
they come in and sin after, we are all sinners.
We come to learn how to control, and we learn
little by little. We come INTO the Church to be
helped, to be buoyed up by common sympathy.
Well, through the long period OF my life have
probably assisted IN bringing in
MANY THOUSANDS,
and, though some have fallen BY the way the num-
per is comparatively small. The great majority
a asve ehey e I'VE qeS q d step g
lasted through their whole lives. II you como
into the Church to perform duty, the duty will
loving. humble spirit the duty win be pleasure.
Christian life, aver, Is the
SWEETEST AND EASIEST.
When you begin to live Christian life it is easier
to live on high plane than q low one. 1t Is hard
when you begin to play on the piano to learn 20
control your fingers, and is only accomplished BY
practice, and yet when you have learned II u
easier to DO what seemed so har0 at first than to
90 any other way. That which IL true Of ply sical
exercises is true OF mans life. TO live
humbly and cheerfully may be hard at nrst,
but after wards 1t Is easier, and 1t Ia transcen-
IDENTITY happier and better lie than any other ana
lower LIE. Here Mr. Beecher gave space LOT re- e,
marks, and brother said that it was q very nara
lie Tor persons to depend on what was IN them
selves; that he had tried IT, He said tnat wnere
lie lived there was on one hand the Metnouiss
church, and they shouted too loud, and on the
other side the Presbyterians, and they were TOO
stiT and SO he tred,to live better IMAM etne1 anu
you must belong somewhere and be brother TO
somebody. Brother Halliday said du uos
Church as our brother. 1t was the nrst Church |
joined, twenty years ago. There were very Few
Young people in the church. they made tue way so
narrow. fney put me In quarantine LOT SIX
months. But I rose to say that advocaIe az the
pastor has said OF the Importance OF Church TEL
lowshlp.
u.ourorAprp wpDDTN9 IN SO0TIAND