New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-14
Beecher,s Farewell.

Plymouth Church there was quite an ankle
ty to hear what Mr.. Beecher would say, the
hope being general that some indirect refer
ence would be made to the Tilton scandal.
Mr.. Beecher spoke quite forcibly and tree
ly, though at times exhibiting some emo
ton, and said
at is one of the infelicities of our career
that we have no privacy. There are many
things that we would like to say to each
other that would not sound well in the
morning papers, and for that reason are
omitted. This. however, is the last prayer
meeting before my summer vacation OF
three months, and / have it strongly i'm
pressed upon me that l shall never meet
my people again. l mean tonight to say
few words of personal history. l was
called to the ministry at very early period
of my life-earlier than l can remember.
Indeed. grew up finding that every body
expected me to become minlster-my
father, my mother, my relatives, and every
body.
My father stoed foremost, and his name
was very great to us children. The idea OF
measuring myself by him, or my coming
ministry by his, never entered my head.
My love for him was SO great that l would
have been ashamed to have done it, Soon
after leaving Lane Seminary, at the in
stance of somebody whom have forgotten,
crossed the Ohio river to Covington, just
opposite my home of Cincinnati, where an
attempt was being made to found New
School Presbyterian Church. Ny only feel
ing as l entered that field was that there
After three weeks l was called to Law
renceburg, to church that numbered
twenty members. Lawrenceburg was not
very proud metropolis then, and it isn't
now. 1t is twenty miles below Cincinnati.
I remained there two years, and was then
called to a charge in the State capital. !
preached in Indianapolis eight years, and
then came to Brooklyn. l came here with
out expectations or ambition, for had said
to myself. when go East mean to only
preach Christ as a power, and not creeds.
That was my very strong feeling, and re-
member writing it to Mr.. Hale before
came From that to this l need not tell you
have preached in this church twenty-seven
years-making an aggregate OF forty years
OF ministry
The people had listened very intently to
this outline of their pastors public lite, and
plainly showed their expectancy OF sOme-
thing still more Interestingly personal.
II went into the ministry" said Mr..
Beecher after a pause, with two living
truths in my mind. These fundamental
ideas were the spiritual belplessness OF men
| and the spiritual helpfulness Of God. They
were my stock. All the rest was legendary,
and preached because l supposed it was all
right. In my early ministry, and down to
| this day. have never preached from per-
| sonal ambition. l have never sought name
| or place. l have not been insensi6le to the
| praise of good men, but, as God is my wit
| ness, that has not been an inspiring intiu-
| ence. have worked because Of the love
| have fer God, for the love l have for my
| fellow men, and, third, because couldn't
| help it. I was made to preach 1T was
in me, and had got to come out. l
| preached as fountain runs. l was, think,
led by God to accept all men as brothers in
Jesus Christ, who were going in their own
| way toward the New Jerusalem. This was
| a good deal, because l went into the minis
| try in the midst of sectarian spirit AL
| though wrote for daily newspaper before
| beginning to preach some articles against
the Roman Catholics, l have never since
| spoken or written against any denomlna
| ton. 1 have only freely criticised them, as
| l have my own sect. l felt that the pre-
| ciousness of Christian truth was so great
| that fragment of any denomination was
| deal with the question OF human slavery
| l couldn't help it. The question Of liberty
was even in my boyhOOd an element OF
| heroism with ME, and so l made no choice
| in putting myself on the side OF the help
| less. l never reasoned anything about it,
| the only question being ehOw to effect the
| greatest gOOd-never of consequences.
"In that contest my mind insensibly grew
more and more patriotic, and l learned tG
| love this land. My love of country became
an enthusiasm. My pride suffered, God only
knows how deeply. with sorrowful indigna
ton, that in half of the land the press ant
the pulpit could not speak. So the senti
ment OF religion became so associated witt
patriotism that could not divide or analyzt
them. Well, the war passed, and with peac,
laid down the controversy and studied
how to build up. Since then more and more
nv mind has been working toward large
views of the Divine Soul-toward the DIES
tiny of the race. l have nothing to say al
to the struggles l have gone through, or a.
to the notifications of my views. My mind
| by natural reaction, has gone to the inter
probation of the love of God. What mai
needed was the breast of God, and not th
chastening hand. In this l have had you
sympathy, and that OF thousands OF others
but if had had none of either the sweet
ness of the work would have been its sutfi
| cient reward"
Again Mr.. Beecher was interrupted by
explosions outside; but this time there wa
no laughing by the audience and no smil
on his own face. The speaker and th
hearers seemed equally interested. Th'
latter were rapt in the expectation OF
personal explanation more pertinent TO tn
latest phase of MIR. Beecher's history. III
leaned back in his chair. wiped bis fac
with his handkerchief, and when the inter
ruption was over, went on with show o
emotion.
Il have passed through varied experin
ences," he said, "as have most men in pub
lie life, but not through one that l woul'
have left out of my history. NY trust is IL
Christ Jesus absolutely. see such sens
of the mediatorial work of Christ. seem t.
be caught up in Gods love, and held as {
ship on an ocean. SO, come what may
come life or death-my hold on God is lncon
testible, my comfort in God is boundless
and my joy in God is unceasing. Be y
sure, my dearly beloved, that when l stan'
in the presence of the revealed God an
you 90 up thither we shall shake hands tC
gether. shall be by the side of Him wb
died for me, and the memory of earthl
trouble will be as the memory of earthl
storms that have passed away. l hav
worked in spirit of love and sympathy
no man can take from me that. What
for the future know not. l commit every
thing to the care of God. Life is speedin
fast. Life's spool is almost unwound; bu
that is no trouble when to go means to b
glorifed. Let us grid up our loins agair
and 90 forward until we meet to rejoice
the kingdom of our dear Father and Ill
dear Son, our Saviour"
Then Mr.. Beecher prayed, hymn wa
| bDpp and tho Dravpr Meeting was over,