New-York tribune., 1874-07-04
MR. BEEcHERs AuroBI0GR4PHY.
HIS LAST FRIDAY EVENING TALK BEFORE THE
VACATION.

HIS LAST FRIDAY EVENING TALK BEFORE THE
VACATION.
Unusually touching and impressive was the
Rev Mr. Beechers talk at the prayer-meeting IN the
lecture-rOom OF Plymouth Church last evening. Inc
occasion was the last OF the prayermeengs for the
Summer and he told Ehe story Of hs own me- WORK. ana
strugs les stood in his eyes as lie portrayed ms
strivngs for the welfare Oh Ills KIM AHo
room was crowded.
He began his talk by saying that II impossible for
him 10 observe any privacy with his flock or to keep
anything secret from them. IL would Dc equVaeht 10
shontng confidential communication TO A- iIlehus on
Broadway Tie meeting they were at was the last Tor
three months. The season was one when sickness
WAS prevalent and he well as others was
ranla IN ne aff ,cted He had been impressed with
tbe feeling that perhaps he might never see his
doc again He had therefore meant as their servant
and as the servant OF Christ 70 say something on this
occasion about his personal minstration From very
early period he had destined for the ministry His
tatber mother brothers. sisters, everybody, expected
him 10 be a minister and he did not know the exact
time of the transition. After leaving the seminary he
cossed the Ohio River az Covington, where attempt
was making to found a Presbyterian church Here he
had preached three four Sundays, when he was
called by Martha Savage TO 20 10 LawrenceDurg lnd,
where there was a church Of about 20 members.
Ue answered the call and served there
about two years, at Inc end OF winch time
he was called 10 take charge OF New school PresOy-
church lust established IN luuanapOAs AneIe
ne worked for eight yearsater Wmcn ne came 10 BROOK
In ON coming hither no had determined 70 preach the
0ospel as power ana not as an authority; anu When
those who called expected him 10 build up COngrega-
tiouaism az isnl," they were much mistaken lie
bad worked Brooklyn for 27 years, and his entire pas
orat extelded nearly 40 be had gone INTO
his ministry Brooklyn with two hVlng truths Deiore
MIN one was spiritual heIpiessness OF mau, anu
the other the indefinite spiritual helpfnlness OF Cod
| All the rest OF his belief was cOnvenuOnai.
Mr. Beeeher went to speak OF the main springs OF
mia actions In all his ministry he had never preached
| from personal ambition He had never sought place,
i,anance or DosiuOn. He had never been dlspleased
win praise deserved but that hha not Deen te
! Three considerations htd urgeu
HIM preach FIRST the ioVe ne nau LOT iot "D ill.,
| he could not help himself IL was ~ 40 MN In
| and would come out. During nls ire he
lad never spoken or written nYlAing f ataiIs. i
vas very Young columns OF small evening pa
per 10 Cincinnati quite early IN ms a.nis.y ne iau
been called upon 20 regard the quesuOh oI
Wben the question he could not aVnd taxing ues
I'm the mute and helpless He never reasoned aDout
his action. No considerations OF pOley enIefeu tne
Ter aud mad made n0 sacrlness ~ uIrcusslhk ,io
nnesfion he had closely stHded pOtcai economy the
and the affairs OF the various
states and he grew more and more patriotic ana INC
| lnve OF country became win nm an ehtuuSlasm' No
one kueW no could Toll. now much nc suHofeu at
i st IN half the States the press could not SPEAK,
the pu nit could not speak, ana ne nmseil coutu 10,
! speak The greas wag passed ana liberty cant, anu
from that moment he htd laid dOwh eus MoaPUns @ "a
controversy taken the tools Tor DnldihE up anu
reconstrucng lie had nothing 10 say d" the etu6gies
ne had gone through nothing 70 say p,gonu dta mI
| he had said on suhuays AOou' tio IpS ,nr,1ni,
his nnld upon GOd wac incohtrnt aDlc
and he would by the side Of him "ho loNeu MN
the memory OF all earthly trouble "ouiu Oo hAo
the memory OF last Summers storms
Mr. Beecher said close thai without bO1stlng no
was conscious that he had not spared LnHeH IN hs
work. and could take tEom hIln t9's boast tnA'