New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-10
THE PLYMOUTH PRA YER-MEETING.

REMARKS by MR.. BEECHER ON CHRISTIAN ACTIVITY.
Plymouth Church was filed last night at
the regular Friday night prayer-meeng. As early as
O'Clock every seat in the lectureroom was occupied
and It was announced from the platform that the
church would be used for that OCCASION MT. Beecher
told TRIBUNE reporter that this experiment would not
be tried again. for changed the social talk into lee
ture. thus deprving the meeting OF its original idea
The services opened with the singing OF the 6csd
Hymn, after which George Bell made short prayer
This was followed by the 454th Hymn prayer by Mr.
Hill, and the 613th Hymn, after which MI Beecher
spoke. Among other things he said
1t is not often that clergyman IL obliged to say ne Is
ing and yet am both glad and sorry, although think
most OF you IN coming here are actuated Oy uue
Christian spirit. These weekly meetings are usually
held In the Lecture Room but cannot compress SO
great audience into so small space as mat room
ties. The subject wish to speak upon tonight is
Christian activity There IS In this world erea dea
people who do 1t flourish about as the dandy does with
his cane am not sure but this kind OF religion does
unto Jesus. But you will How can live to Him.
when He is gone from this worldi cannot minister to
live unto s""I HIM. Ip You can only live as you
think He would do. were He still on this
function to perform Those that are you have
right 10 expect that your whole life shall be open
sweet and pure. BY pursuing this course the Christian
draws about him men who have souls to save. People
have said that the wicked dislike everything that has
the semblance Of goodness about IT, say that the
wicked that is good and pure and great The man
that not look at what noble and refined must IN
Drunkards weep passionatey between their orgies be-
they have not sefeOntro enough to avoid them
Have such appreciation OF the characteristics OF
which have spokens Too OFTEN sinners are repealed
from Christians because their belief has made them I'M
sSs Christian sna Seef demands that we throw light
of love about All the powers OF the mind that mako
your lives pleasant to others should he double when
you become Cbrist's. Now these Christians OF whom
r. hpHt hat m atp1 and 4ni he
funess of their love for Christ undignifed and unfit
ting but that Is not the truth They compress and re-
press the real emotions which they feel Why should
not these feelings be brought out and sanctined TO
Christian usesi They are the bodySuard furnished by
God to hedge around mems cOnscences. Now the con-
science Is as necessary to mans spiritual lie as
his backbone and and other bones are Re-. to . his
alone they form CHASTITY and unsiehtly objects.
To remove this effect they are clothed with
ing to the eye and God has given man the sense OF
the ludicrons tastes and thoughts that he may use
lowed II wit can gid vice, why can it not elevate
Christianity Why cannot Christian be q sunny,
sinner say, love to be in that mans company He is
so pleasant and so attractive"
Christian ideas and principles to teach successfully the
word Of God Now, in centuries gone by, when the
bers: "Ye are brethren. Ye have but one Head aud
one Master and that is the Lord Jesus Christi But as
which promoted the idea that the laty had right to
teach their brethren and that they could not do 1t with
safety, but that that tile duty OF
lister only. Now, II OF you should feel that you
had a message from Heaven to be delivered to
your brethren and you should go out to deliver It, there
are thousands would refuse to hear you because
you are licensed to preach. Even II you were 10
conform to regular rules OF the church. should fol-
low path laid out by the regular pastor, when you
came TO pronOunce benediciion there who
would still rebel because OF the absence Of the license
Now should like to know why who has the ele
ments of preacher in him must go and ask the permits
sion OF any before he can preach Suppose man
has in him the germs of great poet, must he procure
license before he dares TO write poemf II man has
the power of expouuding truth he has right TO do it
the right that God gives. The idea that exDounding
religion is the privilege Of the ordained few will surely
fall TO the ground! It is to be understood
that the whole brotherhood are the teachers OF
Gods Word. The right to teach lies In
the competency teach We must have more help from
those who have the power and knowledge to teach In
such great city as this know there are many who
overworked during the week and need rest the
Sabbath; but also know that there are many others
whose sunday is spent in Incidence, and who might EN-
poy that time visiting the poor and In distributing
of the benefits they have received from on hie
To live an eminent Christian life, them doesn't mean TO
60 and hide In closet-doesn't mean to become good
by becoming cold 1t means to be affable and knd-to
make men good by making them happy, ana MAKING
them happy by making them good