Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-10-08
gEEcHER IN PLYMOUTH CHURCH AGAIN.


New York, October 2. = Plymoeth
Church was deiissly packed with people
this evening to obtain sight and hear
Mr.. Beecher. At o'clock there was
no standing room, and ladies' wefe fire.
quently borne out during the services in
a fainting condition. Among those
present were Charles Beecher, DIR Ed
ward Beecher, Colonel Beechef, Mrs.
Harriet Beecher Stowe, assistant pastor
Halliday, all the members of the late
investigating committee, Professor Ray
mond and the trustees Of the church.
AT 1870 Mr. Beecher came on the
platform and was received with storm
of applause. He gave out the hymn
"Praise God from whom all blessings
flow" which was sung by the congrega-
ton with zeal and vigor. Mr.. Beecher
then offer prayer, in which be thanked
God for this meeting on the twenty
seventh anniversary of his pastorate
He hoped that much good would &C.
crue from his labors during the season,
and returned thanks for all his past
blessings.
Another hymn was sung and prayer
was offered by Professor Raymond. He
besought the Lord to bless the man on
his right hand, and returned thanks for
the trials and discipline brought upon
their pastor, which he said was for the
glory of Zion
After the congregation had sung an
other hymn, Mr.. Beecher rising to bis
feet, said that he would much rather
have met his friends as usual at the end
of his vacation, but he was anxious that
the good old customary Friday night
prayer meeting should not be departed
from. They were met together as in
so many years before, at the commence
ment Of what might be considered a
new year, to consecrate themselves to
the spread of Christ's kind ,m on earth.
When troubles carried us awav under
the burdens that we had no strength to
bear, and under waves OF sorrow when
our strength failed, Gods strength be
gan; when sorrows were no longer to be
tolerated, and men came to the end of
their endurance, then in its plentitude
and abundance came the everlasting
power of the Almighty. Then men
looked back with an,azement to think
that their courage had ever failed.
When affection or trouble was in a
mass he should not hold down his head
as prisoner in chains. 1t was for us
to lit up ourselves from the visible into
the invisible, and though there might
be troubles low down, God was above
the clouds. He made an appeal to the
young men of the congregation to grow
in righteousness and to the spirit of
truth, and say to themselves / shall not
crumble IN the dust, but shall rise ire.
sistible in the heart of Christ. | ask
not your confidence or sympathy. but
the unity Of a blessed hope that you feel
sympathy for the weak to lift them up
and save them for Christ.
He alluded very remotely to the dis
cipline the church bad gone through,
which he thought was only kind Of
grindstone to sharpen their weapons of
spiritual warfare for the remainder OF
the year, and he thought they should
all be animated by spirit of love, Joy
and peace in God. This had been their
animating purpose for twenty seven
years, and they would come out of thei,
tribulation tor no other purpose than
the glory of God.
Another hymn was sung and the
benedictlon pronounced by Mr.. Beech
er which ended the proceedings. At
the close the friends of the pastor clos
ed up around the platform and shook
hands with him, congratulating him on
the fine appearance he presented after
his vacation, and it was fully half hour
before the church was cleared of the
throng.
The Plymouth Association, at the
close of the proceedings, held pirate
and informal though social gathering,
for the purpose Of rendering a reception
to Mr.. Beecher. They gathered in
| their meeting room, above the lecture
room, in large numbers. The room was
handsomely decorated with flowers and
banners, on which was inscribed Love,
and ellis banner ever was love-" and
similar Inscriptions.
| When MIR Beecher appeared in the
room, after receiving the greeting of al
his friends in the church below, be was
received with loud and continued ap.
plause. At its close young lady sang
"Home, Sweet Home to an an accom-,
panilnent, which was followed afte1
brief intervals by other songs.
Mr.. Beechrr then promena1ed abou
the room, and had brief conversation
with those present, which brought tn
proceedings to termination.