The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-05
IAN IN PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

| with people this evening to obtain sight o
and hear Mr.. Beecher. AT I O'Clock there
was no standing-room either in the church
or passage, and ladies' were frequently borne
cut durlug the services in fainting condl'
| ton. --
Among those present were Charles Beech.
| err, DR.. Edward Beecher, Colonel Beecher,
Mrs. Harriet Bpechcr Stowe, Assistant Pas.
tor Halliday, all the members OF the late III.
yestiealng committee, Professor Raymond
and trustees Of the church. at 1880 MIR.
Beecher came on the platform and was re-
ceyed with a storm of applause. lie gave
out the hymn, "Praise God from whom all
blessings tloW," which was sung by the con-
gregation With yigor and zeal.
Mr. Beecher then offered aprayer, in which
be thanked God for this meeting on the
twenty-seventh anniversary Of his pastorate.
lie hoped that much good would accrue
from bis Iabors during the coming season,
and returned thanks to God for all his fresh
blessings.
Another hymn was sung and prayer was
Offered by Professor Raymond. He be-
sought the Lord to bless the man on his right
hand (Mr. Beecher), and returned thanks
Tor the trials and discipline brought upon
their ptStor, which, he said, was for the
glory of Zion.
After the congregation had sung another
hymn
MR.. BEEcHEE. RISING TO HIS FEET,
said that he wouM much rather have met his
friends as usual nt the end of his vacation,
but he was aBafous that the good old Gus
tomary Friday night prayer-meetings should
not be departed from. They were met to-
gether, as on so many years before, at the
commencement Of what might be considered
anew year, to conSecrate themselves 10 the
spread Of the Christian Kingdom on earth.
When the troubles carried us away under
the burdens that we had not strength enough
to bear, and under The 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 plenttude and album
dance came the everlasting presence and
power of the Almighty. Then men looked
back with amazement to think that their
courage ever failed. When affection or trou-
bic is on Il nan -.... ...a--.... ,- e.
HE SHOULD NOT HOLD DOWN HIS HEAD
as prisoner in chains. 1t was for us TO lift
up ourselves from the visible into the inyi.
sible, 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
the spirit of truth, and say to themselves, II
shall not crumble in the dust, but shall rise.
Irresistible in the power Of the heart of
Christ, ask not your confidence or symps-
thy, but the unity of blessed hope that
you feel q sympathy foS the weak to lift them
up and save them for Christ"
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH.,
He alluded very remotely to the discipline
the church bad gone through, which he
thought was only grndstone to
sharpen their weapons of spiritual war
fare for the remainder of the year, and lie
thought they should all be animated by the
spirit of love, joy, and peace in God. This
had been their animating purpose for twenty
seven years, and they would come out Of this
trbulation for no other purpose than the
glory of God. .-,
| Another hymn was sung, and the benedc.
ton pronounced by Mr.. .Beecher, which
closed the proceedings, So
| At the close the friends Of the pastor closed
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 an hour before the
| SlulCu was IutOUS.
RECEPTION BY TIE PLYMOUTH ASSOCIATION.
The Plymouth Association, at the close OIL
the proceedings, held private and informa
though social gathering for the purpose O
rendering reception to Mr.. Beecher. They
gathered in their meeting-room, above thu
lecture.room, in large numbers. The room
was handsomely decorated with flowers ant
banners. When Beecher appeared ut thu
room, after receiving the greeting of all BIZ
friends in the church below, he was received
| with loud and long continued applause; a
the close of which a young lady san!
"Home, Sweet Home" to an accompani
ment, which was followed, after brief inter
walls, by other songs. ~
MIR. Beecher then promenaded through
the room and held brief conversations witt
those present, which terminated the proceed
ings.