The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-03
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Mr.. BEEcHER on FOLLOWING GOD IN LOVE
MAY DAY COMMUNION

MR.. BEEcHER ON FOLLOWING GOD IN LOVE
MAY DAY COMMUNION.
Yesterday was communion service Sabbath
and the time appointed for the reception into
Plymouth church Of those persons who have ap.
pied for admission and have been approved dur
ing the past two months. There was q tre-
mendous rush Of people 70 hear Mr.. Beecner and
TO witness the simple ceremonies OF receiving
new communicates and the administration OF the
sacraments or eucharist and baptism. Notwitn-
standing this lact, lever people entered the
church than have gone into II upon Sabbath
morning since the previous communion service.
Much OF the space between the platform upon
which Mr.. Beecher strides during his sermons
and the pews, which is generally filled up
with temporary seats for visitors. was occupied By
q rectangular table covered with q white cloth
upon which were some wine ewers and chalices OF
silver, and some silver SAVERS. upon witch numer-
GUS small cubes OF bread were deltly made TO form
larger cubes. In the middle OF this table was
long, slender vase Of crystal glass, out OF which
rose a cluster OF satn-oreasted white lilies. The
platform was handsomely adorned with bouquets
and beds OF flowers, lilies, japanese and Gala,
orchids IN numerous varieties, passion flowers and
many other horticultural beauties, among which
vines and ferns were skiiully interviewer. All the
combination or Mowers were wrought with ex.
quislte taste.
The services began with Zundeps music to St.
Amorose's hymn, lie Deum Laudamus." which
was rendered with good eject By the choir.
RECRUITS FOR PLYMOUTH.
After several hymns we're sung Mr.. Beecher read
out the names OF los persons who had been passed
upon BY the church and VINO we're waiting to be
admitted into the Plymouth fold These persons
occupied the nrst three rows Or pews In front or
the pastors platform. Thirty-fve or them tad
been received on letters from other churches OF
which they had been members. while the remain
ing seventy were ABOUT 10 become regular church
members for the first time. When Mr.. Beecher
had ended reading the names or the applicants he
called upon tue seventy inexperienced persons TO
rise and 10 avow thelr acceptance OF
that covenant with God winch is the
basis o. every Christian church. rhls having
been done, ne asked snOse persons VINO had not
as yet been baptized to step out OF their pews
into the space before the platform, wnere ne would
administer the sacrament 10 them. Twenty.
seven men, women and youths responded 70 this
CALI. Mr. Beecher stood al the right SHE Of the
platform, behind low kneeling-stool. At his
right hand stood deacon or the church holding
wooden Vase. bound with SILVER Each person
TO be baptized walkeu to where Mr.. Beecner stood
aud knelt on the stool before him, while he
sprinkled his or her forehead with water and
uttered the words II Daptize thee IN tue name
0I the fatner, son and tue Holy GnOst Amen.u
When the Daptisms were done the pastor called
upon all the applicants for admission TO Plymouth
membership 70 Indicate whether o. not they
would subscribe TO II, he then calleu upon the
members Ol PlyDOuth church 10 rise IN token tnat
tLey accepted fellowship with the new comers
IHE SERMON.
Mr.. Beecher preached Tor q shorter time than
usual. HIS text was rom the fltn chapter OF St.
Pauis Epistie 70 the Epnesaas, first aud part OF
tue second verse :-"Be ye. there ore followers
OF Coo, as dear cnildren; and walk In love, as
CHRIST nath also loved us.n &C. He repeated me
text and then salu -Ihe ngure Or following may
oe drawn from any Of several sources. SOLDIER
follows MS leader, and 20 IN scripture the ngure
o. following - sometimes drawn from that fact.
30 DO scholars lOllOw their teacuers, and Ia the
oriental custom this ~ literal. But mere the
nKure ~ Drawn RON the manner VI little chill.
dren, and no image could De more Affecting or
more perfect, We are 10 follow God As little
cuidren. lie must appear TO US as a lather,
elre We cannot a. this. II We conceive
ercon, one sitting ever conscious or HIS
own purify ana demanding absolute purity from
all created beings, we cannot fOlON Him IN the
moods OF Itue children. child will follow aux.
lousy, with all the expressions OF truthful love,
KIND mother or Denlgnant father, but Will not
aud gloomy. ana 80, " We would lOA0W God as
nttle children, we must nave lain In Him as q
perfect iather. We must not tunR OF HIN az q
being enshriued Ia cnurch; ia one not rep g.
seuted by any human image We must CONCEIVE
COZ VINO is-tne centre Of
A. OCEAN or LOVE,
and move after sucn one, waking In love as we
SCIENTIFIC expeditions whlcn were sent cut rom
every ciylnzeu country 70 observe the trans,t OF
Venus. some OF tnese expeditions did not sue.
coed The weather oDscuTeo everything tney
wanted TO see from tnelr aignt aud
overtnrew tne labor OF months perhaps oil years,
i WITH others the clouds played cOquette, now 90.
securing, now discovering ths skgs ane watahAla