The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-07-03
Plymouth Church Meeting.
What Beecher Said Before Taking
Vacation.

NEW YORK, July 2.--The Plymouth
Lecture Room was crowded to excess this
evening by brethren Of the church. On
1 the platform were seated the deacons Of
the church and Mr.. Beecher's son and the
latters wife. A small table on the
platform was loaded down with
floral boQuets. When Mr.. Beecher
entered he was received with loud
applause. After hymn had been sung,
brother Shcarmantled in prayer. He
thanked God that when the bitter cup
was presented to their beloved pastor,
they were able to partake of it with him.
After the congregation had sung another
! hymn, DR.. White prayed at the request Of
Mr.. Bcecher Throughout this prayer
the latter sat with his elbow resting on
! the table, and his face buried IN his hands.
Another hymn followed, after which Mr..
Beecher, Etill retaining his seat, began
his talk by stating that he did not propose
to say anything about that which touched
all their hearts concerning himself, but
that he would speak about the church,
and before leaving for the summer he
/ would say some words to them which
were in his heart. There had been said
good many things about this church by
| persons who were ignorant Of its work
ingS. His own judgment, unwarped by
passion, was the fruit of years of ac-
Quaintance. With il was it that by the
blessing of God there had been brought
into cooperation by labor in this church,
a body of people such as has rarely been
paralleled; not defined in wisdom
| but remarkable for individualism.
As church it had dwelt
in unity which had been the
result of a..religious feeling. In referring
to the late trial through which the church
had passed. Mr.. Bcecher said he thank
eli his audience for their patience and
consideration. Without any concerted
action this church had stood for two
years with universal sympathy for their
chosen head and pastor, and what they
had done was spontaneous and not order
ed. This unity Of the church in sorrow
and atllictlon tor two years, was not from
any arrangement between parties, but
the indwelling spirit of God; they had
passed through the Red sea, like the
children of Isreal, end were now on the
other side, and the wheels of Pharoah's
chariots they could now see sticking IN
the mud. Laughter.
The speaker deprecated the alterations
! between households and invoked them
not to break up the harmony of the
| Church. Of all the saints he knew OF, the
] 81 mt
| Shimei There were enough of these
in the editorial chairs aud the pulpits.
God had not baptised him for
nothing, but was preparing him for a
work, though he did not yet know what
it was. They were being consecrated
for great mission and God had COM
forted them by the way. He fcltthat this
Church was consecrated for some
great work, aud they we're, 70 be
and make holiness not a myth, not Il
poem, but II reality. Let them therefore
rejoice, AS God was leading them step by
step to Zion. With these words Mr..
Beecher concluded, and
Mr.. shearman Arose and Said
that had, ,been, for twelve months, victim
of tho policy of silence, since that even
ing the 18th of June, when he had Az
interview with Benz. +. Tracy, man
who was a. high above those who at
tackled him, as heaven above earth. Since
that time they had gone on until they
| had won the victory. Aye, emphatically
declared the speaker, and it was a yicto.
ry. Referring to the prosecutions Of the
| church, he said he blessed the Lord for
them, and then dwelling for moment
on the letters of Mr.. Beecher, pro-
duced at the late trial, he said
! that let the outside world
/ say what it would, he looked on those
letters as the proudcst feature of Mr..
Beechers case. lie would have consid-
| cred him (Beecher) eur and hound if
be had not expressed penitencc when he
learned that he had alienated wife from
her husband, and he would have dcs-
pised Mr.. Beecher had he acted other
wise. He was sorry if he himself
had spoken evil of any man, but he could
not help it, and nov that their pastor
was so soon to leave he hoped that they
would join him in pledging Mr.. Beecher
their fidelity, and God helping them they
would never leave him; no voice uttered
from the press or pulpit could make them
leave him, and ten thousand juries could
not make them doubt his word; they
would go through with him to the end,
whatever that might be. "To quote from
the Scriptures" said Mr.. Shearman, i
will 90 where thou goest; live where thou
livest; thy people shall be my people, and
thy God my God. will die when thou
dielt, and where thou art buried there
shall | be buried also
A. Mr. Shearman concluded tears
stood in his eyes and in the eyes of those
about him, while his voice grew husky.
/ Mr.. Beecher then pronounced the bene.
dicton, and the audience dispersed.