The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-15
PLYMOUTH PRAYER MEETING.
EDUcArIoN - RELIoIoN.


Plymouth lecture room was crowded last even
Ing. The Beecner lamliy was better represented
than ordinarily. nj ). Beecher mas not attended
the meetings Tor some time pas. and last night
she was present, with her daugnrer and son.
They, with DR.. Edward Bcecner. sat the
platform. Mr.. BeecGers table was laden with
flowers, one bouquet OF roses ana large basket
OF anemones. Dr. Edward Beecher delivered
lengthy prayer, in which lie did not forget 10
thank God that the pastor had Deen sustained
through the progress 81 The trial. After the prayer
Mr.. Beecner gave out hymn 7Sl, in the middle u
the singing Of when be stopped them, saying,
BE KIND enough 10 pay attention TO the tune;
you are eaen singing independently, and seem 70
enjoy IL very much You are making
LITTLE EpDIEs or SONG
all round the room. BE KIND enough 10 keep ons
ear 10 the piano, and keep IN tune.n
Mr.. Beecaer BEGAN MS remarks By sayinR:-.
There could pc no meaning 10 much OF the New
Testamentif the WORK OF conversion was com.
pleto transformation OF character; 50 that wnlls
before living IN ne Oh man OF sin, b. tue mercliul
providence OF GJd 4 man Is transform d instantly
intO q new anu perfect man. Tie trans ormaton
= gradua, on IL IS none IN less ne work OF tie
DIVIDE spirit because IL ~ graduEl, none the less
Important that m1R sno1ld reaensrate himself.
But n il a worS Of tie nature OF EDUCATION, and
fails uuder the law 81 education, but Is none the
less the WORK " Coz. Ise sanctlyln9 y lrr o.
God rests upoa aud influences every one or tue eX.
perIences o. the blgDer ranges Of mems faculties.
Ia the trst place. CHRISTIAN education Is more
Important tning than merely Joyful conversiOn-
Just a. muea more Important a. q ~ years OF
welded lie, IN growing naI moay. are more IMP r.
iant than tne Joyful weddlng day. The beginning
Gay i wondesiui, Dat ater an the days may grow
CLOUDY, tie iTuir o. 10 Ue bitterness. IL u an
plclous DAY Il Il DelOng 70 an auspiclous NE the
vALCg or THE BEGINSfsG DAY
Il measured by what comes amer. aud In regard
to Christian lie Ii Is wnat follows after tnat wncn
gives importance 70 the BEGINNING. ~ Is more im.
nortant tnat you should oe educated than u vas
III nt.fNf ~ FIRE
Iii tais process OF education, rememoer that you
will o. ecu ated in the situation IN when Gods
yourself Just as You are. II you say "n l were
not 80 old would change ana make new Oegln.
ning;' out you are Ola aud Jou cannot be young.
u you say III l were not 80 young aud gay !
mlgnt settle down TO religion Religion isn't
so5er; y = liberty y y lie, oTgh;ness. is are
gloomy. IL SHOWS spots where religion
mas not penetrated. II one ssys, ~
bad net such i tempcr;p 10 Is one VINO goes on
into sparkes. Well. We want sparkling Chris.
ttaus; We nave enough Gun ones u 4 no useto
say what sou would az Il you we're not what you
are. Tne qualities gwen you by God nave got 70
remain. Tue question =, "Wil you mould theln
got 10 learu nov TO De a Jhrlsuan Ia the midst Of
now to be a CHRISTIAN IA tie most Of wealth. aud
Il - har0 ID Tel wnlca - the most dl1leun. lou
are bound py WORK; your time belongs q another.
les, there are millions Of tnas Kind but
education, II Il not ~ changing your place, but
BY uslag mat place YOU nave got 20 nave
probaDmty ISL you are not Christian wnere you
are you wCu1d nos DC IN any otner place. ~ Is
CHANGING YouE CONDITIONS
but ny accepting the conditions wnere you are az
the Indication OF Gods spirit that tnere you are 70
quires selEdeBia 1t il one Of the most precious
lessons Ne can nave. Goa opens tue book ana
you You don't M want t 6at lesson; there are
not any pictures on that page. Those are
the oues YOU need most consider that educat0n
"a al va Al
compound. nom coarse to nue. Whea some souh.
try people 20 70 housekeeping they INNS thsJ
want some pictures, the man comes u town 70
sell vegetables ana goes 70 store where theY sen
pictures IKE plates, buss two aud hangs them ~
pictures. wen suppose tue man prosDers, aud
YOU take notice that pretty soon those pictures
VII slip out Of the parior and 10 into tne dining
room. Aud 10 toe course Of ten years
lie mas pecOme quite wealthy and TINS
taste mas oeen unioiding you take notice those
pictares nave gone into tue kitcnen, Anu tne par.
Tor mas some really very me ones. Ihe cnange
OF tue pictures i not nan 50 n0ticeaole as the
change Oh sentiment aud taste IN tue man. Tue
same il true as TO music. People begin by liking
ualaus, and nave 70 be educated up TO Beethoven
and Mozart ls tnis tue 81 ne emotions Or the
auecuOas Just as true as ~ anything else.
GENERALLY the beginning y christian lie
Is LARGELY NEGATIVE.
am stop tntsr an SOD tnat.w THAT is goodN
but alter . wnIle IL becomes positive, Affirmative,
aud you begin % say, ~ am going 70 De Q
rhat3 Feelings adapted 70 tne circumstances Ia
winch God mas placed Jou. But i tuere no rise
TAKE Tor instance the OF truth lis not SIMPLY
tnat you learn more ana more trutn 70 IL that the
nerve tf may so call ~ OF truth becomes 80 sen.
sltlve nat We perceive truth quickly. CHRISTIAN
that grows 10 ethical knowledge, out never enters
higher range of feeling, ~ like M aanhas-grow.
ing All sumner, ana Just getting into Dud when
tue lrost comes and cuts them down. one tong
m0re, lvoSiug At lie a. great school, should
despair " myself and 81 my ea1ldren ana o.
you II | bad the idea 10 wmoR 1 was
educated 100 much, that COO sat glerny neasuI.
ING out right and mercy and was very angry every
time stumbled or leh. There are Two sorts or
sehoolmastsfs one gets knowledge INTO pupils
bv marc whacks, another by syApstny ana kinds
ness. Wneh klnd Is G0u God looks upon maa
vita Infinite TENDERNESS aud COMPASSION ana love,
50 taat your lace De set toward Jerusalem ana
you only Walk 90 inca day, 80 tnat y0u kesp
"lnCnlng along,n God will not get cue o. patience
wtln you. SO you strive, however lMpefleotlyl
lo0K up there Is not anYoodf - sorry i0r goa
lac VINO strstcRed 0ut MS nand 70 JVM hs Wh'