The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-05-20
THE PLYMOUTH PEOPLE.
PRAYERS AND SPECULATIoNs or
u-rIL- GCsANnAI.

AND HENRY c. BOWEN AND MRS. BEECHER's
DENTIsT-A MEETING WHICH BEGAN IN
eLooA AND ENDED RIGHT MERELY.
The New York Sun of Saturday reports
the Friday nights prayer meeting at Plym-
outh Church, as follows: Mr.. Beecher was
late TO prayers last evening, Iand when
Thomas G. Sherman entered the lecture
room with his handkerchief in his hand, and
saw no pastor in the velvet-cushioned arm
chair, and no flowers on the table, he un-
easily looked around for Brother Halliday,
whose illness continues. and then hurried out
Soon the geraniums and roses were put on
the table. but Mr. Beecher did not follow un-
til five minutes after his usual time; While
the great throng were awaiting him, the
bretbreu talked about Brother BoweDs tes-
timOny, and the shocking way in which he
had contradicted the pastor. The usual Joy
OF the meeting was dulled by indignation at
MIR. Bowen. One OF the members took a
seat by the sun reporter, and began to in
dignantly speak of the Suns editorial
articles, which he could not too often say
were '.senseless, p-erile, foolish, insane end
sickly." But" urged the reporter,
"Brother Bowen says that they are able"
'Oh. Bowen be d-p' "rut, tut, sir, don't
done with. / say" continued the
brother. HE told nothing that will hurt
Mr.. Beecher. He's been great bugaboo,
but now we've pulled his teeth. can tell
you that Bowen has given Mr.. Beeeher more
trouble than any other man. When Mr.
and Mrs. Bsscher came to Brooklyn Bowen
received them aud treated them well. Mrs.
Beecher wanted some new teeth, and Mrs.
Bowen sent her to this rsscally DIR. Skinner
who is suing Mr.. Beecher for the pay for the
teeth. The first pair didn't fis, and the sec
ond pair were so expensive that Mrs. Bee
.tar Il NJ fol a US &C
said that Bowen got percentage on those
teeth, but it's no good revivlDg that old
scandal. Always after that there was
GOODNESS IN THE FAMILY,
and that is all there is of the terrible Bowen
scandal" Mr.. Bsecher looked as solemn as
a sea- bluff as he toiled up the platform steps.
His sons vile took seat Just behind him,
and John Howard, the ex-brother's brother,
sat behind her. After the congregation
sang Nearer my God TO Thee" Brother
Hart prayed: "We have gone downward
some steps this last week. We have endured
hardships and suffered sorrows as we have
never done before. Fill US with Thy grace,
so that these troubles may not sffilct US"
Mr.. Beecher sang:
stFoes may hate and friends may scorn me,
Show Thy face and al is bright"
Although Mr.. Bsecher's face indicated the
most sOmbre, DARK feeling, he buoyed up,
radiant with seeming good spirits. zone of
the mistakes" he saId, (which young per
sons naturally fall into when they enter pom
a Christian life, as distinguished from a
common life of morality, is that OF imita-
ton. 1t is natural that those who are
young should look up to persons around
them who are reputed to be the most emf
nent in Christian life, and whose influence
they have most felt, and it is very natural
that, aside from any purpose OF
insensible imitation of them, and
that at last this imitation should take on the
form of duty, and the example of a single
individual should stand for a whole. Thus.
in DIR. Payson's time, it was quite natural
that persons should feel that religion re-
quired them not only to be in earnest, but
to have zeal that glowed and cOrruscated
all the time. Not only to have zeal, but to
devote themselves continually to prayer,
spending many hours sometimes in the day
in prayer, Astounding from time to time in
seasons OF fasts and of prayer, That they
should fill upOne way and another their time
with devotional services of some kind. Now
it Is not for me to say that
THESE THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT,
because we see most estimsble men tina
fulfil all these elements, and are very noble
and very fruitful, but because DR.. Paysonr
genius developed itself in that way, it does
not follow that mine shall. TO his OWL
master every man stands or falls Every
time God makes man He never make:
another like him. Every time He makes
man it is that that man may disclose TO
himself the Christ that is in him." Mr.
Beecher then drew two pictures, which de
lighted all. .Now analyze for moment,
he said: "Suppose man of a comparatively
slender build, brown hair, great blue eyes
very sensitive, nervous system. of stronl
enthusiastic emotions, who goes into rap
ture-truths stand out to him like poems
his soul is filled with thoughts most besuti
ful, but the man that sits behind him
obese; he has pale skin, his flesh hangs il
clots, he has watery eye, slow digestion; b
sleeps long and slow, and walks slow snC
long, and never understands a joke unit
everybody else is done laughing at
1laughterl; and ne sees this man 1.-THE on
just described) go off into scintillation
of religious genius, and he says
Now, miserable sinner that / an
/ never feel so, and if this is religion
then L have no religion Well, does thel
follow?" Mr.. Bescher made this though
permeate all of his talk, that all men nc
being alike, felt their religion differently
and no one standard of religion could gov
ern them all. It Is good thing to be poe
but may a man not be pretty good fsthe
a pretty good business man, a pretty goo
citizen aud not be poet? man of q col
temperament, cautious, hesitant, never ca
all the time be spends in that direction
waste time. Prayer, Mr.. Beecher cited g
being something OF birth,
SOME MEN PRAYING BY NATURE,
and delighting in it more than others. An
in the family, one person talks all day loni
and with reasonably good sense, considerin
now much there is of it, another perso
scarcely talks at all, except with the eye, bu
says as much. These things are commO
there, and is it not SO in the larger circle
Gods household? God does not keep cred
and debit account of those who pray an
the hours they pray. PRAYER is
matter of liberty. The remainder
Mr.. B5echer's talk waa a pointing OF
of two great ends worth the stri'
ing tor The primal element, is Christ
you, with you, all about you, ever preseI
with you-s relationship OF love, wisdom
power, over you a sense of Individual n
1off IN ha II