The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-07-07
Beecher's Defiance.

-. A"o AeoSNAo '"on Va Vuo i y "VuVu
Chusoh in Brooklyn was densely
packed last Friday night and tho
doors wero besieged. Beeoher was
at times moody and depressed, and
again nervous and still at other
moments he rose above all restraint,
and scared into his grandest enthu.
siasm, aud stood out the stalwart
man whom so many have worshipped
The greeting they gave him would
have aroused dead man, and the
speech he mad marks flood.tide in
the mans life. Mr.. Beeoher had
talked for while on the folly of al :
lowing ones self to be harassed by
petty troubles. He mentioned tho
newspaper articles, and said how
foolish it would have been for him
to notice them. He might MS we'll
take off his clothing and roll in a
bed of thistles aud then he spoke of
his present great trouble, and inti-
mated that it came upon him in suoh
manner that he couldn't meet it
otherwise. Mr. Beeoher, although
no had remained sitting, had used Ills
arm' freely, frequently giving en-.
phasis by slapping his hands or strik-
ing the Plymouth collection volume
violently against the table. When
he had reached this point he arose,
and olasping his hands behind him ,
looked upon the audience for mo.
mont as if collecting his thoughts.
Everybody saw that something un.
usual was coming, and the exotic.
ment was painful. Mr.. Beecher took
one step forward, and was greeted
again by a thunder of appanse.
Several tin cs he tried to speake but
as often rs his lips moved tho cheer
ing began anew, and it was several
minutes before he could make him.
solf heard. He turned almost livid
in the face and his lef, hand kept up
continual nervous twitohing. Men
and women arose in their seats, hand
kerehiefs we're waved and every neck
was stretched eagerly forward. When
perfect quiet was restored Mr..
Boecher continued:
I have gone through as many
troubles in the last FIVE years as or.
dinari,y fall to the lot of any man,
and they have been troubles of ex.
aetly the kind that have been the
most adapted to annoy me. Witho 1T
the resources of religion I would
have been overwhelmed and smother.
ed by them. l am the leading
brother and the pastor Of this church.
l have gone through great trials, and
lmust have the opportunity to say
to you, as 1 would like to say private
ly aud confdentially, that God has
carried me sorely, and although 1
have gone under the wave, and have
been almost overcome, God has sus-
tained me, aud my life is for the
main part one of peace. Ny heart 10
not embitered against any living per.
son, nor is it soured in any way nor
turned against any one. Nor is
there q person do the world the
latthet of whose Shoes I would net
rejoice to unloose in the way Of my
duty. [Applause.] have no par.
tiole of bitterness in my heart toward
any one. A word more. It.has
been the aim of my life to be man
ly fellow. have gone through these
trials and have come out with
forgiveness in my heart, and whether
/ 60 up or down, I am victorious for
God IL my power, my strength, my
strong fortress, and He cares more
than man can care fol me. have,
therefore, the right to say that it ie
not in vain to follow Christ, and that
religion is more thsu sentiment or
rhapsody--that it Is good to live
by, to die by, aud to live hereafter
by. And when l preach to young
men aud maidens the Christian re.
ligion, know that it is true.
Ard now, by the gra,e Of God, I
am going to say one or two more
things. Aud frst, l look with re.
spect upon what this church has done
during and ip respect to the troubles
l have spoken Of. But I want to
say that fully and entirely accord
to every one the same liberty OF
opinion that l am accustomed to OK.
ercise myself. That every one is at
perfect liberty to think what lie likes
about me. Secondly, whatever you
may think, or what any one liz the
world may think, this world is 81
large and th1re are 80 many chances
in it, that it docs not lie with you to
do ermine my futuae. That is some
{ ing which lies between God and me
and nobody else has any vote in it.
l don't propose to be, put down by
anybody on the face of earth. TAP.
plause.] don't propose to be- put
down In any way, except as wheat is
stamped into the ground and comes
up hundred fold. [Applause.
Ono man, continued olapping, and
Mr. .Beeoher, looking annoyed, said
",rhat mans tongue is in the palm of
bis hand" There was q general
laugh, and Mr. Beeoher proceeded ::
I don't say this 'errogantly, but by
patient continuance in well-doing no
one can. be put down. ] don't care
how things, 60 with mo in this life. i
know and God knows that the work OF.
my life will 80 on until my coffin lid
Is screwed down over my dead
body. The world ia wide and will