The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-29
SaDctuaries Of Every Creed Radiant with
Flowers aud Vocal with Joyous Music.
IMPRESSIVE RELIGIOUS RITES.
Thronging Thousands Join in Echoing Hal
euahs and in Thankful Prayer
THE TRIUMPH OVER DEATH.
Christendom Rejoicing Over the Miracle Which
Prefgures the Life Beyond the Grave.

Christendom Rejoicing Over the Miracle Which
Prefgures the Life Beyond the Grave
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
M. BEEcHER ON OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST AS
NECESSITY TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF RE-
LIGIoUs TRUTH.
Plymouth church was crowded with people yes.
terday morning even earlier than 1t usually s,
and those strangers who sought to enter 1t late
we're disappointed. Every available seat and
avery position In the alsles were occupied before
Ihe opening anthem was sung. The appearance
b( the interior OF the church was very striking. In
the upper gallery peoples heads rose In tiers I'M
til almost at the ceiling. The Moral decorations Of
the platform whereon Mr.. Beecner stood may be
termed magnificent and they were the more at.
tractive as they were not proiuse. The Mowers
we're sympathetically arranged, 80 that
while the the gorgeous crimson OF some
Of them attracted the eye quickly 1t
aid not glare upon the visual orb" being toned
down by the while, blue and green OF lilies, vio-
let's and ferns and trailing vines At the right side
Of the platform was bouquet OF orchids, Japanese
lilies, ferns and smllax rising out OF tall coum-
mar vase OF glass. whose base was set in lerns 1t
had not the wealth OF color which shone from the
nowers on the other SIDE OF the patform-some
large and gorgeous tropical plants ana passion
lowers IN combination with whlte-breasted Gala
lilies and green clematIs. 1t was more modest,
aud exhaled humility, grace, peace. The bouquets
expressed the differences OF artistic feeling. There
was between them the same difference that ex-
lists between genre picture, a study Of some cool
messy dell, into which the sunlight breaks
through tree branches, and whose sward the wild
violet and small white flowers dot tmidly with
soor and light and bold painting Of wide
tropical scene, in which there is continual ba.
Eonry. Looking at the modester bouquet, held In
the loug-stemmed glass vase, one could easily be-.
ueve thar the silent 1rostn had tried last week
To mock in stem and spray, and leaf and flower, 49,
lho growths OF summer
that it had essayed 70 produce crystal palm tree,
but had been checked by spring when 1t had only
wrought the stem, and that some artistic SOUL
finding this, had completed the tree Win "a shear
OF plumes, like leaves" but, forgetting the orig.
nal intention, had atterward placed among the
leaves some beautiful but irrelevant flowers.
The anthem with which the services were
opened was an Easter composition, the refrain OF
which was Halelujah. There were four solo parts
In II, and they were ali rendered finely by Miss
Lasar, soprano; Miss Dunphy, contralto; Mr. Rill.
tenor, and Mr.. Camp, baritone Mr.. Beecher
prayed fervently for q long time, ana then gave
out hymn, which being sung, he announced that
the annual collection would De made Tor the bene.
ut OF the American missionary ASSOCIATION. In
speaking OF this institution he SAID that 1t
IS not the same as the American Board,
though, like the latter, 1t makes some mis-.
sonary efforts In foreign countries He then
adverted to the cause Tor the organization OF the
American Missionary Association before the war.
Then none OF the organizations Tor missionary
effort dared to aid the slaves with religious
knowledge; they cared not distribute Bibles
among the 10000 men aud women ensaved be-
cause OF the opposition OF the southern people,
VINO feared the dlsse mlnatlon OF any learning
among their slaves. Tue association now minis
his n
this Continent-3, 900, 900 emancpated men and
women, Chinese and others. Continuing his re-
MARKS MI. Beecler sald:-lt Is Impossible to
equalize men without educating their minds
equally and their hearts. one school house IN the
nave given the negroes knowledge and mOrallsy
gou Will nave done away with the need OF armies
Ia tue South. Legislation cannot 90 good Tor the
people II 1t Is not supplemented wltnlearning and
morality.
teenth chapter vi Jonu, from the niteentn to the
seventeenth verse Inclusive-'If We love me keep
my commandments, ana Will pray the Father,
and He sGatl give you notner Comforter, tnat de
may aolde with you forever, even the spirit OF
truth, whom the world cannot receive; because 1t
aeetn him not nor knoTeth nlm; but you shall
know HIM, because he shall aOloe WIN you aud
snail be IN you" He SAID For a long PERIOD in
the Church the question OF the nature and rela-
lions o. Christ has subject OF investigation;
and there IS con roversy sun gong on as to
vnsse cn1s' a Sas ove or w o fne
lis Christianity. as the outcome OF Christ,
trueY" Now suomlt to you that while there Is
much room Tor historical inquiry into the occur
rences of the time of the lie OF Christ, the TACT OF
HIS Ille can only be determined oy adherence TO
HIS commands and by observation OF the enects (
such adherence. 1t Is Tor tnls purpose that
have selected my teXt-"Keep my command.
become luminous. Morality Will tnen throw light
INTO toe darkest corners, 1t Is by the tuition or
the SOUL In Keeping the commandments OF Christ,
thaL man attans 10 mastery over the lower
attributes OF human nature. 1T Is thus that CHRIST
proven to be divine and also historical. Alier
illustrating the relations OF Christ 70 the soul Mr..
beecher SAID IL never believed tnat Christ
should come with thunder and lightning,
with banners and with loud sounds OF mu.
ucal instruments. He came IN ODscurlty and
He went through His lie without secretary, with
out'a reporter uaugnter any scribe 10
Sell, except the words on the sand, and every
thing relating to HIS acts ana lie was ned IN So
luton by memory unul after He was gone from
the earth. He seems to have nOated through the
world. He never appealed to class Tor popu.
have been hungry like you" in order TO evoke
their good WIN. lie never declared HIS patriotism,
nor avOwed Himself TO be the
CHAMPION OF THE woRKINGMEN.
he commenced HIMSELF, bat asked that all
should put lalth IN Him ana do as lie Dade. liz was
the harmony and perfect conpruity OF everything
IN HIM with wnIch lie appeaed TO the people. lie
had 10 school o. philosophy Himse! making It's
centre. Yet lie, with His example and commands.
with me power OF perfect latn IN linn, ana result.
ing from obedience To hlm that lie over
0sopny, aud wrought sucn changes in tue
world as are evihceu by the existence Of Chris
tanlty. CHRIST ala not bring moranty INTO the
before lie came. MT. Beecher now went on To
explain morality, from wlcn explanation lie con-
unued to discuss justlee. Upon the latter topic
he SAID :--lne common Mea o. justice Is 10 inlilct
penalty Tor wrong. There never VIII be true JUS
great moral I i intsle made oy hatred OF sn II
Is by love OF good tnat sucn an intellect IS made.
we get the present common idea oil justice nom
tue Romans, who considered the state Oh more
importance than The peoptc wno composed It,
lheJ used the state to crush individuals, as tue
people OF India USE the car OF Jugserhaut. be-
HeVe ID the state, nut oeiIeve III sous bcneFe
~ justice Dut not IN leonlne justice. Il oeneve IN
the Juslicc Oh The heart, not IA tnat OF the paw.
otlI, Nould not reject rom the word us resent
luca Oh lusuce, fudtme mary though IL Is. cong
ON 10 Illustrate now adherence TO Chrl,t's cOm-
mandmenls develop the true tuea OF justice,
whlch ne cohsueied 10 nave an aesthetic char
acter, Mr Beecuer eouceo the proposition tlat
christianity develops aesthetic ieeling IN every
ueefee-in the ngnest degree IN communities
Wnicd IOUoW Christian precepts most devOutly. In
the course OF ms remarks on TINS topic ne SAID