The New York herald., 1875-08-30
A Sermon on Perfection and Chris
tian Manhood.
1.-THE GOSPEL OF GUSH" DEFINED.
Twin MOUNTAIN House, N. II.
August % 1873

this place under the great tent 10 hear the Rev Henry
Ward Beecher preach. The day was most delightful,
and all respects favorable the holding of outof-
door Nothing occurred in the least the
profit and enjoyment Of the occasion
The utmost decorum prevailed throughout the exer
cses. Those present Of the ushers who ohciated
week ago ohciated to-day, and others APP
pointed TO supply the places of such as were absent
The opening Of the regular services postponed
I'll twelve O'Clock in order accommodate those who
came from great distance in The singing,
last Sunday, was accompanied by Whites Band, and
conducted by gentleman who responded 10
Mr. Beechers request that some in the audience
who could perform the Office OF musical director
would volunteer his services The lack OF hymn books
which has been felt all previous Sabbaths when
ngous services have been held here, to-day sup
Piled through the generosity of gentleman from Bos-
ION, Who last Sunday, noticed this lack, and on
burning home caused be printed sheet containing
tome fifteen hymns selected from plymouth Colec-
tion, and sent them for gratuitous distribution
large number Of cergymen Of different denominations
and from various sections OF the country present
Among the attendants upon the services also the
following gentlemen guests of the overcrowded hotel
Hon. Galusha A. Grow, of Pennsylvania; Hon. Horace
Fairbanks, of vermont Ex-Governor W. Hendee, Of
Vermont; DR.. W. W. Hall, OF New York Frank Jones'
member OF Congress from New Hampshire, and Judge
Donohue and d. C. Wilcox, OF New York
WHAT IS sINGISGS
Preliminary TO the stated services OF the morning
hymn sung while the audience waiting for
the arrival of the Portland During the singing
Df this hymn Mr.. Beecher approached and quietly
spoken by of the ushers and this incident gave
him opportunity of teaching much needed lesson,
which he improved by making the following remarks
the close Of the singing What is singing in pub
lie worships About one-half the people think that
II is noise up all the little things that be
done before the church proceeds and the preach
ing begins therefore they interrupt the exercises if at
all, at the point where a hymn is being sung
Now, hymn is very often either the
preston Of profound tender feelings, it is
address made direct to God and because you sing
prayer it is not less prayer than it would be if you
recited it. What would you think if had my tail
pulled right in the middle of a prayer and told
that that window ought be lowered that the draugh
coming in and that somebody was in danger of
taking cold, and what would you think If | we're
stop and tell the sexton to shut down that window and
then go on with my prayer If you examine you will
find that seldom Is prayer vital, spiritual
hymns and yet who is there that does think that If
any little thing needs be fixed the time it is
when the congregation is singing9 will read one or
two stanzas of hymn by way of fixing this in
your memory
Watching invisible Judging unheard;
Give TO peace, in our time, o Lord
'wont you ask the sexton If he will be kind enough
20 turn that dog OF the galleryf He is paguing
people up there" The hymn goes on
God the allnercfnl me earth hath forsaksn
Let not Thy wrath in its terror awaken,
Give TO pardon and peace, o Lord.
"Dont forget to take up collection just before the
begins; it is great deal better that it should be
done then than afterward "
Then the minister goes back again to his solemn ad-
dress to God. This may seem an extraordinary case
1t Although our own people at home are trained
more than people generally to regard hymn as a
devout part OF public worship-an address TO God a
seeking of HIS presence-lt Is freouentIv interrnted
by circumstances more malaprOpOs than those which
have related YOU and make these remarks that you
may carry home 10 your several churches feeling that
singing Is not noise amusement nor a I'll up.
but real exercise Of public service, in which all the
audience and the minister should take part car
nesty and solemny than any other portion and that
therefore II should be revcrently attended TO.
SOCIAL CHURCH
He also took occasion TO say while the people that
came by the train were being seated that he thought
social feeling ought to be encouraged church. and he
did not like to see people sat perfectly still in the
gregation before the time for service TO begin He
liked 10 them act like human beings and talk with
each other If they had anything to say He believed
th gehla intercourse was emnently predispOsing 10
religious feeling and he disliked TO animate mum
mics sitting IN rows waiting tor the service to COM
mence, and acting as though they saw anybody
before in their lives kindly, genial social feeling Is
acceptable to God and prepares you approach Him
He is a father. You TO act like children and | do
not think dozen children er together i've minutes
without talking
SERVICE.
The regular service now began with the singing Of the
hymn commencing
Your harps, ye trembling saints
Tnen followed the first prayer which throughout
breaihed spirit Of devout thankfulnes TO God for per
petual and boundless mercies
Another hymn, commencing
Come ye that love the Lord
sung, after which the sermon was preached from
Matthew, ", 4s:-"Be ye therefore perfect even as
your Father which Is in heaven is perfect" d"
He by yfp0.- -fe Iafy wb,r
taon TO perfection or is It an exhoraton to particular
mode becoming perfecty THIS passage used In the
sense IN which the term perfection has used
among many Christians namely-to signify the rising OF
men INTO state in which they perfect peace with
God II IS used TO signify particular condition ofbenevo
ence that condition OF benevoence which character
istic OF God, and which, If TO be his children
must be characteristic OF us The passages immedi-
atey preceding the text he said exhortaton
The subject Of relations OF temper and feeling
fellow men. he read these passages and
mehIeu on them, explaining their relation to
Tie subject Of the text on OF them.
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you do
good TO them thas hate you, and pray fer them which
aespiLeiully you and persccute you.n He said
more people had made shipwreck and we're in
sanger Of osing Their souls ON this than on any other
part of tho Bible. said he, THE whole shore along
here s thick with the wrecks Of men" Returning to
.he 'eht ana repeating he proceeded TO explain how
we are 10 be perfect In accordance with that com
mand he said by the temper Of divine benevolencc by
the heart Of Cod lie holds the warning races
together, and 50 is beiug built up that coming
heaven and new earth in which is dwell righteous
ness, and thus you 10 be approved children Of God
Men are exhortcd by The Master perfect given
direction
WHAT PERFECTION SUGGESTS
feriecuoE suggests what we call character Of
Lhal cOnuluon 10 which training whether conscious
UNCONSCIOUS brings the whole Of a mans faculties.
what mans Character is usually depends on the
bra OF dominant faculty 10 him. There but one faculty
around about which any man afford 10 form his
shaacer and that IS The great warming radating cen
Ire Of benevolence The end aud aim OF the
Dld Testament was righteousness or rightness OF
me- the end aud aim OF the Gospel the formation in
men OF characters that shall affiliate them To God and
make them Ike Him The tho
personal teaching for men to become like God The
thirteenth chapter Of First Corinthians wonderful
description In which doctrine is largely absent in
which the central element Of Christian experience Is set
forth In coors that never from any other palette
except that Of the Apostle Paul there shows that
love the great foundation principle Of the universe
The whole apparatus Of The Gospel The whole gracious