The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-24
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
Mn. BEEcHER ON ooNGREaAT1oNALIsM, THE


LEAVEN or CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.
Mr.. Beecher preached an interesting SER
mon TO very large congregation yes
terday morning. BE chose his topic
rom H. Timothy H.. 19--"Nevertheess the
foundation OF God stande,h sure, having this seal.
the Lord knowetn them that are his. And let
every one that nameth the name OF Christ depart
rom lnlquity.n he said lit is the nature OF truth.
as Il Is developed by human Impressions, TO
gather about 1t Instruments ana Institutes
Whenever men come into possession OF truth
they very soon have attached TO them some
dogma, some Institution or visible manifestation
Of The truth. After time men begin 10 lose sight
OF the truth and 90 worship its expression
or manifestation. Thus arises conventional
ism, conservatism and the beginning OF
new theories. SO, churches find in them
selves the elements or dlsintegration. First
comes conventionalIsm and conservatism, then
revolution and disturbance, and finally comes
sectarlanism. Sectarianism Is not the result OF
liberty, but or attempts at repression. II
church says To every one OF It's mem
bers who has q new view, or thinks he
has, eco out" it elects from 1t the COM
Uonents oil sect or OF sects. When the body is
weak 1t breaks out into bols, 40 when tne Church
is weak, II is likely 20 break up into sects. Mr..
Beecher said. alter mentioning the ways OF doubt
and the theological matters which are denied
BY many people that out OF the fact or these dis
beliefs grows the idea affecting the minds or many
other people that religion Is decayng. why, he
asserted, you might cut away religion, you might
DESTROY THE BIBLE
yet religion would not De destroyed. The funda-
mental truths upon which t rests must remain.
You might overthrow the governments OF the
world yet government would remain. you cut
grass ana 40 not pun up It's roots, it will spring
up again All fundamental truths, though
they be cut away al the top Will still llve WHAT
ever changes come ia Athens, Whatever changes
Coo stand sure They represent God,
ever present, ana the movement OF good
Beecher, after speaking OF the contests
which are maintained by scientific men against
the Christian ialth, when the science OF mind
comes 10 be studied and understood the exterior
facts OF religion VIII be proven true. In the
well not be touched. The preacher now spoke for
several minutes defining the nature or fundamen-
tai facts, and remarked that II scientific men
were 70 undertake 70 construct q iaith they
would have 10 recognize the fundamental
truths which have always been the bases OF relig-
ion. Science may take down the steepe, but
when you come TO the question, what win you
teach now, science VIII adopt the elements or
trinity but It Will certainly reach me God. Those
things which are essential 70 tine building up OF
men, TO the raising OF men 10 Jesus Christ, cannot
YoU CANNOT DO WITHOUT RELIGION
The State calls for II; art calls for IT; and the
Mr.. Beeceer went on 10 show that liberty Is con-
Ierred oy education, whtcn would result ia eyoKlng
the grand1st expressions OF faith in Cod
The preacher then referred to the propriety OF be-
nevers in an the Christian churcnes placing tnem
selves upon tie platform OF opposition 70 infldel-
ity, throwing aside their differences or beliefs
reference TO the convenuonallsms OF insti-
tuuons attaching ~ the fundamental
truth OF faith To God ana Christ. he said
during these remarks:-Ay venerable brother
Plus *. and !, why are we opposed to each
others He does not fear me and do not
lear him. so we are equal Now, that SO
much nndelty rs coming into the world.
why SHOULD not all Christian stand
together upon those truths which all can agree
uponY Let all stand together upon the fundanen-
tai elements OF truth. lie deprecated, however
the surrendenng by the Congregational churcnes
or any or the privileges which all
possess 10 any governing body He desired
that lt shall be looked 10 that Congregational SIN
does not become sectaTlanism. lie condemned
the making OF a presthood-tnat aristocracY or
tue perlod-in the Church, and the violation OF
that sense which dictated the church form 20 the
Puritan fathers. lie said that IL mad pleased God
10 give him hts birth at time when our country
was struggling Tor It's rights against Great
Britain, aud that thus ne imbDed tho
desire for liberty from his mother aud
his father, aud from the influence OF
the period OF mis- infancy Mr. Beecher concluded
his sermon by a ergent peroratlon, Its topics
being tue necessity Tor liberty of education ana
or worship, and spoke OF CongregatOnalism as
the leaven OF Christian liberty.