The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-04-14

The N. Y. Sun of the 9Th gives an
interesting report of Henry Ward
Beecher's eloquent sermon on the 4th,
from which we extract his remarks
on the subject of death:
The closing portion of the sermon
dealt with the question Of death,
bringing the preacher home, he said,
to his text. All through the Old
Testament there was nothing said
about future rewards or punishments.
IF you obey, was the only principle.
your days shall be long in the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
IF you disobey, you shall SOW that
other men may reap: There ; was little
he died and was gathered to his faith
ers,'. was the most ordinary form of
describing death. He was not exter-
minated, but he was supposed to be in
a great twilight cavern, in state of
his kindred. He was not annihilated,
he was gathered to his fathers.
Later, the Sadducees did not believe
in any resurrection whatever They
were generally the richest and most
aristoeratic Of the Jews, and said this
world was good enough for them.
Like many men who had every luxury
they could wish for, they would not
believe anything they could not see or
hear. The other Jewish sects believ-
ed in resurrection imperfectly, but
not much was known about it until
Christ laid down his life to throw its
doors open to ALL In the language of
Christ there could not be fonnd
single uncourteous expression of death;
no bones, or dirt, or slime was spoken
of in connection with it, either by Him
or His disciples. And what is death?"
asked Mr.. Beecher, his eyes filling
with tears and his voice trembling.
Failing asleep in Jesus! Toothache
causes far more suffering; neuralgia
pain than is felt by a bird spreading
its wings and rising into the air and
the sunshine. Parting life is like the
ripe apple hanging to the bough. The
dew of the night is sufficient to dis
lodge it, and it drops to the ground.
Death, except in rare cases, brings no
suffering"
Here Mr.. Beechcr's voice trembled
so as to impede his utterance, and the
tears streamed from his eyes. His
agitation extended itself to his con-
gregation, and in all parts of the
church faces were concealed in hand
kerchiefs, and sobs were audible.
THE CONGREGATION IN TEARS.
In few seconds Mr.. Beecher went
on, and concluded his sermon thus:
who has not seen the trembling vir-
gin full of wonderment because she
was beloved. She thought her sutton
too great to love her, forgetting that
true greatness can love downward, as
Christ loves u.s. Every soul is saved
by the grace Of God. Look at the so
cial life; whether ne live or die, we
are the Lords Now Easter comes,
aad l bring handfulls of flowers to
celebrate the rising of my Lord. They
are presents to Christ" "There is
not" said Mr.. Beecher, through his
tears, "a boy who sauces me as I go
down to the ferry but l look OF him
with compassion, saying, L am not my
own, why should 1 not look upon him
as God looks upon me?' I give all
have to Christ, and now, when have
no more, I bring one last gift-myseH
Oh, Jesus! it is all have to give.
shall see my loved ones there. Those
who have many and those who have
but one friend will be reunited with
them there. Mothers. skeptical in
their early grief, lean over the body of
their child, and say, Il could bear it,
if l knew l should soon follow Let
all be comforted; when the blessed
hour of blushing Immortality arrives,
all shall be there. Mothers shall find
children, and friends shall be recog-
nixed."
By this time large portion of the
we're in tears, and Mr..
Beecher could scarcely command his
voice sufficiently to offer up a very
brief prayer.
He then said simply "Shining
Shore" and the 6rst hymn in the ap-
pendix was sung:
Ny days are gliding swiftly by,
And l., pilgrim stranger,
Would not detaiE them as they hy,
Those hours OF toll and danger;
For oh, we stand on Jordan b strand,
Our friends are passing over.
And, just before, the shining shore
We may almost discover.
The benedictiOn was pronounced.
md after several persons had pressed
onward to shake hands with Mr..
8eecher the congregation moved slow
y out.