New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-19
Mr.. BEECHER'S TALK.
OBTRUsIvENESs IN RELIGION.

YNCH IN THE SPIRITUAL AFFAIRS OF OTHERS
WISE SYMPATHY TO BE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
1IoNAL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN GIVING
ADVICE REBUKED
The attendance at Plymouth Church last
evening was large. Mr. and Mrs. Beecher entered the
lcctureroom a few minutes before Mrs. Beecher
taking a seat by Mrs Harriet Beecher Stowe, almost
directly In front Of the platform Mr. Beecher instead
Of entering at his discourse, used text
This was unusual, aud created some surprise
the usual singing and prayers by Charles Morton
and Hr Halliday, Mr. Beecher took his text from John
XXI 90 Then Peter, turning about seec:h the disciple
whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his
breast nj supper aud sad Lord, which Ia he that be
trayeth Theer Peter seeing him. saith to Jesus, Lord
and what shall this dor Jesus saith unto him. III
I will that he tarry till 1 come, what is that to theef
Follow thou me-"
Both Peter and John Mr. Beecher said were passion
ate men by nature there is great difference
between passionate Some men are very modest anu
Delicate and some men are very blind and without re-
,trainng decaey. John sensitive and pretninenty
disturbed suppose, by want OF delcacy In speaking
of himself, he says that the man whom Peter ga"
was the man who lay the bosom OF Jesus;
instead of saying as Peter would 81 am Peter" he
docs not mention his name. But Peter, all through
his life, characterized by meddins familiarity; nc
Addressed Jesus all the way through. He did Mt hesitate
s oil To rebuke his Master when lie did MT like what lie
sad lie did mt hesitate TO break in and give MS ADVICE
before IL was wanted asked He was dealing IN
almost everything. Well meaning kind enough but
realous in every measure, he pumped into mat
ters without the slightest discretion and seemed
sstonisbei that people were disturbed when they
found him meddlng in their affairs And so here me-
After Christs words busng about sees John and says
"we Lord what shah tins man Ts d 10 as wa' wSatcye
he saw, he thought he had rght TO y, tnK ABOUT "'
You have seen Just such people. They don't intend
harm. They Just like hes He is most fam ai ~
Won give him slap he will come back with the most
seeming unconcern lAngh,er inerg a intend vel
slways seak and always purpose to do wen, but they
are continually telling others what they oagnt NC
and s1 they we're edT HcneG or to epd peoples
business than their own There is nothing so % oDr
or five other qualities. You hnd persons loving one
snO'ssr who eS sEsee' Now there is duty in
life OF care and keeping. OF warning ,hs
Won arr NOT 10 be continually attending other peoples
business You are not to be in continual worry Iol
children dearly yet she always worrying about
Mary John, II II is not Mary or John IT'S william
somebody elset Now it would be very stihse 70 b say
that had any right to interfere but you Should nave
wholesome regard for those whom You aU ben PETER
said Lord, what shall this man dor Wnal Is that 10
you saith 'f Sa Sss aTus Enowdee Of God through
the Lord Jesus Christi That duty has It's limits us proper
let us look at it its form first Everybody orthodox
everybody and the Is I er OF o1 e
iSed' not simply to let their light of doctrine shine
,mne Than yonr personal gt-but every sect charges
itself with the sovereign duty OF charging Othcrs ana
feeling very anxious about them. The Protestant is
snros about The Roman Catholic and our Roman Cath
Ole take in great deal of anxiety for us Prot
esan so the Calvin s and the Armenans one feels
very anxious for the other The New Schools are very
anxious in al churches about the Old Schools They
are fn as and fret fully much over the New
Schools that are f Ss ofbs Re And so YOU viii
ind the village, with few exceptions here ana 'ea
ss a p minister 81 Ts do lord what Shall Become Of
The others all answering right back, " LORD, what
what is that to youi | never gave him to
you You are not his master am 1e Gn GTaTy
one sandeth faeth" do not say that ohc minister
n mo- not do nrusiyey You have no right force
yourself upon HIM All this fighting OF sect agans, sect
t1rrst Of doctrine. Then soe how much unnecessary
pans and anxetes take in those relations they are
snxeties and blesses them. But they are the exceI
tons; they are occasional ana ordnary nts ao no,
friends; and although there are certain duties when
eVT can svmpathize with those Who have depths Of
perence that they communicate to any but God.
. as O. are those sspeI VSHs that to the old
patriarchs experiences 100 solemn d even 10 , OF
sarthVeyen between fathers and mothers and friends
dearly Trusted o MdSs may n hs ST s hcy Di
ordinary and don't properly speaking, oe%ns TO US
Sometimes prompted by feelings, apparently allied 10
these snch az and persuasion which
found the feelings that prompt these with those other
solemn feelings which IT is peculiarly our ght 10 reserve
from all human intruders II we open mission school
for example and children come In, and adults perhaps,
a. ven as your duty this instance to examine and in
sre you must not forget the extent to which you
may proceed This does not give You the privilege OF aus
regarding all those sacred elements OF personality upon
which you should never encroaeh. -. .,...,...
as those upon which the Christian sometimes secretly
hi arnan ehO Ia
give all my THOUGHTS and feelings TO hInn'9 nose
sone-I should the intrusion, and No. Sir
is my privilege 10 hide these sacred thoughts with
principle is carried TO this apparent extreme so that be-
tween the nearest relatives this Kind OF secret is Kept
the closest My child TO you and your child comes to
pour out OF the deepest secrets OF his heart
They will say my father or mother may DC ,e Se, h nan
the is PLAIN II that door OF secrecy once
and viii insist on taking from you that which cannot by
any possibility be restored that which should be IN n-
violate portion Of your personality, and which no one
can lose without harming himself.
How closely allied 10 the violation OF this sacred prin-
ciple custom of some good ntermeddiDg people
who always thrustng their religion on every body
maiden and say, how do you feel on such and such
subject of religion" and 81 think yon should
kind; 1t violates every principle OF good and good
taste. II parent or guardian TO these persons, il
does not approve Of any Of this kind Of intrusion have
always made II rule never 10 thrust the subject OF re-
] talk plainly, and in my lectureroom, but you might
travel with from mere over the Atlantic ocean, ana
did wish il would never In reduce the sub
fct to you What would you think OF a doctor who
II when he met you in the feIry-boat or street car
should pull his medicine ard say, Here take little
this; it will do you good" laughter or OF lawyer
who was always interfering IN his neghboTs business
and giving advice uDsolicedi or merchant who would
be constantly talking people about how they should
conduct businessi Would these be considered
wiser and would the world be any better for their con
self
But don't misunderstood In speaking of the sacred
rights of personality, don't mean TO exclude that synpa
thy Of soul which is pleasant and agreeable. Ibeleve
there feeling grateful than the wise sympathy
Of human soul But 1t takes inspiration almost tohnow
ND hnxyf aha IA fifa