New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-07-03
TIE MEETING.

TIE MEETING.
LARGE AND SYMPATHETIC AUDIENCE - Mr..
pEEcmER WARMLY GREETED - nE WEARS
THOUGHTFUL AND EARNEST AIR-HIs ADDRESS
MIR. sHEARNAN's WORDS IN SUPPORT OF THE
PASTOR AND IN CONCENTRATION.
At 10 minutes before o'clock last evening the
doors of Plymouth Church were opened and there
rnshed in such a crowd as TO ill Immediately one
half the lecture room. Every one jammed pushed,
and crowded and struggled in endeavOr to secure
a seat near the platform. In a few minutes the
seats in that portion of the all filed and
persons began to think themselves fortunate if they
secured place on setee i'll the center OF the ro0m
BY the time Mr.. Beecher arrived five minutes
before the hour of service, the middle
aises were all iled with camp stools and the side
aises were both crowded by persons standing up.
At the rear of the room the broad space running
from side to side completely filled by people
riding, while the windows at the back part Of the
apartment taken up by the faces OF those stand
ing Oh the stairs.
Among those noticed in the audience were Thomas
G. Sherman, City Missionary William Mckay. Az
sistant Pastor Halliday, II. l.. Camp, the Rev. Levi
W Hart, Horatio c. King, DR.. Talmage, Deacon
Moody, S. V. White and wife. w. Gibson and Mrs.
Bird from Montcair n j., were present. In the
seats behind Mr. Beecher were Deacon Howard,
DIR. Edward Beccher, Col. Beecher and wife.
Upon Mr.. Beecher's table were many small bOu-
aues brought in by friends from time TO tlme and
In front was a small basket of ferns and vines. On
the back part Of the table a small glass globe
containing flowers and cTickets. Mr.. Beecher hear
Ing the chirp of the crickets could not tell for some
little time whence the sound came, and on
discovering the source of it was much amused.
When Mr.. Beecher, accompanied by Mrs. Beecher-
Sorx Oh q aaf al ryed at of
the patform-camc in, it was with much difficulty
that they got to the platform As the pastor pressed
through the crowd gentleman remarked, There
Is no room here tonight for you, Sir" at which Mr..
Deecher laughed good-naturedly. AS Mr.. and Mrs.
Beecher came in full view of the audience there
@ burst of loud applause, which, subsidng for mo-
ment burst forth again with renewed vigor. Mr..
Bcecher took his seat on the platform and looked
over the audience gravely and thoughtfuy. When
be spoke his words uttered slowly and deliber-
eratey. Once in while. however, he leaned for
ward and gave greater emphasis to his words by i'll
creased rapdity Of speech. Mrs Beecher Sat by the
platform, looking very grave and intently watching
her husbands face. AS be made some humorous
comparison she would smile while the audience ill.,
dulged in loud, but not boisterOus laughter.
After the singing of the 397th Hymn, Thomas G.
Shcarman led in prayer at the request Of Nh Beecher.
In the course of his prayer he thanked God that the
pastor was to be spared to the Church for many
years to come The 3Slst Hymn was then sung,
when DR.. White, Superintendent of the MayflOwer
Mission, offered prayer He prayed that God would
bless the pastor lie had done in the past and that
lie would continually guide him. Mr.. Beecher,
after the singing of the S9sth Hymn began his talk
l do not propose, he said, to say anything to-
night on the great subject which fills all our hearts
in so far as relates myself 1t is borne i'll on me,
however 1. say something in regard to the church,
and the rather because should feel that had not
discharged the duty of love and OF justice II
/ did not, before leaving for the Summer,
speak some words that l have it III my heart
10 say And all the more because this
beloved church ia little understood and so
rasly spoken of by those who though professionally
ignorant have been volube. | do not blame those
whose professional business it is to make out the best
ease by making special pleas and for such representa-
tons of this church eloquent ignorance must be
expected 70 make. 1 do not wish to blame those
EITHER VITO know what the life of church H. and
whose neighborhood should have begotten in them
through sympathy better understanding OF the
feeling in this church.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PLYMOUTH CHURCH..
My own Judgment. unwarped bypassion or passion
ate admiration, the fruit Of long years of acqulnt
anCe is that by the blessing Of God there has been
brought together in spiritual unity and sympathy
and cooperative labor body Of men and women III
this church such is rarely paralleed. Not de-
fcient in intelligence. not deficient in worldly Wis
dom, not deficient in executive force, not deficient
in personality; the other hand remarkable
rather for distinct individualism and for Statutory
power of WILL by man. believe that this church
hered and dwelt together in unity such az hasad-
is seldom experienced i'll this world. And although
in part that unity has been the result of common
affection for the pastor that has been by no means
the Of it, the principal part of it, be-
iieve that there is as much humility, much gen.
nine personal conservation TO the Lord Jesus Christ
much earnest desire TO live holly before God as
there ever was in so large number, and that the
unity has been concentration Of this profound re-
bgious feeling. Yea, so far from this being mere
matter Of clanship unreasOning enthusiasm OF
tribe running about chief, there have been ten