Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-02-02
wHAf BEECHER sA7
ABOUT ET.
SAYS

readers about the Beecher case, tuI
it is a most important one, and Ll
is certainly the most remarkable
and in many respects, the mightiest
preacher now in the world. We
clip from the n. 7. TRIBUNE, his
remarks before his congregation, at
the last weeks Prayer meeting.
FED News. J
Mr.. Bcecher afterwards began his
Neekly talk. Starting with low
voice, evidently much affected, and
amid profound silence, he spoke as
follows:
really wish that [ could say to
night what I want to say. but | sup
pose it you'd not be proper. l think
1t worth while; of course, to have
public opinions such as TO bring you
acre to church, and to fill the lecture
ro NJ full is Il very desirable thing cn
many acCO :ntS, but when it takes
away all privacy, when under the
most extraordinary emergencies as
man and as "a church The pastor can
not say word to his church, it j.,
hard. | am placed nOw il a positions
before the pcblic which may be called
new ordination, a laying on of
hands, | suppose.
| have great many things that ohght
to be said to the church, and | should
be very glad if could say few OF
them without having them published
IN the newspapers; because if they
were there everybody would say il
was with design that I sail them
We'll, | hEve 30 design at all, In
the first pace, | have this repugauce,
while | love you aud an loved 10y you.
and prize your sympathy and your
constancy as beyond all rr.ce. vet
at tie same time | shrink from the
manifest ttion Of il: | especially
feel, II | can express my sell so as
not to be misunderstood, that | can
not endure to stand as n kind of post
around which all the morning glnriss
in the garden are twining. That is,
[ don't want to be put in such n sense
OF sympathy of thoueht and feeling.
| have no especial desire for this
kind of heroism. On the other
hand, | don't need it. That is to
say, as soon as | know that I have it
Laughter There are a great many
things in this wcrld that we don't
value much when we have them. ;. it is
only when we don'G have them that
we miss them. Now. | should feel
very bad If thought my friends and
the church were standing cold through
all this trouble, l know that they
are not, ard dread the tide of
church lie swelling around me, II
there is anything in the world that
the church life should swell around it
is God, it is Christ
Althouh it is very natural when my
and character arc at stake I
it is natural that you should show
your concern = there is a higher thing
than that, and it is my desire that
\ ou should rise and stand on higher
plane and in a higher mood. You
can do it very easily and safely. TO,
| do assure you that il stead of being
a suffering Creature every day | am
probably the haPpiest man in the
whole connection Great applause T
[ had rather you wouldn't do thar, :
[ had rather you wouldn't, for al
though l speak very fully to you
speak cut of my own experience and |
very deeply, and the applause rather
Jars | have rolled off my burden, |
am IN the house of Cod and I an
Just certain III safety in the hands of |
God. do not give it any lover an
Dlication, but | am bidden in His |
pavilion. | am surrounded by His
peace, and have got back, through |
storms and trouble, the simplicity and |
oy which belonged to me many years
lgO. Ny thought and souls feeling |
les over the cloud it is the result
,ot so much of any visible and !
external thing as that | am sure | am
by the mind of my God
| live in Him ard He lives in me, and |
lie gives me the pr missed peace. So
.hen L don't need you, and then You
ire ID great tempta Ion of kind OF
owing aud sympathizing idoIatry for
our pastor, aud of Standing aroaud
four pas.or until by aud by there
won't be any Jesus CHRIST among you.
,ut there will De yQRF,. pastor alone.
md that is Just the worst thing for
ne. As have de ired by my trou-
Die to be lifted above the possibility
II the trouble. that is to be lifted 10 o
.uch a commui ion with God. such an
llligance with Christ as that should
ook upon everything from the stand
,oint OF the heavenly. So [ am desir-
,us that your sympathy in this mo-
nent should lit. you in'O very nuch
he same state of mind, a spiritual