New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-04

Immaculate Convention His theme was the sacrl-
fee of Christ In st. Johns NJ. i. Church in liar-
lem. President Foss of Wesleyan Univcrsitypreached
upon the knowledge of Christ"
CHRIST AS A PERSONAL POWER.
~, Rer Henrv Uard at Plymouth Church (Congrs
0aaOnal)
The delightfully."- clear, refreshing morning
tia, ushcred III the first Sunday service at Plymouth
Church after the long vacation days Of ease rest ana
pleasure found its counterpart IN the atmosphere OF
quiet religious enjoyment that made the calm progress
of the Sunday service seem more Ike con-
tnuaton Of Mr. Beechers ministrations than a
resumption Of the Winters duties. The same
crowded house. OVERLOOKING with a spirit OF
eager striving after seats the unbroken attention
marked the exercises OF the day, and unanimous DC
termination seemed 20 the entire congregation 10
meet the weLlOved pastor on his remittance into the
beaten path Of home religious work Tic Rev. Mr..
Halliday was prominent among those whose
weekly duty it is to dispense equal justice
to all in the selection OF good hearing
places and among his associates IN that service were
John T. Howard Charles NJ. Morton, Reuben w Ropes,
Alderman whitney. BenOni G. Carpenter, Samuel e.
Belcher Robert r. Raymond, John i. Hutchinson, Ho-
ratio c. King, publisher Of The Christian Union, and
IIenry W. Sage. Among those present in the body OF
the house were Mrs Beecher, the wife of the pastor,
Col Boecber and wife, two younger brothers,
and the Rev. Charles Beccher, lately from
Chester A. Carpenter, the foreman OF the "Iilton-
Beecler Jury" The platform was, usual handsomely
adorned with flowers of rare growth. Some OF them
were arranged in the form Of dove and placed at the
foot OF the pastors stand The members OF the fun choi
came TO their places with the noticeable change that tho
number OF gentlemen has been much diminished while
that Of the ladies increased The selections OF music
embraced Zundcls TIE Deum in nat' during which
solos by Misses and Holbrook were sung, the vet
Gran organst Zunde himself presiding at his old place
Mr. Beccher never looked more rudy and healthy
than when he stepped upon the platform, fresh from
mountain bTcczcs and exercise He looked ont over the
multitude pacidy he to make the first prayer-a
paoer unusually tender in expression and spirit He an
nounced that there would be no public service III tic
evening, OWING to slight cold which he thought 1t
prudent nurse and in consequence OF tho suddennes
Of which no had been engaged 10 take bis place lie
then offered the following tribute to tie memory OF The
Rev. DR.. PoIteOus:
One OF the most painful events OF some days has been
the untimely death of the Rev. Dr.. Porteous, man
greatly endowed with abllitles-abites which never
had reaped tcr appropriate fruit-a that excited
great expectations and he came short OF them was
rather matter OF profound sorrow IMAM OF cHeIsin
and his departure from life suddenly, an So far as
human sruncnt<y Is c9neGrhu, so HctIoSSS{{ oT
grief. lie has left household dependent upon
him for their own livelihood and am glad tnat there
win be grand vocal and instrumental concert by dls
tngushed amateurs and artists for tho beleht OF Ethe
the orphan daughter 1t win be given at the church on
the corner of Clinton ana PicrTelOht-si on lhusuaS
evening next. Tickets will be one dollar; admitting
Mr. Bcecher took his text from Romans xiv, and 8 !;
For none OF US liveth TO himself and dieth TO
himself whether live we live unto the Lord ana
whether VIC die die unto the Lord whether we live,
therefore or die. we arc the Lords"
We hear much said Mr. BeecheT OF being true to ones
self of sefcentored men, OF weblanced souls and Of
selfcontalned men, The little truth that is III these
phrases the most part shines into darkness aud
the darkness oomprehends it not" And these are
kind of cant phrases and watohwords OF
scheme OF selfish and belittling culture. Neither
strength of nature nobility Of character or herOism Of
conduct is found in who finds his center Of influence
I'm himself II is our alliance with great natural laws
is our alliance with the race It Is our alliance win GOD
that makes significant All true greatness i cehII
ugal whTlng from the center not i'm toward IT, The
ideal manhood is nature mat properly asles 10 sOihf
thing greater and better than Itself as every pint -
lieht-Secking and grows not sclfmoyed,, so every
wholesome nature reaches toward something hSner lhh
Itself some Gun, and fees upward. The law OF sen
consciousness increases in force as we go toward me
tHa ~ We marx tbS degrees of removal from the
brute creation not only by the culture ana increase Oi
mind force but by this susceptibility TO foreign nspIa-
iinn nv This scnsiby TO subtle and invisible Influences
from without, and by this power OF rejecting us energies
upon Others rather than OF absorbing them. man must
find his center outside Of himself or be like top when
spends itself III whirling around Us sn9 point lhel
lect, beauty, force-these we're tIe oll creek tny'
Now Christianity recognizes all Of them but II rGcog
nizes them az auXiialles suDolGlnte srNlig e4ieIS
higher. For there Is something gher tlan the lnGo,,
there is something higher than force there sOmethg
better than beauty The highest manhood Resides ~ az
position, and qualty ana power OF emotion are tIc
noblest elements Of character and reason ana EOw'
and eIpCTicnCo Work TO ana iOi tlat Wch II inc
essential being, namely: emotion, out or which comes
disposition Tho great apostle never t!rcd OI iil1nnS
this REGULARITY Christianity, that does not stand III
consequence OF intellect that 1t docs not stahd Dy rea
son OF poetry rhetoric, grace, nor art nor ry
nut that II has an interior and central power tiat
syringe from the inhucnce OF the DIVINE fceIlng'
The highest influence then according 10 the ruh as u Is
ia the uspel OF Christ and explained IN the ietcls OF
His disciples and apOscS-thc highest Influence IN Inc
vorlG--s pcrsOnal influence. Men are affected more
ea.y and more universally by lower influences than by
p.is nal as tie capacity for receiving is one or the great
courses of development in amy mau as eOntladlsllh-
'usbed from the brute creation, the susceptibility 10 Tie
higher forms OF mind influence gives the eHattlOh 20
man. We have had much investigation ana m9ch
lipht of truth thrown upon tho causes VI.
affect national life and character. climate
oceupaton custom, laws, government II
nowers and they do very much modify and ahect the
habits and talk and religions Of men, but person Is higher
tlan these. These more universal because they hre
easy because we are much animal ourselves, because
we live on 90 low plane that we are influenced ny ue
lower tiers Of influence that exist IN Creation But inc
higher forms Of manhood do not depend upon CUSTOM
and laws aud government and climate. IL is MOI
climate that makes pOets ana efusts nor ~ IL
the Incidental reference or influence upon lneh'
n "a not climate that makes great enthusiasm
or beroisIn. Persons have power more than anything
else We see Il in the household. What the ialher az
mother arc determines largely what the child shi 20 II
there be no influence, the child responds Dut very niue
II there he that influence so child comes up nder M
rentsI pOwer-whatever may be the thermometer what
ever may the Winter summer whatever may DC tne
the man, and though tins 10 Comparatively