New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-10
WORK OF THE DIVINE SPIRIT.

The Req Henri Ward Beecher a. Plymouth church (c0"gr9d
There was a large tlIrong at Plymouth Church
Yesterday and there seemed he deDser crowd Of per-
SONS outside even than usual The Rev. James Beecher
OF POughkeepsie was among the early corners lie
stepped up to Of the we-known ushers with whom
he was evidently acquained) and said: 81 am a
stranger here. from abroad never been here be
fore hear you have big crowds-can l get q seat :"
The reply came in tones of seeming reproach,
"Oh know you; you one OF those wicked Beech
ers suppose Wen have to put you somewhere Mr..
Beccher was given seat in the third pew from the pull
pit. Gen. T. +. Tracy and Mr.. Sherman OF MI.
Bcecher's counsel, who regular attendants at the
church, present The pastors pew was occupied by
Col Henry Beecher and wife and friends. Mrs Beecher
was not present The ove-wood stand at Mr.. Bcechers
elbow bore usual fragrant burden Of flowers There
were Gala lilies ferns, and grasses. MT Beecher
cended the platform at 1880 o'clock and after brief
prayer Of thankfuness for preservation In the past and
OF suppicatOn for Divine mercy in the future he read
from the 10th chapter Of Isaiah. The 29Gth hymn
OF the Plymouth collection was then sung. This done,
Mr.. Beecber said "The Sabbath morning following
Communion, according to the custom of the church. is
the Sabbath for the baptism Of children OF believing
parents. Such being present, they Will present
themselves" While the choir chanted the anthem Suffer
Little Children to Come unto Me- parents with children
in their arms filed in from the adjoining lectureroom
Mr. Shearman acted somewhat master OF ceremonies
and arranged them in line around the base OF the plat
form. Mr. Beecher descended from the platform. As
sistant Pastor Halliday stepped to his side
with the baptisma bowl in bis hands: They
passed down the line slowly Mr.. Beecher pro-
nouncing each child the simple sentence
the service and touching Its brow with water from the
bowl. The rite administered to fourteen children
Among the notices. Mr. Beecher announced that the Rev
eecher would occupy the Plymouth pulpit in the
evening Prayer offered and the s65th hymn sung
not the holy spirit Of God whereby o are sealed unto
the day OF redemption"
Here, as in many other places said Mr. Beecher the
OF the Divine Spirit is not much taught taken for
as IN not St an %hS
than that it Is taught here, or implied that under the
human which mostly the e or se WSy s
be dissuaded from a course OF conduct that
should geye the spirit Of Godf For long time was
cleansed from the degradation which incident to the
first and earliest thoughts OF God The human race has
learned its way, by gradual unfolding, from the
rudmentry idea The Divine intelligence up those
gandes and rsst Which exist IN our n ana be-
conceptions = God derived from The animal
n s 4 man should BE and that GSd should m
nature and yet not Himself made up Of matter and not
in which inhcre the vitality wisdom goodness. and gov
eminent of the universe In the process OF evolving
that II should be in marked contrast with doatry 10
show that He was incapable of being represented by
s9Tco we're sed the m o Of opening o
which were capable of being put into gold metal stone,
above any such representation IL became necessary 10
cleanse the Divine idea from the mpericcton the crude
meas which nhere la monarchy men saw IL, and 10
represent the God Of tho universe something better
aud nobler than the mere regning force than nd
In studying suans and kings Of Oriental lands And 40
i'll excelling disposition or In noble disposition To
represent God moral not physical not comprehensive
by visual force, and never approached by anybody
In attempting 10 exalt Him into that sphere IL nee
essary often 10 strong figures and illustrations
Of that has grown in modeP representation habit OF
presenting God To men which seems 10 overlap the
ject which undoubtedly its employers had In view, and
which In other comes u annihiating Goo
In the hope, faith and trust OF by physical repre-
sensations. For while men cannot be very much up
drawn by gross deity, while such God could be but
little service 10 mankind, II you refine con
ceptiOn Of God II you exalt His PROJECTIONS
until you have carried Him far away from the physical
and the social that you have carried Him beyond the
energies Of the human heart you would have "a God
impossible 10 love IL Is TO love problem In Euclid. IL
necessary for 10 believe that He ia holy Amid all
the myriad fluctuations and the thousand backward
setting eddies In the stream OF tme Is necessary that
should believe the great undercurent gulf stream
moving steadily out toward the OF perfectness
and lheasedness And II one represents Him rs 40
sensitive, Jealous cold selfcOnsdering ccntraLing
that IL loses all analogy " what love. y God S