The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-02-04

IRON coUR1 70 RRA YERS.
MI. Betthsy izS1ng His F7oek ado"f
"'' Gods Goodness.

Gods Goodness.
The great defendant went from his
brown stone residence on the Heights
ON Sunday night into the storm, and
walked along Orange street with his ju-
nior counsel, Mr., Shearman, The two
turned into the cloister way ofPlymouth
Church leading to the lecture room, and
as they neared the door frightened up
their faces. Mr.. Beecher entered with a
rush, tripped up the steps of the plat
form, tossed his slouched hat on one side
threw down his umbrella, sat down in
his chair and looked contentedly at the
one thousand persons who had gathered
His bloodshot left, eye made HIM look q
little peculiar in. the prayer meetlfg, put
the lines Of his face danced with smiles.
Brother Davis prayed that Mr. Beech
er might be with the churchln the future
to do good as he had done in the past
Charles Morton of the Bethel prayed for
the "good days" once more. "
TALhlNN Abuul h'b' ....
Mr.. Beecher who had stayed at home
from the court room in the morning to
prepare his talk, folded his cloak a little
clorer about him, and said; 4, .ai 49,.
"There is very much indeed in the
original tendencies of maus nature which
will determine the profthe derives from
the contemplation of God" The talk
continued strictly about the Divine Be
ing, Mr.. Beecher describing God the en-
bodiment of all the unfoldings ofbeauty
and all that is in life. There is danger
that our thought of God may be limited
by calling him by one name. The an
clients called him God of Light, of Sum-
mer, Of the Seasons, and by the opera.
tions of nature they were reminded OF
Him. They used historic names to des-
ignate Him, and this familiarized Him to
themselves. How incessantly the psalm
list David wound the thread of history
around the spool of God. He is the
God of Isaac, of Jacob, of Israel, and OF
the children delivered out of bondage"
"These IDEAS" said Mr.. Beecher, "do not
stir us. In intensity of feeling we prefer
to think and speak of God as our God.
If we had something more of the Orien-
tai in our natures we would have some OF
the Oriental experiences as to God in
their delightful imaginings of the Crea-
tor. But this as a custom in the church
might become unmethodical and in bad
taste. But there is no harm in the
Thoughts when alone and in the closet"
GODS NEARNEss.
Il submit to YOU" added Mr.. Beecher,
adopting phrase he has heard a hmm
dred times this week in the court room,
"if it is not more delightful to speak of
God as from experiences that come to
you in your closet and home than to be
afar off and call Him the God of the uni
verse. Suppose fatherleaned over the
deathbed of an only child and prayed,
%, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
instead of praying, oh, God of my dar-
ling girl" Mr.. Beecher continued his
talk, poking fun, in his clerical, cultured
way. at those who prayed in distress to
the omnipresent, omniscient, and ON
nipotent God, forgetting the God made
dear to them by their mothers expert
ences. He said that going abroad now,
advanced in life and well known, he APP
preciated preparations and respect paid
to him, and loved to have father and
sons shake hands with him and talk to
him; but the one he liked best was the
little fellow who would burst loose from
the nursery, climb into his lap, and tell
him of his sports and play. He liked
the liberty, and he cherished the little
fellow for it. "Now," concluded Mr.. |
Beecher, "are those as welcome who
stand afar eff and say, oh, God Of Eter-
nity,' as those who come near, lay their
heads on His bosom and say, oh, my |
Godl my God?" ?"-.----.---
DR.. White asked Mr. Beecher to ex-
plain a doctrinal poiut, and in his an
,wer Mr. Beecher said that whatever the
body hungered for it would seek, and SO
With the mind. Quakers sought Metho-
lism or the Episcopal church when they
eft their own, because they had been
starved ofthat which is positive. Other
persons seeking other churches, IL call
,ur church" said Mr.. Beecher,, "Metho-
lism raised to a cube; for here is to be
ound ardor, and in addition esthetic en-
oyment and liberty"
All of the congregation sang,
"our pathway oft is wet with tears,
"a. IL l.. -