The New York herald., 1875-10-02
BACK IN PLYMOUTH
Mr.. Beecher at Last Nights
Prayer Meeting.
& RADIANT WITH SMILES"
The Church and the Street Clicked
with His WeIcomers.

once again last evening at the Plymouth prayer meet
! ing
since the departure OF the famous preacher for hrs
regular summer vacation amid the lovely scenery and
invigorating of the White Mountains the Friday
night prayer meetings have been continued at Plymouth
church, TO be sure but they weremarvelIously tamo
affairs and illustrated most perfectly how weak and
| spiritloss thing this greatest of Ameri-
can church congregations would be should
! thcir leader be suddenly and permanently
removed from their midst Mr.. Beechers presence in
the payer meeting seems to diduse new life and vi.
taty among his parishioners, and during the entire
meeting thrills them with Joy and enthusiasm un-
speakable master OF the English language irresis
IDLY eloquent, pathetic and humorous he is at times
wont to shower upon his devoted and conhding flock
| from cups of amber what they consider tho
NECTAR sDLIcITY.
1t was not publicly announced that Mr. Beechep
would preside over the prayer meeting last evening in
the hope Of preventing a crowd but somehow the in
telligence leaked out and spread like wd6re and its
eect-he bad weather making the slightest differ
ence-began to be apparent early six O'Clock last
evening, when tho tide of humanity began setting in
IN the direction OF Plymouth church. From near and
from far, and from every point of the compass they
came, until the various streets leading to
THE GREAT MECCA
seething, hustling jostling deluge or men
and women This deluge empted itself into the church
from front and and sides and when every square
inch OF seating had been occupied then every
square inch of standing appropriated until
the asles the halls the vestibues the
the windows teemed with perspiring but patient dis
cples of Beecher II was indeed like the gathering Of
the clans.
At twenty minutes past seven Mr. Beecher, accom-
panied by his wife and son, entered the lecture room
and ebowed his way through the crowd to The plat
form and was Immediately greeted with
LOUD APPLAUSE
Notwithstanding Plymoutn's pastors hair is sveree
with the irosts of sixtywo years 1t has been long
time since he looked fresh, as vigorous and as
hearty upon this occasion His massive
face radiant with smiles, which told
moro plainly than his eloquent tongue
could do the JOY he felt being surrounded by many
faithful followers 1t will be remembered that some
three years ago Mr. Becchcr made OF the following
words:-'I admonished that the best of my years
have passed, and that my sun will 80 down. Let
1t go down to-day, tomorrow, whenever may please
God | will not ask for the lengthening out
of single day. have lived happy life. I
have been happy pastor. have loved
youN and been loved by you. l have your
children come up and walk in the ways OF life. have
gone down with hundreds to the framework laid in
the DUST believing that the spirit above We have
come through the years together
WITHOUT A QUARREL,
without break and without shaking of confidence
this blessed hour" He might have said all this
evening and il would have been truthful as three
| years ago True he does not bear the appearance
| OF whose is about 90 down,
but that he has through the twenty eight or
his pasorate without break with his congregation
shaking Of confidence their part Notwithstanding
the recent past no one who was present at Plymouth
prayer meeting last evening could possibly doubt This
congregation doubtless feels that Mr. Beechers allega-
ton made some time ago. that for twenty five years no
had mot hfQ hnt had Htrffh
simplicity and with sincerity or motive for the honor of
God and for the love that he bears to them and the
descrbable love that he bears for his country and for
humanity, is as true their existence. He
opens his mouth but his words are hung upon and
DEvouRED BY HIS CONGREGATION
| with more zest and satisfaction than can well be
imagined His word to them is law and they
tent with believing II such law is best suited their
Such confidence Is rarely to be found but mucli
to be admired and can 1t truthfuy be said it IS unde
| servedp
Mr. Bcccher opened the meeting with prayer Ho
said:-"We thank Thee for Thy faithful love- for Thy
fidelity to us, and beseech OF Thee grant more
and more daily and hourly sense of thanksgiving To
Thee Accept our thanks for the special that
Thou hast given us in the weeks past; may this yoke
| and burden be sanctifed and besccch
since Thou dost sometimes with the rod
that there may be faith that whom thou lowest thou
chasteneth' We are gathered together again whittier
shall 90? To what shall we live We pray TO be in
spired more and more with the name OF. Christ Ac-
cept our gladncss affection, sympathy. Grant
that may be of ono accord, OF mind. May this
year be fruitful
After hymn and prayer by Brother Charles Mar.
am very glad get back my parshional life and
duties II has never been burden to discharge
ministerial duty; for although there rcsponsi-
bilies and cares they such spring up con-
tact with the word rather than the relations pastor and
people sustain in religious affairs have been blessed
with vigorous constitution and generally good health
and don't suppose should need much OF vacation
from years end to years end II only had my church
duties to perform and exempt from my autumnal
catarrh but by rcsorting to the mountains ain exempt
from that, and consider it only fair return that
should so on with my pastoral duties in my vacation
| II opportunity offer. l do not think of II
matter of cquvalcnts-''if the Lord gives
SO much will give so mucho-but II
is in health and there is work he likes and the op-
portunty offers, know Of no better way Of spending
vacation than to work. | count it great privilege TO
be permitted TO preach all summer; count ii n priv
ilege to stand before congregation at any time and
the seed truth and inspire higher Conceptions OF
human life. / bear witness that my anec-
| ton for Jesus Christ as all that Is grand and
beautiful grows, and He never much the nspirs
ton OF my lie us now. l never loved Christ love
Him to-day; not, perhaps, as other do, but ia my
own way. have found out my way to the Lord and
He Is TO me the chef among ten thousand and alto
gcher lovely The life we live in the flesh, Paul says,
Is by mith but | say by love; therefore,
OF preaching good on any grand occasion
when good sermon Is expected will be sure TO
preach poor one Ny preaching does not mean N,
affection feel for God-o I'll mems souls fuli not 70
ll them with formal statements Of doctrine, but 10
sgLF-FEEpryG LAMP OF LOVE- .
Therefore IL is that | am thankful to preach in
vacation In the past summer | have been placed
under unusual rcumsanccs My audience has been
larger than is here have reason TO believe that tho
administration OF truth has not been void, and look
back TO the summer with gratitude and degree OF
satisfaction have had good deal OF pleasure out OF
NV yacation but after ALL that part OF II which has
been on the spiritual plano tho higher part re-
turno save myself the necessity OF repeating ind-
yidually-in good health sleep well, | we'll am
we'll What my capacity for work Will be the winter
will disclose; but know have appetite for preach
ing propose
40 GLORIOUS OR IRREGULAR METHOD
or measure but trust deeper insight into spiritual
| things viii be gwen
am grateful for your personal affection II know
have IT, but that which earnestly desire Is your spir
itual cooperation, and thing needu and that
personal knowledge Of Jesus Christ each Of you
is not enough that you have a churchly life and
i pcricnce. May God give this conservation, and then
let things come 90 Neither length nor breadth,
height nor DEPTH any other creature shall separate
US from the love OF God, which Is in Christ Jesus
! ROnEC DErETVEn