Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1875-09-23
From the Nc,U York SIM.
Mr.. Beecher Does Not Preach
Christianity,

FROM INC NclO OIiS 'ottN'
Mr.. Beecher Does Not Preach
Christianity.
Mr.. Beecher has been forced by
public opinion, as expressed IN a pc
tition from seventeen of his fellow
Congregational ministers, to give up
his plan for preaching on naXt Sun
day at Lake Pleasant as a bait for a
railroad manager. lie coull not
very we'll SO outrage public sentiment;
He had already in many ways and
on many occasions given great Of.
fence to the religious public, and
there was such thing as too sud
denly piling ~ the offences too high
for endurance.
His sermon of Sunday at the Twin
Mountain House is spoken of by the
telegraphic reporter as the most bril-
liant vet delivered by him at any OF
his White Mountain performances. If
We may fairly Judge by the synopsis
of it column long m the Herald OF
yesterday, it was fluent, fanclful,
imaginative presentation of an idea
often dwelt upon by preachers. 1t
was simply the amplificaton of the
thought that the Christian should
manifest his religious peace and Sc,
curity by a conversation happy and
beautiful; that lie should rather be
Joyous than ascetic, wear a beamlng
rather than sad and serious Gun
tanance.
This is all true enough. All men
are wiser when they possess their
souls in tranquility than when they
suffer themselves to fret under the
friction Of life. Still, it cannot be
called the Distinguishing mark of
Christianity that it encourages other
than devout Joy in all its believ-
ers. The underlying doctrine preach
ed by the Nazarene is seli-denial, the
modification OF The flesh to edify the
soul, he infinitely small value Of
tempo al tcompersd Nth eternal
things, conE.ant fight with the world,
the flesh, and the devil, the posses
sion cf = enthusiasm for goodness
and the Welfare OF hi; fellows SO hign
all absoyI9&g that earth eeonld5 offer
no temp Siohs f95hg enough to di-
vert theGapt soulfyom heavenly joys.
Ii is bedause Mr.. Beeclier does not
preach this sort of doctrine as the
substance of his ministry that we fail
to find high place for o., him in among
Christian ministers. The Christian
ty of the New Testament is a revolt
against the corruption which, At the
time Of its birth, was pervaslve IN
Greece and Rome. 1t was trumpet
call to men to get up out of the mlre
in which they were wallowlng, and
plant their feet on the pure, cool, and
tuncontaminated heights, to which
fasting from indulgence and Austen
ton from sensual delights would lift
them. 1t was not a religion Of the
senses. 1t was a faith to raise men
by enthusiastic contemplation Of the
serene and spotless pleasures of heav-
en- above, away from the allurlng
forms of sensual delight, which had
such charm in the eyes of the pagan.
Therefore, when we read the SEN
|
suous language Of Mr.. Beecher, where
in Christianity appears not as chaste
fasting, abstaining spirit. fearful Of
the delights of the eye and the pride
of life, but lusty figure, fond Of
meat and drink, and Of the fat things
of this world, we fail to detect that
reforming religion which was planted
by Jesus Of Nazareth. 1t was this
great Teacher who said that He came
not to bring peace but a sword. II
was not His mission to bring laugh
ter but tears-not to delight men but
to save them from the temptations o.
the flesh. So when we find minis
ter like Mr.. Beecher, in language al
fluent with figures and charged with
sensuousness, proclalming mat "wher
ever religion imprisons mans nature
it is misrepresented," we feel thai
though he may be preaching very
agreeable doctrines, yet he is moi
proclaiming Christianity. It is the
very office of tie religion of Jesus tx
teach distrust of mans nature; tt
demand that it shall be regenerated
that the thoughts, ambitions, anc
passions of the natural man shall b.
subdued and crucifed. It.would d'
exactly that-imprison maps nature
with the bonds Of heavenly aspira
tion; make its temptations seem low
and vile, and substitute for then
spiritual visions, unhampered by tn
passions which weigh down the flesh
Mr.. Beecher, in truth, preache
what comes into his head withou
much thought as to whether it i
Christianity Or no. What cares h
30 long as men listen? His teaching
is SO unfxed in a logical rule
thought or life. so purely an appea
to the emotions, that we cannot re
gard it as of essential value to mer
DEATH OF JOE CREws.-The deaf
l,NE fnt