The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-11
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

ILIMOO1 O6OhOIl.
RELIGIOUS REVEALS AND MooDY's AND SANKEY'S
VISIT TO BRooKLYN-A WELCOME AND A
PROMISE OF SUPPORT TO THE GREAT REVIVAL
Isrs-sERMoN By THE REV. HENRY WARD
BEECHER
Plymouth church could well have been more
crowded than it was yesterday morning Every aisle,
all the standing places by the walls and the pulpit
steps were occupied by the throngng multitude There
were tho usual flowers upon the pulpit platform dis
semnating a refined fragrance throughout the interior
Of the church cdihce Precisely half past O'Clock
Henry Ward Beecher assembled the pulpit and took his
seat Every eye riveted upon him, but unheedng
this he began arranging the notices he was subse-
quently to read while the organst led of
with symphony, followed by the singing by
the choir of the anthem, ''Glory to
Cod and peace and good will toward men, Among
the preliminary the reading the account
in the Book OF First Kings OF how tho altar erected by
the prophets Of Baal remained unkndled while that Of
Elijah set burning by fire from heaven-c reading
into which infused dramatic style and vgor rarely
excecd or the stage and during which the dropping
pin could almost have been heard at the remotest end
of the galleries In one OF his prayers that style OF ex
preston peculiar to the great Plymouth pastor cropped
his invoking the advent of the time when nations
would to fleece another and pound each other
course "Modern Revivals," and having refer
ence particularly Mr. Beecher subsequently
explained, to the contemplated revival meetings
TO be held by Moody and Sankey in Brooklyn,
and certainly in a long time Mr.. Beecher has not
preached with more earnestncss with such fiery
thusasm and in terms more plainly spoken and yet
moro eloquent and impassioned, in this discourse
He spoke nearly hour and half and such earnest
listening, such rapt attention, such completely spell
bound audience has only occasions filed the
church The basis OF his discourse Psalm lxxxv.,
6-"wnt thou not revive US again: that thy people
may rejoice in theen
Men subject he began, to recurring periods
Of activity and rest one-thrd OF our lives is spent in
sleeping and eating The runs out and comes back
and is methodical and regular TO 30 an
object OF observation There school, sect,
philosopher who advocates working the whole twenty
four hours But in all ages left to themselves have
developed
WAVES OF FEELING
This phenomenon is universal Sometimes 1t takes
on the war spirit sometimes the peace spirit Strong
impulses are at the bottom of IT.
striking instance that shown in the passage of
scripture he had read in the opening exercises wherein
people exterminated the very prophets before whom
they had bowed down only the day before Three times
a year the jews left their homes 60 Jerusalem.
The city full OF them and environing hills were
white with their tents and green with their leafy
bowers. II was rude method to bind these
people together 1t was based upon a vital
principle upon the susceptlbltes or men TO
great waves of feeling which do rot belong to
normal conditions Single men do not develop much.
Men in combinations develop tho highest and best.
There is needed stimulating atmosphere Out of
stitutiona tendencies great nations sprung Some say
it is the result Of machinery, magnetism fanaticsm. IL
Is the growth of human nature 1t is spontaneous.
History is full Of great impulses Of whole countries.
The Crusades were great religious movements. The
viva OF letters emanaed from the development great
impulses, and society advanced in refinement il de-
veloped itself IN higher attanments In all arts The
Reformation is another instance As IL was followed
by sublime results men praise IT, he now came to
speak OF
REVEALS
There was great prejudice against religious revvals
as abnormal and unphosophcal. These popular
ments call them what you will meet the needs OF men,
No who has watched these great movements con
tinued through days, weeks and months fail TO
their benefits II ono at night stands by the ocean and
itdar out stretching itself calm placdity and
the surf Dreaming the rocks counting the sands
and in morning, waking, hears it's voice laundering
So can see society in its placid condition then
it reused by these great religious movements and
watch the progress without nsensiby feeling that he
in the presence Of jehovah. IL wonder that
these tremendous capabilities for doing good
little utilized. Undeveloped men must be restrained
by force either from within without else anarchy
ensues Monarchy keeps men mute, keeps subjected
those strong passions so dangerous 10 the State aud
the laws WnIle elections In Europe damnatory
in the medieval ages, they in America cleansing
Although it IS said that republican liberty is failure
that London is better governed than New York. and
that life and property safer in Europe than here
the fact is apparent that there great deal more
average happiness under government Our govern
has any number of faults but happiness is deve
oped with freedom This the answer, and tins The
argument This is the true test or government Every
four years we have here political revival.
NEWSPAPERS, THE BELLOWS or COUNTRY,
blow the people into heat This is part and parcel of
ono great experiment This political excitement is held
in proper check, and there is danger OF explosion
These periodical political revivals benefit the
country. As to religious revivals, say that they
tear up things that they rude and Irregular 1t is
said that IL these great movements ofGod they will
have their growth through Gods working, and DO
regulated by him. AS there mschicls connected
with these movements they will not believe they OF
God Does not the sun produce the grain and the
flower, and the poisonous shrubY Is not the earth
fruitful OF odious reptiles2 Does not the fungus
destroy crops2 There is every condition of mind
from the lowest u the highest ideal of manhood There
are the rude rugged elements to be developed IL
be done by work Butter is made by ehurnng The rock
is thrown by powder from It's bed where il il or no use
and made serviceahle Gods work is with the flint and
the hammer. II there are irregularities in religious
vivas 1t shows all the more that they are regular Of tho
bottom. The directors say that such movements are
opposed by good He has read in the paper OF tho
proposed advent of Christian gentlemen To Brook
lyn 70 open rel gious meetings These gentlemen had
Deen seceivcd with magnetic enthusiasm IN England
ana lie sails country They should give these men their
nRatiy and cordial support Brooklyn might have
700 much legislation, but u had not TOO much religon
the market guttcd with the latter commodity.
y these great movements develop the highest senses IN
the least II they develop the best part Of manhood in
the smallest degree If they to spiritual
me then they are to be encouraged 1t is said BY GER
use common phrase, they are
II Is not difficult to rdicule Them ana in fact they
nave IN them the elements of ridicule Good men, and
earnestly good men, too contend that these move
mehtS are taking Gods work out OF His hands, that
tnsy arc substituting machinery for God. Might well
sel the larfncr with bis winnowing machine, you're
taxing the WIND out Of Gods hand aud suspendng Gods
WIND they who do not SOW shall not reap. We
don't leave everything to God Don't we bring cur
caren up ana sec to y that they upS There ls
tnc motnsI sap there y the school and there the cate
chism Tho teachings Of these are not Gods INFUSION
" none the less Divine because OF mans instrument
AMY IL does not lower Gods work, but makes II
higher believe in getting up reli gious revvas;
In songs that touch the imagination and feeling; in
preaching that earges tho sphere Of thought IN doing
anything resulting In the best and highest Develop
men II rcvvals got up, they are got up as crops
are by obeyng Gods law. believe In tho Sovereignty
Of COD IN churches. ~ RewsJa prlgtad BibIea w