The Portland daily press., 1875-04-06
Our New York Letter.
The Plymouth Pastor and Congregation
MIR. Beecher ON the stand-An Expected
Triu mph.
NEW YORK, April 5, 1875.

NEW YORK, April ., 1875.
The absorbing topic of conversation is the
appearance of Mr.. Beecher on the witness
stand. Accustomed as he has been for forty
years to address great audiences and to evoke
their smiles or tears at his pleasure, he never
spoke to such numbers, nor with such match
less eloquence before. The little court room
packel to its utmost capacity will scarcely hold
eight hundred people, but what was uttered in
their hearing has been read since by millions.
Autobiography is almost always interesting
There is no life so uneventful that the record
of it, cleverly rendered, will prove wholly un-
attractive. But it is captivating to follow the
career of one of the greatest of living men, as
recited by himself, from childhood to old age,
to trace his progress step by step, to watch his
growth, to think of him as ruddy schoolboy,
brmful of mischief and fun-a callow fresh
man, falling desperately in love before his
beard had begun to sprout-a young preacher
with small congregation and an infnitesimal
salary-to mark the beginning of his ascent to
the temple of fame in the "calP' to Indianap-
oils and eight hundred a year-his subsequent
transfer to Brooklyn. where for nearly twenty
eight years he has been steadily rising in celeb
rity and favor, it being universally conceded
that he is without peer in his profession.
The work he has done in that time has been
prodigious. Besides his incessant pulpit min
strations he has been occupied as author, edi
tor, contributor, lecturer, political orator and
farmer. He is as remarkable for his versatility
as for his brilliancy or his originality. He nev-
er repeats himself never makes failure, new
er tires an audience. The people who have at
tended his church the longest are among the
most intent listeners to his words. Like most
Injuries worship in Plymouth church is expen-
sive. An eligible seat costs for each service
about three dollars independently of the col
lections which are very large. But there never
is so much as slip unlet the demand being
always greatly in excess of the supply. have
q neighbor whose dwelling is fully four miles
from the church, but be never fails TO be there
of Sunday morning, without regard to the
weather. The congregation is highly intelli-
gent one. Many of the abest merchants Of
New York belong to il. 1t embraces leading
gentlemen of the learned professions, and the
impression we get by survey of it is that it
is mainly composed of thrifty, sensible, prac-
tical and we'll to do people. without bit of
nonsense about them. A contrary idea know
has gained ground, based upon some of the lit
erature of the scandal which was decidedly
sickly in its fabby sentimentalism, but it is
altogether mistake. 1t would not be an easy
thing to find in any body of equal mum.
bers more solid, substantial matter-offact
people with a hearty appreciation of the
value of good bank account and shrewd fac
ulty for getting and keeping their share of this
worlds goods. They are not so completely en-
crossed in preparations for future state that
they neglect any opportunity to improve their
present condition. No spirit of ascetieism
hinders them from participating actively in the
pursuits and enjoyments of this mundane
sphere. A majority of them are natives of
New England, and inherit that disposition to
blend mental culture with physical activity
which is pre-eminently characteristic OF the
Yankees. But they do not gush, and are not
transcendental and they express their views III
plain English and very intelligently.
That they are capable ofintense feeling has
been shown by the depth ct their sympathy
with their pastor in the Christening sorrow
which has clouded his life The reverence
trustfulpess, tenderness they feel towards hims
are manifested in a variety of ways. The 9TH
er day when as many of them as could gain in
rress. were sitting in the court room listening
to his recital of his personal history, and when
in answer to the momentous question about his
relations with the plaintiffs wife be rang out
the words "never, no, never" their peut up
emotions found vent in a tremendous round of
applause. They couldn't repress it. 1t was an
involuntary outburst typical alike of their faith
in and love for their spiritual guide.