New-York tribune., 1876-10-30
MR.. BGEcHlEs SUNDAY MA7IyEE.

EAGERNEss OF CrNTENNIAL VISITORS TO HEAR THE
PLYMOUTH PREACHER TnEO&Gs wITHiS AND
WITHOUT THE CHURCH.
Yesterday was the last Sunday under the
generous arrangement by whch the members of Ply
mouth Church have given up their seats To Centennial
visitors There has been public announcement to tis
effect, but next Sunday is tho communion service
and 1t is tacitly understood that Mr. Bcccher'-
people are be longer excluded from their accuf-
toned places. For three sunday, the great audicnc'-
room Of Plymouth Church has been l'd t frangrfH,
and each day more persons have failed 20 gain admit
taucc than the church could hold At 7:3O o'clock yes
terday morning more than 200 pcraons had inquired at
Fulton Ferry the way to Piynodl Church, aud at -
o'clock a uumucr had been admitted to the building.
Long after tie hour faI se.y!cc- to begin
multitude blocked The street, In tie hOlc that some
Gappy cAaucc ni-nt ultimately bring them wit!n the
church. and many remained about the doors
until after tie ciCse of the exercises, that they
might get glmp-e OF the great preacher.
At the close Of the services each Sunday from 800 TO SEQ
persons have remained 10 shah, hand, with M Bccccr,
passing Ia long procession ny al" and down another
Many Of them have contcntcd themselves with silent
pressure OF the hand but the lea-r numpt. nave felt
mpeicd 10 say ~ least God bless You" As the hand
shakers have passed out Of the church many OF them
have ioned with the t,ude about cdoors "a hcr-
iuc few leaves bits Of grass pebbles TO carry away
as memorials Of the place and OCCASION AMI
several have been detected In -urrcpitiousy chipping
off pieces Of brick from tue wal while scraps of
fallen mortar have boon especially cherished as most
desirable "drOIpngs Of the sanctuary" Nut only on
Sundays have Plymouth CHIrch AID her pastor bctn
objects OF absorbing interest. DUIng the week there
has been almost steady stream Of visitors to
tie sacred cdhcc, and have asked the
way TO Mr.. Bc-chcI's residence, at which they
have gazed ALMOST with tears. Many have
pickcd leaves AMI from before tho h0upC. Even
the waTcst friends O MI BcccAc" have been surprised
aud rly Impressed at The supreme Interest Win hch
these visitors from every pnt TIE conniry have re
gardcd him and everything associated with hls lc ana
iabOrs.
Sir Bcccher said ycstcrday that It had been exceed
iugy interesting and tOucnuS to him 10 wltn'f. the
cagcFn, with which the strangers had thrOngcd 10 hear
had not been oycrstaed In looking from the dcs, he
had only here and there familiar face The char
acteri-tics Of his hearers had tcen very marked.
He had been surprised az the number OF
arge-hyided. intellcctualluOking men. They were
the clerymen the Judges, The solid men O their several
communities They represented the intelligence Of ~"
towns and cities from which they There
crddy twenty-five clcrNmen IN the audience, al of
whom shook hands with him after the close Of ihc
vices. Hc had been reminded IN his experience ~
the desire which usrd 90 feel 70 hear his father
preach MT. Bccchcr thought that the thousands Of
strangers who had visited Plymouth Church during the
past three weeks must nave grateful recollection OF
the kindness which had been shown 10 thcm by the
dcTed their seats for their accommodation.
Although the church members viii return To their
pcws next Sunday, every effort VIII be made to admit as
many visitors possible. There about 600 free Sit
in the church, and the remaining seats never
ali occupied by those vino rent them.