The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-17
PLYMOUTH PRAYER MEETING.

Plymouth prayer meeting was very we'll attended
last evening Prayers offered BY Brothers Halli-
day ana Davis After which Mr. Beecher said:-There
IS great deal OF use in religion Of conscience and yet
II Is not the highest form. There is considerable ad-
vantage in religion Of fear bat IL is far from being the
best form. II is better than nothing the motive
that inspires to avoid evil and to fulal duties
not particularly attractive II you get nothing bet
teri but II you can go grade higher inspire men
TO better life by conscience II is better than religion
Of fear. But you introduce into the experience
OF men more cheerful clement, to persuade men to
live on a higher plane and withS nober motive than
fear or conscicnce-f you persuade mon to that
form OF religion Of It's intrinsic beauty that
10 still higher-it is ono OF tho highest; to
have such sympathy with the right in all It's forms
that you 0nd the motive spontaneous in YOU But sup
pose however attractive In our better moods there
hours when absorbed by other things and
the attraction Of Christian rectitude longer acts n
II possible to introduce personal influence that
would co operate with the moral affection for
right that would constitute the highest form
OF Christian lie; TO bring persons into such
recognition OF tho beauty OF holiness and tho divine
nature MS that they shall work toward recttude from
preference. Then, TO associate this with sensc of
love to Christ, the presence Of Christ should DO
motive above ali other motives; then should mako
the life cheerful ard well dong In order TO do this
becomes indispensable that persons should get in love
with Christ Tho great mistake about this is that
CnrlSt IS not pr0acned enough u
Look at Christs lite Garth. He was such
not simply excited the multitude by working
MIRACLES but there WIS that winsome way with HIN;
He WIS sympathzins with the unfashionable the
unrespcctabe, the immoral. II Christ mad be. the
prince OF philosophers We should have had far less
Saviour than VIC have. Such Christ IL q motive
against encouragement when you have tripped and
faen II Is motive which influences proceed on
the bright and shining way which We have entered.
Before the benedction Mr. Beccher read letter
from tho Orange Valley church. requesting the
presence OF the Plymouth pastor council convened
for the examination OF candidate for the vacant
pasoratc. Added TO III list OF all tho churches
invited attend After no had finished he said -
You observe that this list includes all the
churches in this vicinity. with OF which We
have not been on the best of terms lately Wc have
tried TO keep peace with ourselves and with Others
and some other churches IN trying TO keep peace have
upset the whole country. Some OF these churches
have declined being present with Plymouth church at
this council because they cannot End something
they never will md out till the judy
mcnt day. ! shall have to decline being
present as exigcnc.cs may arise in the church
which will require my presence here, but the church
shall be represented. nominate DR.. Edward Beccher
10 represent Plymouth church In this council II was
voted that DR.. Edward Beecher should represent the
church.
The Examining Committee met aftcr the prayer
meeting