The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-08-11
A Sisters Dialogue with Mr.. Beecher
and the Big Organ.
New York World. I

1t was sister who spoke right out in
meetin' in Plymouth Church yesterday.
As soon as the last word of the short
prayer after Mr.. Beecher's morning
sermon was uttered she stood up-an
elderly and somewhat dyspeptic-looking
woman--in a front pew of the rear
gallery, and brandishing her fan said,
acidly, with evident determination to
secure a hearing: 81 want to ask a
question" She continued speaking in
an excited manner, although Mr..
Beecher said, in louder tone than usual /:
owe will sing the fourth hymn"
Inquiring Female-But l want to ask
question.
Mr.. Beecher-But we want to sing the
fourth hymn.
Inquiring Female-But 1 must ask a
question.
Mr.. Beecher-But we must sing the
fourth hymn.
Inquiring Female (brandishing her fan
and gesticulating vigorously with both
hands)-I will ask question.
Mr.. Beecher (motioning to Christopher
Camp to push things)-iSing the fourth
hymn.
By this time nearly all the congregation
were stretching their necks toward the
gallery, and most of them were laughing.
Mr.. Beecher grew very red in the face
with the excitement of the moment, but
seemed to enjoy the fun. Old John
Zundel, at the organ, struck up a lively
prelude, which was too much for the
| inquiring female, and drowned her voice.
Sheremained standing during the singing
of " Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we
love-" with a determined look on her
angular face, but during the singing she
had no chance. When the last words of
the hymn died out, Mr.. Beecher adroitly
put in the benediction. Then torrent
OF discourse began to flow from the
gallery, accompanied with continued
brandishment of the fan. As soon, how
ever, as the woman resumed, which was
at the moment Mr. Beecher finished say
ing " Amen" the full power of the
$4,000 organ was brought into requi-
sition for the ungallant purpose of
quenching the sound of her voice. This
made her indignant and increased the
efforts she was making to secure hear
ing. She seemed resolved to keep on
until the organ voluntary should stop
and the organ sounded as if it meant to
keep on all the afternoon. The congre-
CATION appeared to be forgetful of dinner
In the desire to stay and see the thing
through. A crowd of men and bows sur
rounded the woman, and presently Usher
Beach, taking her by the elbow, told her
she must go out of church. This brought
forth fresh torrent of eloquence and
gave rise to renewed brandishings of the
fan. The congregation regretfully gazed
on the woman as under the management
of Usher Beach she assembled the gallery
steps and vanished through the door.
Leaving the church by the Orange Street
exit, she went around the block till, in a
state of violent Indignation she reached
the rear door on Cranberry Street, where
she waited for Mr.. Beecher, in order to
give him in personal argument the views
which the organ had deprived her of the
power of uttering in church. A waggish
brother told her that Mr.. Beecher had
gone out the other way, and she departed,
brandishing her fan. She is a stranger
to the congregation.
Mr. Beecher in his sermon had conten-
ded that the danger to the church and to
religion was quite as great from undue
rigor and severity in the presentation of
gospel truth as it was from overlaxitv of
preaching, and perhaps it was this that
troubled the sister.