The New York herald., 1877-01-06
TWO LIVES.
MR.. BEEcHER ON CORNELIUS VANDERBILT AND
Mr.. BLIss-THE SCALE OF HUMAN EN-

MR.. BEEcHER ON CORNELIUS VANDERBILT AND
MR.. BILss-THE SCALE OF HUMAN EN-
DEAyoR.
Although thcre Is scale upon which
measure men, said Mr.. Bcecher, at the Plymouth
prayer meeting last night, It Is not altogether clear
aud distinct yet, in general way, may say that.
among useful mon, those are lowest who work upon
matter. 1t Is honest, 1t is respectable to be
husbandman, a mechanic, a scalaring man
to DO merchant. banker or any CT these
higher forms by which moulded matter becomes
property. All these useful and directly and in
directly they contribute to the happiness of men, yet
these stand lowest Next como those who work
upon the mind directly Tho material Is noblcr, tho
end sought Is grander OF these think they stand
lowest who work merely upon ideas-mere thinkers.
discovcrcrs of truth, scientists aud the whole
school OF philosophers that come out OF these. They
stand higher tho artncer but lowest OF those who
produce impressions OH human mind acknowledge
puiIcth up" saith the apostle. anu think large
view the process of things all time would 60
toward ra.iiying this judgment. To touch n man s
understanding is TO touch an important part but not
the mo st important Tho things that 10 endure
faith, hope and love; the others are relative TO pass
away. The very best knowledge, tho most lear truth
that ever wrought out, Judged by the standpoint
Of Gods truth, is very imperfect and impure Next
come the men who develop the imagi inaton at all
points, and highest come those who develop DISPOSE
tion, who mould tho hearts OF men TO nobcr things.
THE RAILROAD MAN.
Cornelius Vanderbilt died Yesterday one OF tho most
remarkable men that Now York ever prod uced-onc of
the clcarest heads, who had the art of turning
thoughts into things, man who took few backward
steps. He began early and went on step by step I'll
he reached an extraordinary ago Of activity, with his
understanding clear to the last He Is man who has
done great deal Of good, "a, man nan who on in
ing at his commercial lilc, few have equaled mono
have surpassed hin, but there II stops. II Is true ho
gave church, u 10 true that IN his later years he
dowed university.
Within few days another man died, not surrounded
by friends and physicians and nurses; not with his
name mentioned from day TO day IN tho papers,
and the thermometer Of his ne recorded
death Of most unuttcrable horror for In that plunge
through tho broken bridge at Ashtabula II seems
though all the gorgons came together. Whatever
could be done by brulsng ana burning aud drowning
was done. aud there Mr. Bliss died. man whose whole
lite devoted soiiening and ennobhng tho hearts
OF men. don't think his hymns will
last lko Watts and Wesley's, and yet
they have been power in this land. The hymns
gentle as the rain Of summer, and they have moved
thousands and tens of thousands of tender to
unknown except as "sweet singer in Israel" Hc
held no such place as Vanderbilt, and II rs not
right to compare the two, except To- say that It
grandcr work. he has opened the door Tor souls, ho
has caused love to blossom he has brought something
tongue OF the Lord II n noble lite. u is all folly
for us 10 say We can do nothing, because wc cannot
follow the plan OF some such lie II Is given TO
ali 10 do some OF that work. noble work in HE Is
open TO every one, In some direction.
After Mr.. Bccchcr finished speaking ho gave an op
p0rtunity, usual, for any one who wished to make
remarks and Brother Lyman Abbott rose and said no
had conversation last evening (Thursday with DR..
Deems, in wh,ch Dr. Deems told him oi Vanderblts
liking ior the Pilgrim Progress and for several par
tcular hymns also Tor tho singing OF several moro
by his wife, and Brother Abbott seemed to think Mr.
Beccher did not do Vanderbilt justice as regards spr
itull things.
sYcs,' said Mr.. Becchcr, 81 am glad he liked tho
hymns, but II he had sung thom thirty years ago IL
n have m "A q He Al
hymns az long as he could get about We don't want
give God the tag end OF our lives. II our God de-
serves anything He deserves everything Li'c Is not
long enough nor strong enough TO givc honor TO Hum
who died ior u.s.