The New York herald., 1877-02-03
PLYMOUTH PRAYER MEETING.

CATHOLICITY AND PROTEsTANTIsM COMPARED.
Mr. Bcecher presided over his prayer meeting last
night the last time prior 10 his departure IRON the
city for absence OF several weeks. The lecture
room was not nearly well filled usual owing "a
the inclcmency OF the weather. Alter the regular
xercises Mr.. Beechcr said Tho whole tendency OF
the New Testament is toward tho broadening oi
human nature and toward the establishment,
OF the individual in liberty 'individual sover-
eigntyr in our day has become cant phrase
almost. but In Paul's days II did not mean
a stripping on. but putting on. Tho idea OF the
eposllc bring up every individual into such per-
sunal relations with the Divine nature thatsbc should
be filled with tho inspiration OF God, which should
lead him into all truth.
with this view there arc Two general systems under
criticism. One, the system Of church which pro-
vidcs Tor men such rules and regulations and laws
that they can hardly go amlss. have oitcn
had occasion TO speak Of tho ramihca-
tions which exist In many churches for the building
weak that they cannot provide for themselves such
institutions arc necessary The people are told OK
chses all OF which has and all OF which
Is prc-cnnenty adapted for a beginning. But the
end all the time In making such provisions ior
weakness Is to the weak, and enable them TO 40
for themselves what has been done for them. Ia
other words the religious lie should he like the bring
ing up OF children. Some parents look after every
movement other children closely that they never
learn depend upon themselves, aud sometimes the
result rs when when hs5% majority s,,, reached =" e ch re-
dren Of good peope-l have oven heard It
said OF tho children OF mnisters-that they don't turn
out we'll which Is false Tor the statistics Of Now Eng
land that for generations the children of minis
tcrs have turned out better than anybody elsea
THE CATHOLIC AND THE PROTESTANT SYSTEM.
Take the Roman Church--there Is much IN II that
Is admirable, but there are two elements ID
1t which stand directly opposite to Protestant
ism. First, It has an incorporate conscience
instead OF an individual conscience Second, IN the
Roman Church men are kept IN stale OF tutoase;
they ask what they may do everything must be
under supervision. Tho Protestant idoa IL, hrst,
every mans personal conscience must determine
what he shall do and, second, men must learn indi
vdual liberty OF action. Compare the TWO. The par
ticular benefit OF trerarchical institution Is that
It takes caro- of tho children, but they arc Kept
children AL the time on the other nand inc rro'es
dependence Now, the ault Of that Is that II tends TO
lead wrong; that men grow conccited Never
thcless, while II IS open 70 criticism, tno churcnes
tnat taught in tho spirit Of Professionalism aro tho
ouos which stand the stress OF ttmc. Herbert
Spencer In of hts essays shows how poorly re-
publican governments works at every point But he
closes by saying that while all this is uc experience
has shown that communities acting upon republican
principles produce better class OF citizens than any
other in the world" and that is enough; and that
which is true in regard TO political common
wcalths Is true OF religious commonwaalths.
II has been my principle and impulse
SO 10 preach far possible not to have authority
habits OF original thought, to insist upon members
forming judgments for themselves; and think may
say 1T being rainy night and hcro being no reporters
presently that Plymouth church has justned
system, and that In so large church II Is SCI
dom there is found SO much congruity and centrifugal
action, combined with much personal Independence
Look at what going on In tho Bethel and IN the May
flower missions. don't regard the members OF this
church angelic by any means. | d0nt think they
arc IN danger OF sudden translation; but look with
great paccncy and content upon the development
OF fidelity and OF resource which Is the characteristic
of Plymouth congregation.