The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-31
BEEcHER AND HIS BRETHREN.

HIS SPIRIT OF PRoPHEcY-THE sUFrERINos OF
HIS CHURCH on HIS ACCOUNT.
The pastor OF plymouth Church was greeted by an
Overlooking congregation last evening Even the
church parlor called into rcquison for the first
time in many months. Mr. Beecher camc IN promptly
at half-past seven. The meeting opened by singing,
followed by prayer by Brother Davenport. In giving
out the second hymn Mr.. Beecher expressed his dis
satisfaction with tho manner OF singing. They were
out OF practice he said. The nrst hymn was zgzag all
out OF time and requested that attention be paid to the
leader.
Mr. Bsecher began his remarks By saying this is a
day OF in the churches OF Christendom
Men are endcavoring TO SO back In imagination and
stand in Jerusalem and witness the soemnity, the
sorrow the great catastrophe; and yet the fact Is
Jesus Christ Is not Dead He Is not in the grave and
has not been for 900 years. Stripped OF all hgurave
language, and taken aside from the conformity
with historical facts, Il means wc are TO draw
noarer 10 tho thought Of Christ by making
IL applicable TO our own state Of experience
and follow Him in HIS scifsacrnce In order that the
passions and cshly influences shall DO put down. and
in order hat all faith and love and cen,Icness may
rise and prcdomina And think II Is a 1T thing
Tor me TO tako consideration the position OF this
church and give you test whereby you may know
whether you are prepared to follow Christ through HIS
humiliation 10 His glory.
An END PERSECUTION
think may say, he continued we have como to
an end the prosecutions this church has suffered
do not lixc say pcrsccuton, it sounds like cant,
but can call 1t by no other name But this church
has been followed up as other church ever was 10
my knowledge. There have boon periods OF doubt
aud OF hope, but 1t ran through tho whole round
of years there has been point reached be-
where did not see another storm Cd tue horizon
one follow another with strange concatenaton as
II failing, there was caven working 10 start an
other, and 10 try ana try.
My i'm preston that the advcrsarics arc convinced
that nothing be done against tins church by courts
civil or eccles,astica l-no,hing can avail We have
to be profoundly thanklul and for the Immunity and
loyalty oil this church ! have only to say
!. has given TO history new conception
will not say exanple-a new conception OF what tel
owsnp and Christian love means, and tor the future
believe God will employ tho wonderful forUearance,
setsacrincc fidelity, unity, faith, patience and love Of
this church 10 teach Christian lie ought to
be- | have been too intimately concerned IN II to
sneak moro than this general statement. Having como
through the great wilderness tho Red Sea, the Mount
Sinai the wandcrlngS IN the desert, think we are ny
the Jordan and are going to enter the promised land
aud think it would be u shame II we followed the
example the children Of Israeli for they proved I'M
worthy Of their guidance. taY
set TALK. TALK. TALK.
want to speak to you Of your duty to the Church
aud the community. The organized power OF church,
It's unIt s The spr and Of no
Church Is revelation to men OF thu disposition OF
God and the first step must be the laying aside OF al
malice anger, guileQ wish could quote more Scrip
tufe. but cannot; SO must read it-Lct all bitter
ness and wrath and anger and clanor" (which Is talk,
talk talk, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES evil speaking be put
away from you, with all malice and evil wishing and
be We kind 10 another, tender hearted forgivDg
one another. God Tor Chrisss sake hath Tor
given you"
the Lord Christ md men seeing II In you will
come know what Christ 10, and there never was
gwen Christian Church, since tho Gays OF persecu-
ton the opportunity to show Chrsts likeness such as
Plymouth Church has to-day-nevcr. The sulerings
OF this church in my behalf have been thousandoid
more than mine have been; you have been crueined'
and there never was such an opportunity 70 follow
the example OF Christ
WHAT THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY TELLS NIX. BEEcHER-
In what temper shall we meet those who have pcrse-
cuted US? say, in q forgving temper II We would
pray for people instead OF talking about them " would
help the work. Then there ought to be positive effort
made by tho families OF this church 10 secure the
klndness and fellowship which has been denied for
merIy to Plymouth Church. There are two churches
which deny that Plymouth Church any longer stands
for families who have been friends before 10
avoid each other This ought not to be.
is your duty 70 ., hold to N, each other mS
judge and my hope, do declare that He is not going
10 lot three great churches go long apart By
else docs know mott but tho spirit Of prophecy tells
me that these three great churches are going 10 sur
vive ccclesiasticsm. Applause And IL IS tor you TO
guard and watch and SEQ to It that the temper OF your
soul is sweet and especially don't let 20 your friends
in those churches. Hold on TO them.
cont doubt but that the men who have done the
offensive things good men and accessible TO con-
tnued good influence
hold another thing is right for u.s. The disarranged
condition OF the churches Is such that the weaker
churches in this vicinity whore to look TO but
Plymouth Church. They cannot 60 to the others, be-
cause they would make conditions; but Plymouth
Church will succor and help without asking what sido
OF the question they take Those who neod succ0r
and care shall not apply Plymouth Church