The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-13
BEECIIER AND HIS REGIMENT
rgE TJIIRTEENTII LISTENING TO A SER
MON EROM IRIS CHAPLAIN.
Gray rnirorms in Plymouth Church-'reiiing
the Military Men what the True Soldier
should be-'rhc Disorders that his Hear
er. might soon he Called Upon to QueiI.

.houId be-Thc Disorders that his Hear
er. might soon he Called Upon to QuciI.
Plymouth Church presented n lively ap-
rearancc ut both services ycstcrday-having
baby show of laitsm in the morning and
military show OF the Thirteenth Regiment in
he evening. About twenty five babies were in
the arms Of their fathers and followed by their
proud mothers. making crowded nsscmblage
I'm front OF the pulpit With that excellent man
agement that characterizes all such ceremonies
in Plymouth Church. the crying babies were
pushed to the head Of the line and the baptism
of the twenty five occupied hardly half a. many
minutes. Mr.. Beechers morning sermon WIS
nm exposition OF the much disputed ninth
chapter of Romans. and he took occasion
TO assail with every variety Of argument
and ridiculo those parts OF the West
Minister confession founded upon that chapter
especially the election Of the good ami
tho eternal damnuton Of the wicked. He said
his venerable father used to defend those doc
trincs and II there ever were foats Of mrncu-
lous logical cgcrdcmain he thought his father
practsed them. Ha thought God had right TO
make a vessel Of clay for ignoblc uses. but had
no right to smash it because it was not III for
noble uses. All clay might wish to be made into
parian vases. yet some must be used for cider
mugs.
nun sermon to the Thirteenth Regiment. y. q.
s. " Y. OF which organization he is the Chap
lain As early as Z. the throng in front of the
church extended to the opposite sidewalk.
Ushcrs stood in each door, motioning away
from the steps all comers except pewholders,
and even such Of those who were SO unfortu-
nate as to hold near the centre ofthe house
were compelled to content themselves with the
cold comfort Of being told that the doors would
le thrown open after the regiment mad entered.
The aid Of the police was invoked to keep back
the multitude. One lady. who had made vain
attempt 10 enter, remarked from behind n tall
and wide policeman that this was the first time
she had ever been under police surveillance.
With almost military promptness the regi-
ment marched up the street. by fours. and
passed through the throng. now increased to
two or three thousand persons. into the church.
Four sections Of seats. extending back to the
rear gallery. had been reserved. Members of
the veteran corps. in civilian dress. and with
blue badges. entered first and passed W the
north aisle to the front. Then the regiment
filed in 10y twos, preceded by some OF the brig
ade officers. The members of the regiment
were in full uniform and wore white gloves
The officers carried their side arms. All re-
NAMED standing until MIR. Beechcr entered.
when Col Austen gave the ordcr Battalion.
be seated"
Mr.. Beecher wore his uniform as Chaplain of
the regiment black broadcoth coat. button
ing TO the chin. with a stand-up collar which
revealed above 1t the edge Of his linen collar:
trousers OF black doeskin with scarcely per-
,eptible stripe Of darker velvet down the outer
seam This dress somewhat magnned his
portliness. but IL well became him. A belt goes
with the uniform but owing TO the contour OF
the Chaplain this ornament insisted on slipping
up under his arms. and il was not worn.
In his sermon Mr.. Beecher said that tho law
OF our life throughout the whole period Of his
tory has been Il law OF struggle The whole Of
creation is struggle. Every subject Of life is
conflict between kind and kind. and when it
ceases TO be external the same great law lasts in
Internal conflicts. Not only Is one race Of ami
mails devoured by another hiding and doubling
upon It's adVersaries struggling for existence.
but even human conditions follow the Same law
with various degrees OF mutations, between
races. and even when men are organized into
societies there are still conflicts. Every man
that is born into life who makes any attain
ment grows from little to more or from more
70 much, finds himself taking every single stop
through the instrumentality Of struggle which
amounts to conflict Conflict seems Ia be the
law Of the universe II il not strange, there
fore, that the sacred Scriptures 50 often borrow
the language oi organized and exterior warfare
e represent the spiritual progress oi man. In
the passage which speaks of girding on the
armor the figure i carried out with detail.
only the munitions are those which apply to an
cent warfare when armor was proof against
implements: and yet the Apostle says Our
warfare is not in the flesh, body against body.
1ut IN the spirit. against spiritual wlckedness
who grows 20 mans estate Is called To
in e-sant warfare with himself. We are
nude up Of materials that are not irreron-
clai", tut only reconcllahle as tue result
1i great training and discipline. BY nature
.1r-'rrpgih lies IN the direction oi animal M
tan conflict. The form takes is the solution
oi tle question whether reason or passion shall
pred0mnatr; generosity or selfshness; greed
mess or charity. Every one is conscious that at
every step there iS a necessity for perpetual
waicuiulnass. How often have We been over
come ny our inferior uuiures hy our indocncr.
ty our lntrmperate cnihuslasm. We nnd our
Selves perpetually re'oiling with shame at vie.
tory 1f he flesh over the spirit. Every step of
smnltpn goes through the same me OF conflict.
n man grows easily into manhood; no man
stands approved and vindieated in any
direction who has not been Obliged 70
grow cut with mighty cndeayOr No
man has lenrncd accidentally capacity for
complex affairs One never leaps into succrss's 5.
iy"ry man is built up of single experiences.
b.lw upon blow. enieayor upon ondeayor. So
soon as w. have drawn ourselves within our
with all tho conditions of life. The art OF living
together n IL eyer existed H. n lost nrt. II is an
hN 20 ohe learned 10y tine utmost ondeavor. All
M Mr Interests oi men are iarmonlous only men
,@ni are r. The law of happiness, even The
law OF s"hshness rightly under.tood, should
nhN" men klndrrto ea'h other. Magnauimiy.
generosity. lustice-ali promote cur own happi-
hes- only mon hy their conduct IN society show
uM they 80 not know il. Tor they are perpetu-
h9Y irn7gre- ing upon each other; and the art
Oh IY.nr together successfully and peacefully is
one VIII Il man learns only when life is passing
aNhy. Whom w. are called 10 die W. are about
ttly % t"Gn to live; II tax, IS the whole Of our
re TO &rllhul experience with viii n we should
nave started as the capital Of our lives.
As 'il 1"ns Of the body pplui" men are called
- h-rNrpate M great conf It's. and an the
4'lh9 o' military proceedings are repro
uu'rI again In the invisible conflict within the
ntn. Nohns s more frequent IL war than tie
Sl'WlA - Nnf 90 deceive. and SO oVcrcom' 10y
s'Ehl Ii hand aud craltiness those who arr
oll osrd o. U.s. Surely there is nothing moro
certain ttsn that which wages War against Us
spItuhily over comes us by deceit. Nothing Is
uYIN common IN warfare than surprises. and
W'I' are also surprises in spiritual warfare
a. =" many 0l Ms are unaware Of danger
Snui ti7 sprung upon us. How many have
~'N "f'r'nn" hy an unoOntrOllnhle temper
bringing upon us and carrying uS away before
w. "'i" aware oi It's prcsencef il Ii part Of
"'t 'I' To draw an enemy into an ambush, and
sttI'n.( overcome him with an attack ON
snI uanE; and, bow often have we been
,'.""l b iod into an ambush by the iutoNirn-
,.'H W p'4~urc, and are taken captive in the
H. .h-irIi oi coming of victorious. So. too.
T. warfare 10 la legitimate 10 sit down before a
,,o'lurl u'a"c and asSHil II with mines and tun-
' "Nl unexpected explosions. often and
,',n iN'h gp through courses Of m.n'ng the