Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-29
MINNEAPOLIS NEWS
Specially Reported for the Daily Globe
GUSH.

GUSH.
Il Chapter From That Gospel-Yr Bceche,
or LoUe to God and LOve to Mn,,-Sern,On
Yesterday at association Hall.
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher preached at Asso
clatlon Hall yesterday to one of the largest con.
gregatlons ever called together in Minneapolis
his subject was Love to God and Man, and
Is said to have been an exceptionally fine effort
by those who have before heard him.
He took for his text the entire thirteenth
chapter of First Corinthians. Commencing
with-'Though l speak with the tongues of
men and angels and have not charity (love) ]
am become as sounding brass and tinkling
cymbal." He commenced by saying that this
chapter was the heart of the scriptures. 1t was
to the Bible what the Jewish temple was to the
city of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation. 1t
occupies the highest place-embraces the one
lone sentiment about which gathers and which
WHITES all the other thoughts and hopes and
duties which go to make up q rounded Chris
tian life. man may be a scholar, statesman,
poet, philanthropist-everyth thing which at.
tracts and charms the OF
his fellows-but without this sentiment OF
all-pervading, all-surrounding love, a golden
chain reaching down from the heart of the in.
finite Father to his, and thence spreading into
all chimes and all lands until it swept the hui
man race into his heart, he was nothing.
From this point Mr.. Beecher elaborated and
analysed the chapter, taking it senti-
hent by sentiment, passage by passage, and
playing upon the emotions of his audience, az
only could the Mephistopheles of the Plymouth
pulpit. Religion has to do with the emotions
simply and solely, and hence the power OF
Beecher. His sermon yesterday purely
emotional. Taking for his text that chapter
tryhp bod ~ E,11 J.
artistic and sentimental, than any other por-
ton of the entire scriptures for nearly an hour
and half, he held his audience (Which was
cultured one) as few other speakers in America
could have done. He wore his most pleasing
mask, put forward his pleas for liberalism and
smile, disguised the ulcers eating away his
heart and conscience behind the placid exterior,
and plead for purity of life and beauty of char
acter with an earnestness which ten years age
would have brought all America to his feet as
learners.
AS preacher Mr.. B. has lost but little of his
old powers Behind the sacred desk he only
lacks single element to make him, not only
the greatest and most popular preacher OF his
time, but of all past time-and that element is
honesty. An emotional man himself he plays
upon the feelings of Others and compels them
at his will to respond to his strongest and
slightest touches Like master at the organ,
emotional melody, and they weep or
laugh as he wills. Hence this mans
success in building up that wonderful
social ring in Brooklyn-that ring which
stands alone in history, as the only one which
could hold its head erect in the Eeyes of a civil
lied world, and defy the giant of Public
Opinion to throw down and break it's idol. Mr..
b. himself is made up of emotions. He is the
very apostle of gushing sentiment; and his
strength is in fully believing, at the moment,
what he is trying to make Others believe.
M ost pathetic was it toward the close of his
sermon, when he dramatically threw his white
head back with arms spread as though to well
come the bolt of Jove, and told how his free
spirit would exult as it flew out of the window
opened by the angel of DEATH and sped swifter
than arrow-hight to the bosom of his God of
love. See how men do create Deity in their
own likeness; for before his fall there is nc
one doubts that his was a great, majestic, low
ing soul. Now that he has satisfactorily dis
posed of hell, it is the most Enatural thing in
nature that he should indulge the household
dream (the product of religious dispep-
sia) that God only exists tc
take into his bosom such repentant
sinners as he. What sublime egotism, and
how it contrasts with the gentle humility of
that great woman. Harriet Martineau, who
died saying, there is so little to me, 1 cannot
see why should be perpetuatedn'
For an hour, however, the great (but wicked)
preacher not only went to the land of saints
himself but carried his immense congregation
with him. But when they came
down to earth once more and
got comfortably astride of their every day rea-
son doubtless many of them breathed some
such sentiment as this: ''What does all this
gush amount to, except for passing away an
hour in emotional exhileration-a sort Of relig-
ious spree, SO to speak, to be recovered from
through brief period of pious Jim Jams.
A III 1yh could rsat+ hats IN, ho., Nf,
Beecher, however, and probably should he
stay here year, such is the unfortunate born
cussedness OF human nature, he would fill the
hall just often as he chose to preach fol-
nothing.
But suppose the world, conceding the guilt
of Mr.. Beeoher, should adopt the charitable
view for period Suppose we look upon him
as sincerely repentant. and apply to him the
fine sentiment placed by Shakespeare in the
mouth of the French lord in "Alls we'll that
ends we'll"
''The web of our life is of mingled yarn
good and i'll together. Our virtues would be
proud if our faults whipped them not; and ou1
crimes would despair if they were not cherished
by our virtues"
1t is not best to be always holding court or
the conduct of men, and so the GLOBE man dis
misses him, his sermon and the subject will
the hope that his fine faith may hencef orth b,
crystalized into good works.
Let's grumble moment at the managers O.
Association hall, however: Is it utterly impos
sible to have any sort of Christian service am
more without being told to ''stand and de
liver" by the holder of contribution box
Services were delayed by the passage of con
tribution box, and vexation beamed from
every face as the God-Mammon thrust his stal
wart form in front of the gray-haired clergy
man. Here is a text for the Y. M. G. A. tn
next time they are tempted to take up a collec
ton when everybody is waiting to be carried t
grace and glory by fine sermon or an eloquen
appeal to the Lord of Hosts
when Simon saw that through laying on o
the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given
he offered them money, saying Give ais
this power, that on whomsoever lay hands, h
may receive the Holy Ghost But Peter sal
unto him: THY money perish with thee be
cause thou hast thought that the gift of Go
may be purchased with money" Acts viii
1920.