Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-08
Alefarlorla 0azttte
TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8.
Pew Rents.

Pew Rents.
10 his sermon in Plymouth Church last Suu
day Rev. Henry Ward Beecher said :-"You
lease expires tonight for your peWs TO those
that are Strangers let me say that the vacation
of the pews by their present holders is absolute
and real. No matter whether a man has had
a seat for one year or for FIVE years it gives him
no supremacy over any man who wants 1t and
who expresses tbat want 10 the appropriate me.
tallic currency. Naughter.) 1t il GOV m'r,
than thirty years sioce this system OF the annual
renting of our pews began. Thirty such years
never existed before on this continent, and per.
hsps never will again-years OF violent debate;
years of fiery discussion, breaking out frequent
ly into riots; years of conflict with savery;years
of war; years of fictitious prosperity and years
of contraction and misery; years of oil manner
of commercial revulsion. The consequence has
been more or less auotuation in the revenues OF
this church, which are purely voluntary. l DO
not anticipate that the sales of this year will Do
in excess Of those of the last year. do not be.
ieve that prices should be any higher now than
one year ago. If they fall lower it will NEE:
with no regrets on my part. have never
sought TO force them up. and l have never seen
year when | have not felt sympathy with per.
sons who have failed in procuring the seats that
| they desired; but there ls testimony | wish to
make-I do not think am proud of this church
on account of its being 80 large, but for it's af.
fection and its loyalty; that feel deeper than
I have words to express.
| Mr.. Beechers voice became broken as he
| spoke these words. and tears tlled ms eyes
Pausing moment to conquer his emotion ha
proceeded wv nen think ofmy own ministry no
critic can possibly be 50 severe on the question
as am myself But have this testimony. l
have strieen with human infrmity, and have al
way tried TO do the best could tor you: How
far that best has been from what it should have
been am more aware than you can possibly b..
believe however, that have had one teIt-
mony acceptable and comforting to me far be.
yend any praises or admiration or even words
to express. Although during my ministry there
hava been years Of sickness sad commercial dis
sster and revolution and war have resson to
believe the great body Of those who attend here
have been strengthened and encouraged for ths
struggle of life. | have heard, know not how
many, say I could not have lived through my
troubles if 1t had not been for your preaching.
Ny preaching has been the constant comfort OF
Thousands and 30, when it has been question
with some whether it should be an eoonomlzlng
of the bread on their table or in the bread OF lfe
which they get here. they have foregone some
of the pleasures of life that they might have that
which was to them more than anything else.
This testimony is peculiarly pleasant to ma l
think every church should have that which g ives
siren 9th to the whole inward man and enables
him to 20 through the trials and sdversitiea OF
life with happiness and final victory"
SoMs REPRESENTATIVE SOUTHERN MEN-
One of the most striking sights to be seen here
is in some Of the old Southern men who linger
about the scenes of their former greatness
Cingman, of North Carolina; Boyeo, OF youth
Carolina; Foote, of Mississippi; Stephens. OF
Georgia, and others. twenty-five years ago.
aad they were 10 their glory. Foote was threat
ening to hang John p. Hale. or drawing q pls'
tol on old Tom Benton ia the Senate lobby
And now this formerly PASSIONATE politician and
fire eater is as gentle as sucking dove and
looks like 0 saint. He is good republican and
an advocate of generous treatment Tor the ne.
gro. He is often to be seen 10 the Senate aod
| iu society here. Mr.. Stephens everybody is
| familiar with. He is still power in Congress.
but twenty years ago be seemed as now to have
one foot in the grave. Boyce, Of South Caro-.
lima, was the one member Of the delegation
| from 1856 to 1860 who was believed to dislike
the secessionists, but be was compelled to ~
out with bis delegation 10 the winter OF 1850 81.
He had the sympalhies of many republicans.
and during the war they watched for news OF
him. he did not take an active part 10 the 70
belliou. aud at the first opportunity came out
as Union man, and the moment peec, was
declared be came to Washington. where he
soon found employment. Ex Senator Cling
man was a furious secessionist in 1860. and is
now mild democrat. He spends his winters
here, having apparently nothing to do. lie is
constantly in the House or Senate, aud is one
| OF the connecting links between this and the
last generation. % the whole it seems to mo
that every fair minded republican must believe
that the Southern leaders, 10 and out OF Con
rress, have conducted themselves very we'll dur
ing the last fve or six years. Washington Cor'
Springfield Republican.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE HICKS.
lord SENSATION. The Hicks.Lord marriage
continues to be the engrossing topic 10 New
York. The latest rumors say that I'm edlateiy
after the ceremony Mrs. Hicks took her hus
band to her residence on Fourteenth street and
.ecreted him in the rear portion OF her mousse.
AZ he was unable to bear the fatigue OF travel.
The front of the dwelliog is said to be KEEP,
closed, while the back part ID brilliantly ilghteo
during the evening" 1t IS now supposed tha'
MIR. Lord drew considerable money. which be
sent to the widow 10 Europe, and she is be
lieved to be the person be referred to as OWNS
him $500, 900. About the time of her return
he was exceedingly cheerful, declaring repeat
edIy that some one was comiag across the BEL
to pay him $loO, 900 of 100000 due. 1t nov
= appears that Mrs. Hicks income has been abou
$50 900 instead of from $50 600 to $50. .OOO, q
previously estimated. It is also rumored tina
she has been offered 500. 600 per annum to CIV
! up her claims to the estate.
The steamer Ontario, on her recent trip Il
tEoeaud, encountered most fearful weather
IOf l,O28 head of live stock on board Z2o "er
Washed overheard or iuiured 80 that the poo
, animals had to be destroyed. When the storu
vas At its height the owoer OF a foe draugh
stallion (Star of Deumark) tried the old exper
meut of cutting the horse loose and letting hil
n shift for himself Result: The horse did nc
It receive scratch. while many of the others
= 4 T.