The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-08
BEEcHER's TALK.
RELIGION NO PROTECTION AGAINST WORLDLY
FAILURE.

RELIGION NO PROTECTION AGAINST WORLDLY
A. the regular Friday night prayer meeting OF Ply
mouth Church last night Mr.. Beecher read a letter
from gentleman, upon which he said he would found
his remarkA The letter writer stated that he had been
. member OF the Episcopal Church from his fifteenth
year. He now fity. His whole life had been
spent IN doing good. He had started from nothing
three Oh rches and placed them IN fourshing con-
dtion, besides supporting three sunday schools. hs
had not participated IN any OF The pleasures or
amusements of tho world and committed no
great sins, yet Notwithstanding this no
had met with misfortune after misfortune
He hao been reduced to poverty and
was obliged to send his wife to live with her parents
Al Hrss no tried 10 bear 1t without murmurng, but
TOR the last dvc years no beginning TO get lit
tlc wicked he began to think that no had been
dreaming, that he had been workng and praying his
whole life Tor something which ala NOS exist ana ne
came 10 Mr.. Beecher Tor information.
Mr.. Beecher said that there were many similar
cases Sometimes II happened that misfortune, II
aid not break mans heart. threatened to break
laith the possession OF religion was not an amulet
Or charm against worldly evils; The balance
nenty conducive to worldly success in every right
way but II man were not prudent, practical calcu-
latlnr religion would not save him from bankruptcy
man might be Obliged 10 die in a poorhouse but
there were many worse places 10 die. II u man did
not fortiiy his judgment the world would go with him
lust as Il went with everybody else. Mr.. Beechor
linen gave instances OF misfortune that had
befaen very religious people aud returned 10 the con-
liberation OF the letter writer's case, whom he
said, had been attending meeting twice q day, had
real barreled devotion In the hrst place God
never promised that He would take OF
his money matters IL was as II the man SAID 'Look
here, this the way 10 treat isilowy Here
] have been building your churches aud
running your Sunday schools, and Is this the way
you treat me- ?" II the had been absorbed Ia
the labors Of tho Church aud had not acquired the
necessary qualities that he ought 10 have he should
be ready TO take tho consequence Goo
vas not treating this any worse Than HIS
own Son. To say that Christian society
bound help every need was 70 20 10 the level
OF socialism. There was no greater error than 10
break up that responsibility which GOD had put on
svcry TO take care oil himself II the words in
Matthew, "Givs 10 him that asketh,'' were to be
taken literally, Mr.. Beecher said, he would give tho
world about hundred years 10 60 TO hell altogether
IN y heap tho system OF charity had been tried in
Italy England, creating paupers and causing de-
moralizatlon. t.help those that help thsmscives.'
Next the want Of charity tho most dangerous thing
was charity.
AT the close . letter OF invitation from tho Spring
Valley Church 10 Ply mouth Church read, asking
them attend council tnero Tor the installation OF
the pastor. Mr.. Francis l.. smith vas appointed
delegate by Mr.. BcecheE