The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-07
PLYMOUTH PEws.

Mr.. DEEcHERs REMARKS PRECEDING THEIR
ANNUAL RENTAL AT AUcrIoN-HIs DUTIES
AS A PASTOR AND Els LAuoRs AS Lee
TURER.
The pews OF Plymouth Church will DO sold at auc-
ton at seven O'Clock evening. and there Is
the usual ruie OF attending the selection
OF sittngs among tho members OF that congregation.
II Is believed that the prices Will be much lower than
those OF previous years, as there very despread
dscontent among the members, arising from the con-
tnucd absences Of Mr.. Beecher on ecturing cxcur-
sons. On an average he delivers perhaps four icc-
lures week in various parts OF the country aud ire.
quently reaches Brooklyn after long ride by rail
Sat urday evening, Just In time to and appear be-
fore his people on Sunday. II Is claimed that under
the circumstances he can have time to prepare his
sermons, and considerable proportion OF the congre
CATION assert that he breaches with much less
fire and enthusiasm than formerly, and that he
chooses fewer fresh themes Although Mr. Becchor
announced the sale ono week ago yesterday, giving
some hints as to The manner In which persons could
combine to purchase sittngs and although he yester
day again rcierred 10 the matter a. length Is gener
ally believed that there will he falling OIL In the
receipts OF at least $40 900 compared last year.
when tue sale realized $4,000 When. the witness
stand In the famous trial, Mr.. Bcecher testified to
having been obliged TO mortgage his house 10 raise
remembered
was considerable speculation what he had done
with the large sums he had received for salary and
lecturing fees during many years. During tho past
season he was in receipt OF 81. 900 week from his
lecture agents. tho Ponds, aud no rs earning as
much or more this year delivering four lectures
week ~ tho rate OF $3.50 each and expenses, The
curious minded need not go far 10 seek for the man
ncr Of IT'S disposition nasmucn as he Is now compic
his iarm at Peekskill. There Is however consider.
able party in Plymouth Church VINO have abated
and his preaching. These answer the GROWERS by
pointing 10 the TACT that the pastor has been offered
Sas ne has declined oer Of o M0ss snss
year 10 lecture abroad 1--WE cannot expect to have
MI. Beeener's whole time" say these tor mo sum
to have hun at three times his present salary, and
him lecture as much MS he peases'
PEW RENTS
In speaking OF the approaching sale to his people
yesterday Mr. Beecher said-''Your lease expires
night TOR your pews To those that strangers let
say that the vacation OF pews by their present
holders IL absolute aud real No matter whether u
man has had seat Tor ono year or for ave years II
gives him no supremacy over any man who wants IL
ana who expresses that want 10 the appropriate
metallic currency. (Laughtcr) IT. Is now more than
thirty years since this system Of tho annual reAing
OF our pcws began. Thirty such years never existed
before ON this continent, and perhaps never will
SION, breaking out frequently into riots; years Of
conflict with slavery; years OF war; years OF nct-
uous prosperity and years oil contraction and
years Of all manner OF commercial revulsion. Tho
consequence has becn moro less uctuation in the
revenues OF luis ChurCn, wnCn purely
10 not anticipate that tho salos OF this year will DO
IN excess or those Of the last year. believe
that pricos should DO any highor now than one year
ago lfthey TALL lower II will meet with regrets on
my part. lhave never sought to force them up,
have mover seen year when have not felt sympa
thy with persons who have JAILED in procuring tho
seats that they desired; but there ~ testimony
wish TO mako-I do not think am proud OF this
Affection and its loyalty; that feel deeper IL Than
have words to express"
Mr.. Beecher's voice became broken he spoke
He'd llR "a u>n
ment 10 conquer his emotion he proceeded. ''Whem
think oil my own ministry no critic can possibly be
testimony, have striven with human innrmty. and
have always tried to do the best could for you.
How far that best has boon from what should have
Deon am more aware than you can possibly be.
bcneve however, that have bad ono testimony ac-
praises or admiration or even words TO express.
Although during my ministry there have been years
of sickness and commercial disaster and revolution
aud war have reason TO believe tho grcat body Of
those who attend hers have been strengthened
and encouraged for tho struggle OF life l
have heard, know not now many, say, Il could
not have lvod through my trouble II il had been
Tor your preaching.' MY preaching has been the
constant comfort OF thousands ana So When II has
been question with come whether IL should DO an
economzing OF tho bread on their table or in tho
sGsaa Of life Which sey sss here they have ossono
which was 10 them moro than anything else. THIS
testimony is peculiarly pleasant TO mo. THINK every
Gu urch should have that which gives strength 10 tho
whole inward man and enables him to 20 through tho
trials and universities OF life with happiness and dual
NCtoIy.
SERMON
ST. Pau's words TO the Corinthians-"Butw we preach
Christ crucined. unto the Jews o stumbling block
ana unto the Greeks foolish -suggestcd Ins ser.
mon yesterday morning. The Jews could not unoer-
stand Christ, tho preacher SAID because they could
not from their deas Of tod the forms and ccre
MONIES OF the temple. The Greeks, on tho other
hand could not grasp the idea because theirs was
purely intellectual conception OF Christ BY tho
heart alone, Mr.. Beechcr held Christ DO truly
understood and accepted. There were many things
in the conception OF tho Godhead that were obscure
TO tho Intellect; but when they within tho pre-
cincts OF the heart that accepted Christ they no
longer mysterious For 2UU0 years tho world
had tho of 'sadatlon" with regard to tho
true nature Of the Go'ihead, and the question
nearer settlement now Than II was 1000 years ago.
Men were still attempting to place Christ dynami-
cay, aud " all those lie was still stumbling block
When Tho book called Uncle Toms Cabin was 1rst
introduced into Engand." said Mr.. Beecher at ono
point in his discourse. "thcre q universal flock
ing OF people to tho booksellers asking, Have yon
got book that teaches about Unco Toms God p SO
little Gid they know about tho New Testament that
they thought there was another book that made
'Unclo Toms'V