The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-21
MIDSUMMER SERMONS.
Mr. Beecher's Vacation and His Ideas
of True Happiness.
BRAINS AND CONSCIENCE.
The Narrow Way to Heaven and Value
of Christian Life.
PLYMOUTH CHURCH.
TRUE HAPPINESS A FAREWELL SERMON, BY
w pEEcuER

TRUE HAPPINESS FAREWELL SERMON, BY
THE REV. HENRY WARD BEEcHER
Mr.. Beecher preached farewell sermon to his con-
gregation yesterday morning, previous to his usual
summer vacation. His absence win probably ex-
tend into the month Of October Deacon Halliday
will have charge of the affairs of the church while
the pastor away. and several ministers have con-
scented to supply the pulpit, so that the church Will
remain open throughout the summer. The text OF
yesterdays sermon was. Romans XIV. and 3;-'Let
every one of us please his neighbor for his good to
edihcation. For Christ pleased not himself but
il is written, The reproaches OF them that re-
preached thee fell me-
In the low and almost vulgar sense in which hap
piness is regarded by men. said Mr. Beecher. it is
one of the basest of things that be set up as the
object and end of life But happiness. as it inheres
in the constitution of things and indicates the org
nal design of God, is not only noble, but 1t Is both
the and the test of all goodness We accus-
toned to hear 1t said that if we are only good we
shall be happy. To which q man might well reply,
''If only happy we will be good" for 1t is
true one way or the other. Goodness is
the foundation OF true happiness. ana on
the other hand happiness is the instrument or
goodness. A right of happiness leads to
goodness. and the right use OF trouble and sorrow
leads to happiness. We have not any too much In
sisted upon the necessity of taking up the cross.
but we have a great deal too much neglected the
analysis and study. the understanding. OF that
or the great mass of men it may be said that they
are kept miserable they will become immoral de-
graded and wicked. The very first step to the
formation of men is the creation in them OF some
degree of happiness and the hope OF more. This is
in the face OF the teaching and the whole scope Of
the ascetc school. There is an almost universal
impression among the orthodox that to teach
men to seek happiness is very oad instrne-
miscuously. If in the great organ behind me all
the should be neglected except the pedal bass
what laundering time we should have Of 1t! The
animal passions needed, and all the social in
stincts and all the affections and sentiments and al
the parts of the reason. The whole instrument is
necessary to the end in man than in any in
strument that man makes. II man sets his tastes
low. he will be happy simply as all animal. He has
. happiness that s imperfect-separated from its
appropriate connection.
WHERE WRONG
1t is the exclusive naturaness OF 1t, or the in
tensity it, the mmoderatiop that makes happi-
ness, AS the world understands it, un wise. The law
is, that man shall be happy all over. 1t is not
necessary that ones energies should be suppressed
better direct them. Every part OF man must have
the liberty and the happiness which belongs to 1t.
but not in immoderaton. Therefore, whenever
undertakes to be happy must be in accord
with his whole constitution. Thus happiness
is only another word for harmony. When all things,
in sweet harmonious equilibrium, difuse into a man
gentle peace and happiness. that Is the divine idea
and the desire of every man.
The noblest aspirations have been squandered by
the catching OF in the devils traps and making
them believe that they will be happy N the life to
come in the measure in which they are unhappy and
miserable i'll this lite. We need to make others
happy according to the law which have developed.
With reference to one suoordinates 1t Is necessary
TO act so that every one shall be happy This must
be both voluntary and involuntary. We must begin
it on purposc and keep 1t up until 1t becomes an in
voluntary habit. We to the door OF
opportunity open but we enter in. We are to pray
for thinGo beyond all human voliton, such a. the
indwelling oil God. There mothers that pray for
their children's conversion and tread down heed
lessly under foot every influence that would make
their children good. People may be SO brought up
that the idea of righteousness becomes offensive
Children may be so brought up that to tell them
heaven is like Sunday would almost be to make them
tl,a tk.~. e.r,
schools often made good for any thing but places
where happiness is developed. No schoomaster
ought to feel less than this that every child should
Irvine round about him as the morning glory around
its support.
NEVER HAPPY AT SCHOOL.
Woe is me! never was happy at school. hated
1t with sincere, genuine. unmstakable hatred.
and do not know but do yet The law of making
men happy ought nowhere else TO be more emphati-
caly nculcated / think there is no wrong that
intoerably mean that by which public men
will screw down to starvation point men and women
that are trying to make their living teachers. II
there be one place where ought to induce people
to make life profession it is the school. Tue sal
aries should be a premium to make 1t perpetual
Instead of that we are constantly having raw ma
teral, raw material.
Men in business should endeavor to secure the
happiness of all those with whom they
nected. The duty OF all religious teaching and
preaching should be TO eventuate in happiness.
man who Is Christian professor ought to
be known by all men in the store. in the street,
happy man. The rule should also apply in
colleges. Whenever there is OF hazing put
it into the hands OF the police. What is true Of
teaching also i'll respect to wit Genial humor
Is like light which never goes ont OF the house hold
and redeems man from discomfort. Let every man
be pleased to make his neighbor happy.