National Republican., 1880-12-27
BETHLEHEM'S STORY,
AS TOLD IN YESTERDAYS SERMONS.
Rev. Thomas X. Beechers Discourse At Lincoln
iIRll-Chrlstmas Sermons Preached by Drs.
Cuthbert, Lanahan, and Domer-Ics.
sons from scasonable Texts.
Rev. Thomas x. Reecher nj LINCOLN Hall

Rev. Thomas K. Reechcr nj Lincoln Hall.
The announcement that Rev. Thomas X. Beechcr
would preach n sermon at Lincoln Hall yesterday
attracted large audience, considering the aggra.
waited inClcmency oftho weather Byan assembly
familiar with the magnetic and limpid oloquencc
Of Henry Ward Bcccher II was impossible that a
parallel between the two brothers should not have
been drawn. The same rotundso solidity Of physique,
squntty and immovable like those lowbrowed
Saxon towers that in the midland counties of Eng
land still rear their deeply rooted walls seemingly
defying the assaults Of time the massive frontand
magnificent coronal Development the ringing,
far-rcaching melody of voice the clear, profound,
comprehensive intellect which at once eliminates
and glorifes:evcrything It touches; and the badly
hitting trousers; in all these there Is wondrous
similarity between the brothers In these particu.
lars the scent of the roses still Clings to all the
Bcechcr vases. But here the parallel closes. The
cloquence of Henry Ward flows on like rushing
river, on whose banks the singing OF birds and the
DiossOming OF flowers tempt you 10 forget the power
OF the deep, mighty currents that sweep every
thing before them with the angry force ofn cataract
Thomas KS oratory is the wind soughing
now with the swelling diapnson of a cathedral
organ, dccptoncd ond voluniinous; now with the
soilly rustling murmur Of summer breeze in sill.
very cndcnccs. Henry Ward Is n word painter of
such surprising skill that the crimson and golden
glories of the sunken sun burn and glow In his
fiery diction rs they never did on the canvas OF
earthly artist; and in his verbal portraits the
image starts into full life, breathing, puisating,
passionate, as II from the Makers hand. On the
contrary. II Is broken kaleidoscope that Thomas
X. furnishes you, where the colOrlng Is cold and
low;t9ned;, where the word is but suggestive and
ne idea al In all lp all the glowing magnihccncc
OF Henry Ward eecher there Is no breath of Fnery,
no suggestive echo, no poctica spirit by which
alone the soul of man is elevated into the ethereal
immense power Of wing he cannot ccave the l EN-, I'M.
pyrean in his flight, or gaze with unmoyed eve
Into the fierce blaze Of the central suns In every
Thought Thomas fc lint V,, 30
poetical cxaltntion which carries You above the
SgsHrthly cart into the pure crystal of the celestial.
aud his wonderful magnetic power carries
you along without an effort and almost
without an object. The meek, yet splendid beauty
olthe youngcrbrohors fncc, even before he speaks.
lifts you out of the region of the scisuOus to where
OF necessity all magnetism fails. That the Ply.
.! mouth pastor Is the most popular goes without
saying, yet men Will hesitate long they decide
that IN pure intellectual power he is the younger
Beechers equal; Both arc emotional, but Henry
Ward sits behind tho machine, with his finger on
me valve guiding and directing II, while Thomas
H. overwhelmed by It, is carried along in the rush
OF current he can put in motion but cannot stem.
In a word, among the later apostlchood, Henry
ward Is the impetuous and dominating Peter,
while Thomas X. Is the loving and tender John
Ms text was the n hin ninth second chapter Of
God hath also highly exalted Jesus giving him q
name above every name" In colloquial style, yet
with adcpth of emotion too real to be fegred and
an carncstncss too warm TO be questioned ho
told tho simple story of the birth, the life, and
me death OF Jesus. with exquisite art he stated
the story In the terms of Its disbclievers. Jesus,
the son of an unknown father, born in manger,
apprcnticcd to u carpenter, living among dsrcpu.
table associates in the most dsreputable village of
Galileo, vagabOnd and tramp In his manhood,
and dying the most disgraccful of deaths among
thieves and m0lcfactors; this Jesus, who has left
no record OF anything he ever did, whose life was
of the obscurcst, made organization while alive
dying LEFT no Will, and WAS buried In u borrowed
tomb. Ofthis Jesus the declaration was made a
few years after his death by an obscure zcnlot In
letter To an obscure handful of believers that God
had given him name, a reputation above all
earthly names. Eighteen hundred and forty years
after this prophecy was made in this city of Wash.
prophecy was literally and perfectly fulfilled.
What other name that the world has ever known
can be thought Of even for u moment for splcndor
Of reputation or for magnitude of honor? How
do you account for this, snid the preacher, If tho
story of Jesus be not true!