New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-02-09
THE BAsENESS OF INGRATITUDE.
gh Fer Henry Ward Beeche az IlymCh CR urch tCongrt
~ Qd.tOnaO.


THE BASENESS OF INGRATlTUDE.
IN, Her Henry Ward Beeeher a. plymouth Church tcongre
gdttOnaD.
The Fisk University Jubilee Singers, who
recently returned Europe. attended the morning
service at Plymouth Church yesterday, ana occupied
,eats I'm front platform Al the close OF the SER
mon Mr. Beechor referred TO them and their WORK III the
following words: "YOu will recOllect, nv friends, that
long years ago this platform not only resoundod with
the doctrines of liberty hut that some OF the most mem
oabie services of this church secured the redemption
OF men from bondaGe-meD women ana CHILDREN. IN the
old days when ADOHtionism hateful upon this plat
form exciting the compassion and generosity OF THIS
audience in unwouted measure. We have redeemed
great many. You know that when this great
land was convused by secret poison OF slavery this
church stood faithful witness OF the doctrine OF
liberty You will recoect that when the war was over
and It was stl question whether black men and
women might walk with. white folks, and ride in the
ears and omnibus sit in churches unrebuked there
came u.s. literally hungry and suffering from cOld
baud OF singers Tennessee They were striving by
singing TO raise fund 10 educate themselves. This
church WIS the first church that took them by the hand
md gave them publicity and such revenue as lad
the foundations of ther prosperity These are achieve
menis which make very happy. These singers have
sang on rejoicing from day 20 day. They sang through
New England and Tho Western States and the Middle
States; and. crossing the they sang he
fore tho crowned Queen. and in tho halls
OF tho mobiles They went TO Franco ana
sang there, aud they sang In Germany, ana the
weeping King OF Germeny moved TO the very depths
by the pathOs of their sODg / was privileged last
Spring TO stand in Nashville, in the great Seminary
building there Those hymns which they had learned
In the bondage OF slavery the plantation and which
were the walls of woe, God, by great moral miracle.
had turned from into concrete form aud
laid up as so many bricks in that magnificent college
building, than winch there not finer on the Con
tinent 1t is their college. They sung 1t up. Another
is soon TO pat up. partly by their contributions and
partly by an eminent Rellanthropist who rjoices in
Beaven that his requests and beneactous are thus en-
ployed, in the providence of God
This band is with to-day; and II there is any place
where they have a right to stand because they have
been reunited from bondage. and because they belong
TO that people Tor whom TINS chuIcn mas ., en- Wines
and advOcate-T there Is place where they nave
right stand IT is here on this platform where |
fbey have consented to sing one Or two Of their hymns
Instead of our closing hymn Next Monday week they
public worship with a song by these singers"
jubilee singers then assembled to the platform ana
sang two hymns which received the close attention OF
lbe large congregation. 800 -,
Mr. Beecher took for his text Luke XVI, ll19; the
containing the account OF the cleansing OF The
len lepers Many Of the miracles OF Christ. lie sad
were dramas They contained as much as many OF the
most extended dramas literature There IS ms uis
tnctiOn and false miracles between those
snueTson are wrought Tor the sake creating won
der while those of Christ were all merciesahe efu-
refused work miracles for Himself or for the produc-
munity But where there was suffering want danger
then benevolence prompted Him. THIS miracle OF
concevabe one although It did not Impress the mag
nanon tbe crowd The distributing of bread 70 1000
IN the mountain perhaps the browning work OF HIS
life the impression II produced concerned
but there circumstances connected with this
miracle more profoundly impressive tnan any other
The iepers separated both by the prejudces Of
e ov eRcept with themselves The disease
fecuous il is not TIE Mosaic law separating the lepes
was a part of the symbolizatlon OF the Mosaic law
selected lepers to represent the fortress OF sn
fua
werched alive and tine most wretched part OF
n was that he alive. The disease was loathAomc
and as il became more yrulent mems Dooles
ro!ted on them s9d ca4e, ds@embered and
dsngured them, and the last thing that came was death
hy were not TO h usD hsy We're cut
off from parents children, friends, all honor nope, ol
Each SotRer's loathsomeness An national bitterness
and Jcws-and ~ TINS p0ol OF
misery all prejudices ran together and m1ed indis
TRey cried to Christ from atsr Of Have upon
MS" 1t was the duty OF the leper when he Thought he
healed TO the priest 50 that be might dsSSes
him healed 50 S0r and nine went and
co s"' back cs.''''o Ono of thsm-a9d It must
a ase pride of the topEeayy Jew-came back and he
was samartan samaritan was almost ~ oao as an
Toe Others have been 50 surprised at the geailns
lions and been 80 ove.wheiIaed the Thought Of the
new fe that the rush Of these feelings overcame their
nDot eScnse them It was shameful thing for them
never have had one WORD OF thanksgiving 10 INN
struck Jesus who knew what was In men and had SUI
WSai grsTude ana what is ingratudei Gratitude
is the coTelatIve OF beneyOlepce. Inc great law OF
S SoPs sw 70 we Whole
our being for the production OF dement, 10 othis Inc
rebound this Is that we are to return such an e1-
precision VIII make our benefactor happy It's pay:
ing in soulcon II s the converse ana reaction %
give happiness and those who receive should echo II
back to the giver IT expresses pleasure Tor some
Tie susceptibility 10 gratitude m1rt ne iegaroed as
gn u by s Which one detects kndnes Is like the
sensibty OF the eye or OF the ear IKE tne poets Ia
of kindness and favor The strength Of the feeling tne
continuity OF it, scope OF it-all these elements
measure mans rank aud position in the scale of be,
irg Every man whose heart has 10 be struck hard
before it vbrates is comparatively low. The heart
which stands highest ia the most open and sensitive
The want OF gratitude indicates pride insensioiiy
One Would think that the vice Of ingratpde would be-
bot 4 is General are sa nan$fed
persons who receive kindness without any response 70
Que ~ inners ceneraih They are ali hungry for
body 10 help them and fOrgetul when they are helped
81 o1sn 81 Tr ws thew receive it. nsraitHde may
seen reversing the order Of sensibiy as TO me wGr
gifts for eye the ear. the hand the btyEsIits Tor
body when some are ev ve goP peScSe
spiritual This IS not only true OF lndvduals Dq
,re That the BODY must be cared for the
lowest form of gifts, ard indicate the lowest iod 9l
bIs borSon. ana gives him larger views Of life hero
and 10 come, is true favor. In refusing
10 respond 10 fayors we the workings OF pride "a
factor of ingrattude. Many are so proud that lney
disdaip Obligations. Tue nob!est man Is the man WHO
know show 70 bow down to the lowest. A true ana
noble nature longs for nothing so much as 10 pe III lne
presence that which produces sense OF opnsas,on
A great soul uestes In the bosom OF a D;ncIactOr'
Pride claims service due, and says ol course /,
Why mott L spO favor but privilege 10 serve me.
There are persons would use the whole unlveIe Oi
God as n teat 10 suck their own nourishmeht i0m
Many who receive faS0rs oIiticise them 1-s, they
say, It's q partial payment for my WORK. lucy max
II the ground and Of faultnn0lDe knew ms
tisl worth 1874 centg--tbe Old