New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-27
Mr.. BEkCHEPS THANKFULNESS.
TALK ABOUT HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IL THE
LAST YKAR.

TALK ABOUT HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IL THE
| LAST YKAR.
| The attendance at Plymouth prayer-meeting was
much smaller than usual last evening. In the
course OF MS remarks upon causes OF aDhsglvlng
Mr.. echer referred TO his own reasons for gratl-
| tudc In part he said that the past year had been
n happy one to INN. There bad been some bitter in
| his cup. but he did not wish TO throw it
out lie was grateful tor much
Iul for his miStakcs;, not, all kinds. but
| cIes of God they looked to him like a fabric with
| threads of silver and geld on dark BACKGROUND,
| throwing them cut plainly. His work would not
| bear much selt-examinaron but in the hopeful
view he glad he had had such a chance TO strike
| at the devil and 10 work for the Lord. he was mn
spoakaby grateful for the opportunity TO unfold
| truth and minister comfort aud consolation to hun
| dIeds. His position could be only Il little under
| stood by his people. There We're hundreds of
| monies came 10 him that the consolation of God
had been ministered unto them the horizon cleared
| IF clouds; and even the gate opened for some TO
enter into rest. One and another made known to
him the good he haG done them, aud hundreds made
record OF 1t. From the consciousness Of blessing
multitudes he had gained the conception of how
happy Christ must have BEEN who. although He
represented man OF sorrows, he suspected
was the happest man who ever walked the earth.
The giving OF physical gifts, he SAID,
supplied more the sense OF giving; but
to confer faith, hope, patience and persever
higher than giving silver or gold.
Ont Of the treasury OF these things he was supplied
and Gods pocket was never empty. lie did not
ieol so happy all the time. or he would skip and
run aud sing and behave indec0rOusly but once in
"A while he had these feelings
lie saw that the Lord had more truth TO reveal |
and old truths III grow aud developed forms From
the beginning of his work he had found il revca- |
ton Of God an scientific affairs, aud had fOrescen
great change in organized theology, in dogma and
III mode of statement. The fundamental truths IN |
systems had come TO bear the develop !
ment Of personal life. As q bOy, he had |
been vigorously trained, and respected the !
saDctites OF home, and becoming detached from |
the beliefs there taught was great thing lie did |
love novelties desire to start any sectS;
and he bad never gwen up belief except as h
would have gwen up member of his body. HIS |
saddrst days had been those when after much think
ing bo had determined Z" can never say that
again."
ia the uncertain and cloudy land Of doubtful be-
lief, Mr.. beecher sand, no man should rejoice that
he OF Iinal; he fool If be did and not tit 10
preach. The truths man preached became sancttles
10 him. and taking leave of them like saying
goodbye 10 inonds. Doctrines he did not believe
he shook hands with aud sorry TO part FROM
No hoIest man did not have many uncertain and
painful experiences III exploring the way, and it |
was not PS II lie were alone; he carried great
church, had generation of young people to edu-
cate III spiritual matters and II much as If
man wac on thr ocean on raft, and nad to build a
snip wnllc on his voyage. l. had pleased tod to be
patient with linn; he was not cOnCelted enough to
think that lie had discovered the continent of truth
but he had gone so far that many difficulties had
passed away; he had now great rest
and unspeaSablc comfort IN God. Aud IL was
ious tina; ~ tie limits of the old KNOWLEDGE had
enlarged. and his idea of God bad CROWN until il
had 80 DIFF itc bounds He was nearer TO him aud
more comforting. He believed so much that il
: rm al almost vague.
Ga III. WHOLE ~. Beccher concluded God had
las-ad a pclinWcd summer through his soul lie
h,u .eut lorctlsic of thc Rladncss winch would
Duly d. IuIIy disclosed M the life 10 come.