New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-01-19
THE LOVE OF PRAISE.
mr. B..cner at Plymouth church rSOngreadtfo"ap.

Mr. Be,eher At Plymouth church tongTegatfonap'
The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher preached
yesterday morning to large congregation tikhE as
his text John xii ~ and 43: Nevertheless among tue
chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because OF
the Pharees they did confess Him, lest they should
he put out Of The synagogue For they loved inc PRAISE
of men more than the praise Of Cod"
Tho meanings OF certain things, said tie speaker,
are at times MY sterlous t. account OF our own
uorance All OF orr knowledge OF The laws that govern
our health and OF the laws OF society Is empirical We
should have thought that some account would nave peen
ven rs Of the intellect and its laws OF morals and OF
ue great passions that sway men, Bat OF this nothing
That we take pleasure TIC appreciation OF our fellow"
men there is no doubt But OF the laws which govern
this love OF praise, there is nothing.
THIS morning 10 consider praise, one OF tue
most important influences that affect human he' Oh II
we have little knowledge, except from experience.
The operatiOn Of the love Of praise Is called
vanity, and playing upon ones vanity Is called
A,,tery. Ono OF ITS influences In society
=. IN restrain men from offences. one
Restraints the eve as Restraints the hand and seems
TO restrain the ear FOR fear OF offending ii coOperaes
easily and naturally with beneyocnce, and some
times puts on the mask and garment OF be-
uevoleuce. Thus benofcence IA sometimes Only
hunger after praise. When 1t works upward
In the path rectulc the love OF praise is glorious
excitement. urging men TO the highest deeds OF
greatness II points the way TO nobility aud chivary
To desire the praise OF those In glory Is TO set IN opera"
ZION the machinery by which may raise ourselves TO
their level IL by taking this view OF the desire Tor
praise that we how can use II so az 10 make
heaven possible for IL Is state to which every
Thought and every feeling IL like the touch OF musical
chord Its value depends upon its associates and edu
e,ton OF all tho faculties II r. the most Elusive and
decciving When II should be drawing men upward, II
draws them down II lends men to submit tteir con-
duct 10 the judgment Of men who are unworthy TO pass
mon such conduct. How ashamed ought they to he
bo Law claim 10 praise whsh they know they do not
| truth I: IL beautiful How many men FOL
| low the dictates OF their consclenees IN
| advocatine movements which populari Reforma-
ans So begging In their youth. How easy II Is To got
men 10 Join the popular del before ths war YOU hlEnt
cs the roll on the slavery question, ana turn over only
fv stray traveller But after the the defenders
Of freedom thicker than asparagus mus the ~
RinsI, o,nsry and favor lie IN a certain direction.
In the working Of the lower passions the love OF
nratse leads men downward Men rejoice In physical
Qualities In being strong. alert dexteTous Gndiin inc
aniity 10 walk seven days ana seven nights. But when
| this becomes the centre OF Appreciation IN a
mans life, then 1t Is harmful. 1et there
no reason why ones modcsty should prevent his say
ing that he IS handsome know hundred men SnU
will maintain that they are houey 10 one WHO WI sy
| that he Is handsome Yet would II De modesiy In
| n man AK feet tall 10 say that he was
on,y Ave or IN man VINO coud nft 500 pounds 10 say
that he coudit only 1907 Facts are facts ana should
be acknowledged Inc PRIDE when the DIlingn.eI OF
Tor IL his But others feel the influence
|
The circus comes. and the church and The academy
orc neglected. When this desire IL carried into matufcr
life II tends TO make men Ike hhlina-. 20
| AZ times men glory In vices, and the woman whose
ongue peaks gOrcs IN the assertion that she can
give men good they send. 70, TOO there are men
who are proud because nothing Restraints their proia
iiv men whose tongues walk through Heaven ana
earth and break The very abysses OF perduoh Anu
then there ore the red mOuthed heroes OF Nughy 30
N we sci the gauge right the tendency Is upward II
| wrong II Is downward toward perdiuon.
Praise should be an auxiliary and not tue prlhHpal
motive 60 action Those VINO seek Tor u oy arr ana "s
live In perpetual state az weakening excitement FOR
ns an incentive To good work II should follow ana III
sre achievement. There II no Inspiration IN inc hrtlst
Who while painting wonders continually what iolks VIII
mink of ms picture There must be love OF the subject
| a larger sympathy OF the Holy Ghost For
| The influence OF tho Holy Ghost is not confined
TO churches The Holy Ghost works nj me easel ana
with the chise when fashion forms OF beauty tha
| are inspired ,,.--. -, ~ -.
This principle can be applied TO literature. No author
will live in his works II ms paper Is loOkng-gahs al
vou will look al the Outspoken speeches OF the men VI
ms garrulous Nation where every man Is speaker II
the courts IN legislative nails anu on
| thc platform, yOu will see the ELECTS OF Inc iout
az pralse Their words nets cast Tor mems favor
There "a "A want OF intensity and earneStness III thc
words. Our public men are trained now 10 touch tnl.
and how not 10 touch They think not OF the fear
les maintenance right against wrong nut or nos
their constituency Will be affected ana whether thc
chances Of reelection viii be endangered IN me day
OF the Revolution fathers were III earnest ana the
words have lived. 49, -. 81. 49,.
The preacher, ia apt 10 believe that ms nearer
are sinners. but respectable sinners, ana ne dwei
lightly on the vices Of riches, society ana fashion
minor form OF the love Of prnse Is secohscl'9shess
The conclusion is that We must lake our hOuv hSh,
than ourselves. and you must ask how many OF you n
love the praise OF men rather imam tue PISoV' Ho