The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-11-14

&athOm, anu bthlI mag cuhC PuIptu
Orator-The Manner OF Conducting
Services In His Brooklyn Temple Of
worship OF Pastor and Master.
NEW YouK, November 4, 1880.
Henry Ward Bcecher stepped briskly in
through the back door of Plymouth Church
at precisely 1880 oclock last Sunday evening.
At the same instant the organist sprawled
his hands and feet on the key -boards of the
big organ, producing soft music while the
noted preacher walked to the platform. Tho
great, barn like church was filed, but not
crowded. When had last been there the
packing Of people in the entrances was 80
dense that Beecller could hardly make his
way through. That was during the trial of
Tilton's suit for damages, and everybody
was eager TO sea the great criminal or martyr,
which ever way the celebrated case was
viewed. At present Talmage leads as Brook
lyn's astonishing preacher, and, though
Beschcr breaches to audiences of about three
thousand persons, and fully retains his hold
on his regular congregation, he is less attract
i've than of yore to strangers. There was no
change apparent in himself, however, as he
brushed past me. He did not look day
older, pound lighter, hair grayer, or a gill
less full-blooded. The coarse skin of his
color of man bound to die of apoplexy, but
there was no indication in his robustness
that he was in possible danger from consump-
ton. He was broad, round bellied, short
nccked, and stoop- shouldered. His frosty
hair hung straight and thin over the collar
of heavy frock overcoat. He looked like
an oily, sanctimOniOus, hypocritical Chad
band; but when, in passing, he gave an
acquaintaucs's hand hearty squeeze, and
said, "IIello, old fellow" inamanly whisper,
the likeness was instantly destroyed. Won
derfully magnetic is Beecher, in ordinary in
tnrcOurse as well as in oratory. He makes
friends, and they stick to him through thick
and thin, He carried remarkable hat. 1t
was soft felt, broad Of brim and ample of
crown, and about the style worn by Buffalo
Bill. He always wears such Int, probably
from necessity, for he would simply be ridicu-
Ions in any other kind that can think of.
Some men are born that way. He went
quickly, yet rather heavily, up the steps to
the unObstructsd platform, threw the big hat
on the floor, took off his oysrcoat, sat down
in the only chair, and slipped his feet out OF
| pair of sandal overshoes. He catches cold
in his brainy old head very readily, and,
therefore, takes pains to keep his other ex-
tremity dry. On and under small stand at
his side wers lunches of autumn leaves. He
sat leisurely surveying the congregation
while the organ voluntarily continued, Then
an anthem was sung by the paid soloists and
the volunteer chorus. While this was going
on he glanced over bunch of printed and
written notices, and tossed them aside, re-
jected. It isn't easy to get an advertisement
| in Piymouth's pulpit, and seldom are Other
| than PlymOuth's services announced there
| His first utteran0e was in reading chapter
| of Scripture, and he did not do this we'll
He is not n good elocutionist, and does not read
impressively. A nasal quality in his voice il
displeasing at first, and some of his pronun
Citations are faulty. "Ruther" for rather and
"gospil" for gospel " are examples. After
the reading he said, "Hymn 1885," and sa
down. He never reads the hymns. The con
gregation sang with the choir quite heartily
Thus far ba had been unanimated and care
less in his manney. He now held hymn
traught air up at the ceiling, and might hav'
been thinking of his forthcoming sermon, o
of the Gabbages in his garden OH the Hudson
for all the lakling that could be gained iron
his heavy face. Twenty minutes had elapsed
since the opening of the services, when IL
stood up to pray.
He planted himself solidly in the centre o
| the platform, crossed his hands over his pro
trudipg front, closed his eyes and asked 70
what he wanted-whioh happened to be
higher, purer, more satisfying Christian ex
perience. There was 10 style about Beeohe
as he stood there. The marked and yer,
proper deferential air revived the Chadban'
idea, and something like whine in his voic
did not help the matter. Still, he told hi
desire in plain language, without loudness
and in manner calculated to impress hu
man listener, whatever may have been tn
effect aloft. and he was only five minute
doing It. Not trace of affection or selfcOr
seriousness was visible. His dyesg was nc
clerical. A frOck-coat hung loosely abou
him, sinful gold watch-ohain street.-The
across his broad stomach, his trousers didn'
fit, and there was nothing sacred about hi
turned down collar and ordinary blac
crayat. On opening his eyes again he CAV
tho number of the popular hymn, "Comt
Ye pIsaousolate." The first two lines {
each verse we're sang as a solo, with fair en-
preston and excellent eHppciation, by til
most conspicuous object, for the choir CALLER
in the Plymoth Church is just above an
behind the preacher. The second couple
was made duet effectively by her and I'll
alto woman, and then the congregation joine
with vim in the chorus. The man on m
right had voice like broken bassOon, til
woman In my rear split my ear with q thi
treble, and all around ma were voices OF
of tune; but these individual horrors wen
covered by the vast volume of sound, whic
was kept in time by the honrishing drum
major of chorister. The cOncourse stood II
and opened their mouths wide. What
coinical sight they must have been to Beeche
with their jaws straining and wagging
him Hut he had seen the spectacle for
many years that he didn't laugh. He Ia
back ~ his chair and beat time with IA
fingers on the stapd. II was five minut,
past eight o'clock when hp began Il
sermon,
Tho reading desk made of yellow woo
from the Mount OF Olive Is still used
Beecher. II il plain and slight, giving l
! obstruction to full length view of him. II
laid on it single small sheet of not'
= and even these consisted Of statistic
That is as near as he usually goes to writir
his sermons. On some occasions the not
aTe extended to two or three pages but new
more. Beecher has acquired the habit
|. thinking on his feet. He prepares himse
!. beforehand with an 0ptline of ideas, bl
y leaves the language to come Of itself whs
wanted. The theme of this particular di
course was Paul's letter 10 the Grsek cOnve
. whose slave had run away, and whom II
great Apostle desired to give the voluntari
returning slave freedom. During tire
Z quarters OF an hour la Rad and comment,
ON the epistle, making Paul ont to hs rath
a crafty old dickerer, and STICKING 10 q coll
quail style. ! could soc that tho strange
!. who had come with great expectations We
disappointed. The preachers manner VI
that OF Bible class teacher, aud totally
void Of any oratorical exoellences, putwhi