New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-22
A GREAT SACRED DRAMA.
THE CAREER OF THE pRoDIGAL SON.

ABLE-THE TWO ACTS OF DRAMA or UNiYER-
SAL APPLICATION.
Plymouth Church was densely thronged yes
terday morning Mr.. Beecher having returned from his
ccturng tour IN the West. There more than the
usual icuty IN securing seats In max
Jag the customary announcements Ar. Beeeher spoke of
temperance mass meeting to be held In the Academy
or Music Brooklyn, this evening. lie named as tho
speakers the Rev. Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler the Rev. DR.
j. o. Peck the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher and the Rev.
Henry VI. Galaher, and added "any one OF whom Is
worth hearing and whom good many OF you ought TO
hear Tue meeting under the auspices of the First
Womens Christian Temperance Union"
The subject OF the sermon the parable OF tho
PrOdigal Son. from which Mr.. Beeeher drew many les
sons presenting the pathetic features OF the career OF
the young when misfortune overlook him with 50
much that tears were in the eyes OF many
OF the con regatou wei those Of tue preacher
Mr. Beecher read the parable for the Bible lesson.
and IN his sad IN substance We have here tho
first act exquisite Drama There are in the parallels
great pear!s aud smalls pearls OF the great pearls
think may be said what Daniel Webster IL reported TO
have said when asked which Of sbakespeare dramas he
liked the hest "The read last" So IL may De SAID
this parable until read another There are two acts
IN this drama but It contains the whole universe Goa
and Ills nature the moral government OF the world sln
penance restoration and rejoicing It's the Gospel
IN essence careful following out OF the story may
weaken IT, but nevertheless i9 nesdful for who need
milk, and some ven need milk and water
In the first place. 1t has extraordinary comhina
ton. which impossible, o. extreme degradation
and final restoration. The subject deep. interior
subtle starts out like picture. 1t is done with fue
strokes not laden with material, but is mastery. 1t
bore particularly on the Pharisees but 1t also bears
upon the human elements IN every age its scope and
method universal In the first scene we have the
indulgent father who is unwilling 20 refuse has son
anything He wise but ndulgent, Ike to God In this
respect Aud we the genial jovla happy younger
! bfg faith lad Inv
and decatey brought up the elder son was fed on tho
cateehlsm but the younger skipped 1t. The elder was
| regular and OF good habits; the younger was his
mothers Garng-not bad. but most smiable aud charm
! ng Like many another, he sic6ened OF living at
! bome and would SEQ the world. Home
! WAS too strait for him; his impetuous na.
! ture overaowed the stale domestic comforts
~ life his blood was warm, his ambition vital, and he
dd not wish to burn like allOw-candle in its own
socket way be must 90, set by unquenchabe
cagerpess desiring chance 10 blossom, which be would
have And II Is unworthy smbton this desire to go
ouf and ace II Il the universal touch o. nature.
The young man had formed no ehar9 acre no
line OF conduct or principle had been laid down
had no principle. He had not been trained TO
ya1i'ioyisnty-a very nice fellow His nerves were
muck, he dullard and lie took TO The word ana
| he world took to him. There many men who n
| something from every side and place Ia society. HIS
| omable qualities admirable bat were his run.
ary drew friends laid the foundation for the sweet
Xires There are wo kinds OF wees the sweet and the
accrb Men who cold cautious, sagacous, timid and
selfish break the laws OF morality there IS no
money in IT, They DO no. n5sa. b inc Avs
d sSeisy' the edge aad do not get over
Mon Allied with pride selishness cruelty, deYiliry aro
not cOnV'Va! any socl" ny ,,oo i c,I ha11s1
They VIII drunk prosperity IS PROMISED tleln, nor
slcIl II is more prOntalle 10 De soea ~ Ni
tuous FOR pay Ihs Is ne type Oh Tie euer D'o'hei III
the parable. -, g.. .,..uo. Than. ,-,o
is Wsv brilliant. easy to be pleased social IN his IL
s,inct likes all seeing In each his best and trusting
bunGrd things secinlfheeyen in company Of pleas
ure VITA capital OF happiness Oh every side WIN DIS
blasting face a unstDgy pocket. he becomes then me
ready prey Of vice. Ills goodness l. his bane aud
| frendly enemies are drawn around bin. No one ever
INV mi aoerO bitter crabapple stung oy the wasp TO
draw out sweet Juice Dut no ripe blooming peach g.
noceros has not many temptators Blu tie one with
iair skin aud face ike Hover Is dfaMn INTO ,sa
thousand tempt tons and Out u MS ehde@lehs comes
So 6e won't out because he was buoyan and ambitious
10 know about TIE world than bis name won ss
him Home nest, but there comes an pu Sc 10 NY
from II. This young man went away ah9 gay Vie NE
very virtue skinned the surface OF evil ana Ne went
mol IN by plunge but by graded steps iurther anu ur
thpr He found life more pheasant tnan ne thought;
The artful. deft ways pleased Inn there was
sweet s,1S x Az" Ion@ a. nis means lasted he Was pros
Urous lie did lose his health aud strength Ttere are
tbe rurket glve out Blessed is he who does MOI lose
the urs. The yodnG man spent all Ills substance. We
large and that ii went III great abundance Al any RTE
II was soon gone The fuel was out aud %, fee died
lie nrobaby could not have told now IL went HE Gld
dust was thrown into the ar, ana IL meant beauty
j glory and joy 10 him, but when 1t hal So.
tsG in s moment All Biz parses were gone a,
there WIS honey tey wers @ m s oa a,
return M stood by him e of the saddes things
IN lie is the hearessness Of men TO man ne is going
, down.
My heart is sorry for the youth he not bad, or
II ne there are thousands OF You US pad, ana
warns and droves Of men these cites just IKE
. him lie was very good turned very bad. Now came
tbe crisis and test OF his manhood. Every man IS q
! ding hpas "A
MOI TELL what he is until his mtulness j. tested Every
man NAV fall. Can he recover : that Is the ques-
ton. Through inexperience. unwisdom uncalculatns
courage rails, ana when bruised, hchin ana III
e the pcfal can lie returnf Then this youth came TO
himself That is the essential manhood appeared b.
fore n the animal he had down a. the bottom ana
now he came TO himself lie had Ms hrSt salut9ry K
pcrlence It want hard as iron and stern as Justice
lie suffered hunger thirst nskedness; he was an out.
east and alone. nEry 81 heNt ana no man gave un
4 him, no woman gave unto him. want wa Snaying anu
tormenung 1t was the voice OF Coo III ever nore ara
, faculty II SAID that he couli i0"K az SIN 20 SEQ
what he had brought himself TO- Want WAS not ven
gennce but mercy; II reused hs whole nature. Many
Sncn complain OF want and charge II to society ami up
I'm the voices against law tey curse God and die or
r. - the mother Of wrath. desperation and crime They
- say TIE world owes me living. III nave It, by me
lid i'm one way another" The scOundrel
J. Does the world him anythngl Yes. a
= halter and a grave. and payment !: made n
plunge sulcny into vice and Issue out at !he door OF
q sriclde-the conviets door-ihe snraEs door But
Tnc prodiga said, I'll Work. No more borrowing. no
WORK TOis was tho first sep refornat He went
" 70 men WAC had families and wealth and reSpccabilty
J.. | ard they gave HIM work, tor they said they
+ must considrr themselves and their children, and
take in no outcast with an unfTagrant rep
| utation. he went To corpora i0ns, wi,I
u ! being made up OF with souls. have DO souls
and they SAID We must have reliable and responsible
a agents are not one' IratncK,rs oid IN hey
cSuIdr't offend their customers with such clerk me-
cbanics Al their shops lled, and his hands were
D, yhfe and unframed; tue husbandman said have
~ al Inc labor need:Ec fields swarm" Aud last OF all
=, | he went 10 tie swineherd. The Jew Thought there
was nothing lower THAI the hog. Aud there is nothing
lower unless L. sometimes man, 20 nj the bottom tht
youth brought up. There he was with lhe Doar a. sow
succulent pot which they ted AZ the bottom, hel
resportabiiy would give him no wOrk. lie resolved 10
Il do anything rather than remain idleness. Tn:
L. work was the Sign OF his restoration as well