New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-28
PULPIT SKETCHES.
THE REV. DIR. sTORRs OF THE CHURCH OF
THE PILGRIMS.

Richard Storrs invited TO the pasorate or the
Congregational Church Of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn and
each Of these years has witnessed the steady vigorous
growth OF his personal influence and reputation. No
man illustrates in his culture and accomplishments
the finest traditions OF the earlier NewEngand ministry
with gre fidelity and completeness The history OF
those men is history OF NewEngland civilization its
popular education its glowing patriotism its thrifty in
dustry; and takes In at the time the growth and
development Of much of the great West north of the
! Ohio River.
The father of Dr. stOrrs was for more than fifty years
pastor OF the Congregational Society OF Braintree Mass
in which he began and closed his ministry He believed
that minister should espOuse parish, he espOuses
wife-that It should be lifelong relations and In this
doctrine his son seems thoroughly grounded, for Dr.
storrs began his ministry in Pilgrim Church. The
haering calls to larger salaries and commanding
positions have failed to shake his fidelity to his first
charge and it may be assumed that death alone will IN
terrupt relation which gathers up thus far his whole
ministerial career.
Brooklyn forty years ago was brisk little city. bu.-
ing with enterprise aud hOpefuncss partly because it
had become the home of New-Englaud men who were
embarked in the business life OF New-Iork. Among
those who founded Pilgrim Church were Seth H. Hunt
John T. Howard, Henry c. Bowen and simeon B.Cht-
tenden. The last named continues among the foremost
members of the society The edifce for many years was
alone end half-rusc spre in It's quaint symmetry
was almost the only bold landmark in that part OF the
city The church is built OF granite and in haf-By-
zanne architecture 1t a bold, costly venture Tor
its day. and prudent shook their heads at the rash
extravaganza of the young society. Experience how
ever justified the experiment, and there Is hardly more
graceful, attractive church building in the City OF
Churches and certainly not that rests on deeper
srer foundations. few feet above the sidewalk TOngh
projecting fragment Of the old Plymouth Rock, the step
ping OF the first Pilgrims in the MayhOwer, Is
firmly built into the rugged wall few years ago the
interior of the church thoroughly rcmodeled and
decorated in medieval polychrome after an elaborate
design. The second floor OF the Sunday building
at rear which formerly the pastors study was
then pierced with ached openings and converted into an
organ and choir gallery above and directly behind the
pulpit The interior Is exceedingly attractive and us-
trate the fine culture of the large congregation Who
wait upon DR. stOrrss ministlaons.
WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR BROOKLYN.
But the pastor Is the central commanding parsonage
among them. No man is more widely ana faNorablY
known I'm city, and it may be said without exception
that today If a vote could be taken, he would he pro-
by of thousands the first citizen OF Brook
lyn Indeed his church. his great enthusiasm l. IN
the city Of his adoption. No man has been more con-
tlnuousy and frufuly identified with its best Interests
In and unrcmitting student life he has always
made room for every good word and work among the
people The great public library owes more to his labor
and influence than TO those Of any other citizens He
has strengthened it's counses drawn large contributions
to its treasury and given the proceeds OF not
few Of h, brilliant lectures; that the library to-day j.
one OF the interesting and useful In the land s
the peoples library and Il managed in the interests 81
all of them, and not like some musy monopoios con
vcrcd into a midday rallying place FOR handful OF
literary oilers
The Historical Society Of Brooklyn Il foremost among
it, societies ard institutions. It's magnificent building is
Justly enough pride and admiration Of the people.
Few buildings beautiful or gracefully adapted 10
the uses Of elegant learning have been erected in Amer
lea. It's unique library its interesting collection liz
literary Inequalities among the strongest attraction"
l. lur, L. thA
stors; it may almost be said that without hS III
struncntdy it would not have been provided for long
reach years. For such enterprises langush and
dwindlc when left the providence OF business and
professional men. whose munfcence Is 20 often camp,d
by the pressure OF affairs The prcsenc" Of master
spirit, like storrs the necessary condition OF
success. His memorable lectures in the Academy Of
Music years ago did something better than add hand
some amounts the building fdnd; they concentrated
aud kinded the interest OF pubic-mincd citizens and
led the way in opening their purses. Dr. storrs seen
at his the the rostrum OF the
Academy of Music, when some commanding theme crl'-
tallizes his various and extensive learning aud thor
Oughy the latent energies OF bis genius His two
great lectures Russia first given in the Brooklyn
Academy aid OF the Historical socys building fund
The building was packed TO the dome. Without note
line mcmOrandum before him the speaker held tie
vast audience ,Tfbound for two hours with a broad
cnng deepening stream of eloquence in which stat.,
ties became pictue>\ lie, and the marvellous history and
all their barbafc spcnor and grandeur passed bfore
the bewdcred people like fascinating panorama. TIE
speaker never hcsitacd for a word nor thought IL,
vocabulary seemed ucXhaustibe, and hi treasury ot
words discovered the subety and elegance az the Greeks
the sonorou- melodies OF the Romans, with the brawuy
picturesque visor of the The interest grew
painful it, bTcJthes intensity and the people
separated under the wtchery Of spell that balcs ai
power of analysis. The succeeding winter the sam"
lectures given at the Academy IN NewIork before
an oupounng OF its best citizens, and the Old success,
repeated.
HIS POWER As \ PREACHER.
\ few years Or. Stoyrs invited 10 deliver Tie
,uuu ofccturcS preaching the student,
Of the Union Theological seminary. lie said to the
writer who stud! ing the great speakers methods:
not conscious OF any special exceptional prep
aratlon; nor that | doing auy better work than
usual; hut the platform became aud more crowded
with the leading lawyers, jul~tS and scholars OF New
York, rs well as the more distinguished clergy, until
had hardly >tanding-room, and l nearly srloIer,l
under the uneA pcctcd pressure of the occasion"
Those lectures constitute one of the most admirable
manuals on English homilcuc, in print DR.. sIorIs
fi>cnatcs the best minds ur~tiby. III, popularity with
the uulcaTcd masses is not direct ar imperative.
although the common people hear him gladly
But his thought Is always well abreast of the deepest
busiest thinker Nothing Is commonplace with him. for
his very commonplace Of utcance are perpetual vI,toS
into "a starry background OF exalted experience. Few
men words with his grasp aud spiritual insight.
For many years h. wrote all hi, sermons and lectures
with thorough fstilous d.hcration OF scholarship.
sparing neither time labor In this way his tlinH
grew up about hi! intellectual NE and became character
istic All ut once ne aVokc in the surprise 81 his dico'
cry that the Pen no longer necessary servant AMI
he has not used manuscript since. Yet no rhetoric
develops more varied and spontaneous beauty. AMI any
OF hi, sermon, might 20 into print without touch or
hint of revision; and, what Is somewhat unusual, unfold
fresh attractions.
Dr. Sorrs IN, a retiring. almost ba>htul presence,
face scupturcd by hobitua meditation aud deep think
ing, with the strong brow and prominent CcSoi IN
orator lie may sometimes seem lonely or Isolated. H.t