Morning journal and courier., 1885-10-19
HENRY WARD BEEoHER.

Attending Church
 NEW YORK, Get 1s.-The thsme of Rev. Mr. Beecher's serm6n was from the parable eoiitainsd in the 14th chapter of Luke 18th to 24th verses; the story of the rejected invi- tatioh to the feast. NIT. Beecher said:
 The origin 3t this striking parable is to be found in few verses before the text where Christ was laying down the law of disinter- estedness, even in our pleasures; where he was in the most significant manner protesting against the commerce of friendship; buying and selling it, interchanging it and trading it as if it was ware: tWhen thou makest a dinner or slipper call not they friends nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsfnen nor thy rich neighbors lest they also bid thee again. and recompense be made to tbee. :" He invited me and invited him, so we are quits." It is an underlying question of ad- vantage. Now true love never asks any ques- ton except the permission of loving, and true friendship of thefhighest type all says Let me give" snd is surprised if it receives too, and if there is anything in ths W5tld that is disinterested it should be the forth giving of an elevated nature in the duration of kindness. "When thou makest feast call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind and thou shalt be blessed for they can not reconpense thee."
 Disintefestedness therefore, not se16shnesss under the cloak of charity teaches the lesson -"They cannot recompense thee." A man made great supper-a feast. That is, the kingdom of God is represented in this way. Christ represents the offer of the of God, or of the highest conditions of the human soul as a thing most welcome and most joyful. Now contrast this with the offer of religion that is made in our day. We'll, it is duty, but thst is not the way in which Christ in this parable offers it. It is a pleasure or ought to be. It is often repre- sented as thrall. "You must cruelty every thing" The whole natural man has to be men have got to hays in their minds cate chism and doctrine and Sunday iaeetings and all sorts of things which don't seem to come by nature. And rather than be lost they submit pulpit preachers to menl You will be damned if you don't come to religion; take your choice," and some say q would rather be damned" and some say q would rather have religion than he'll" Not to go into any more detailed examination of the matter. Is this the way in which Christ represented the coming to religions To him it was thing that every fian should count it joy to think of, to rise into that estate in which one is free man of the universe, in his weakness, want and sinfulness, never theless friend of God, with an interior faith and an exaltation of his best powers such as shall make him superior to the or the accidents or the beset- ments of human life. Now let us in this light look back to the parable and see the the fu1lness of that spiritual kingdom and of that supetlbtive manhood in which 1t con- Sists.
 The first one says: 1T have bought piece of ground must needs go and gee it' Would his ground run aways Could not it wait another day? But it was property. Property is very conservative. Property re- care of, and therefore the first excuse there may be the best, The second excuse is equal ly significant and ttanslatable.. To the mes senger the second man says: 1T have bought a fine yoke of oxen; l go to prove them" That represents business. Occupation knows no law. The third represents social surround ings, the thousand sweet cares, the interlac- ings, the captivities, the ten thousand ele- ments of life that appeal to our married wife; 1 cannot come" That is the way he felt If it had been two years later he might have said "that is the very reason will come i'm Qaughter). But at present q can't come." And under this simple figure he represents the binding inhu- ences of social and companionable life. The is that it is not a refusal of reli- 1Iry r6xn f, cir 1u that the setting aside for the present the not taking it, politely setting it aside with the various excuses. There are very few men that reject religion outright. They do reject doctrines outright. They ought to be hon ored for it, many of them. They do reject church economies. They do reject certain forms of church life; as it is called, religious fife. They are not to their taste, they are not to their judgment, they are not to their conscience. But there are very few men who reject that which all these things mean or strive to represent. The emancipation of one's reason and sensibilities from the threll of animalism, pride and passion-that is being a Christian. It it living by mans reason, 8 mans moral sensibilities and living in them in such way as that he shall have control over all the subordinate forces in his nature. Then comes the excuse of social pleasure: tFThere is an impression that there is an in extinguishable feud between joy and light ness of heart in society and religion, but I tell you religion runs from the very highest sounds that are given by the whistling sprites ot that organ to the very thunder of the bass There is not one single range of sound that is not necessary to religion; there is not one single element that is right for any man that is not by double reason right for Christian man has the right to all tbe earth, if he is the heir of God. You did not make mirth God made it and put it in you. You didn't make imagination. God made it and put it in you to be exercised. You don't make all forms of hu1nor and wit and sparkling gaieties. God made them and meant them to be developed in men. God made everything that is grand in heroism, everything that is sublime in oratory, every thing that is ravishing in music, everything that is exquisite in the interplay of social sympathies and in the life of the innocent. The whole round of pleasure in life is not to be criticized because it is pleasure, but be- that could sit in that organ gallery and play jewsharp repre- sents man who stands denying religion. He has got few baso pleasures that he says he can't give up. Well, the same call is being made now that was made in the time of our savior. The call of Christ to men to enter into their highsr relationship it is not 
 known under all forms of religious instruc- ton, but every household of father and mother is pulpit and is still crying out to every one of the children .'The feast of the gospel is spread ont before you, come and welcome. J It is in every man that is in life and feels it's
 strong hand and great temptation. There is still in us every weakness that wants the rec ognition of the call of God to higher strength.
 bring to you the overturss of the gospel and say it is feast spread; the food is an gels food, the service is honorable service
 The recommendations here are ample, for God
 liness is profitable in the life that now is, as
 well as in that which is to come, and the re
 version. "Lay up your treasures in heaven.
 To Defeat Boycotting.
 CORK, Oct. 1S.-A special meeting of tn.
 Loyal Defense nnion was held last night. Re
 ports were read showing that through th'
 efforts of the agents of the union boycottinl
 has been materially checked. A resolution
 was passed establishing financial branch oi
 the union in London and amid much enthu
 siasm it was resolved to equip strong forc'
 of farriers, who will travel through the coun
 try, shoe the horses of boycotted farmers an(
 attend cattle sales for the purpose of buying
 boycotted cattle, paying fair London prices
 therefor.