The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-11-07
esecAER's WONDERFUL ELocUrloN.
Story Of AN Episode at Certain Ply.
mouth Church Prayer Meeting.
New York Cor. Chicago Herald

New York Cor Chicago Herald
Now, hers is perfectly true anecdote,
not heretofore published, AMI il was told t
me by "A leader Of Plymouth church, right
after last Sundays evolution sermon ly
Behcher. had n ked whether the cungrs-
gati N would stay with the pastor If ho
made q new and further departure from
orth doxy, and no replied that lechsr's
emotional power over them was equal t.
any req lireme1t.
AIN the height OF what has gone into bis
tory rs the Bcecher scandal he continued,
at was at one iuncture the TO up Of a cent
whether we stuck to him or not. The proofs
against him at that juncture seemed abso-
lutaly conclusive aud his most intimate an
steadfast friends coull make no argument
but assert their blind faith. Mo { Of Us sub
sequent!y thought that the trial cleared
him. Tut il was not so wien at a certain
Friday evening prayer meeting, the atm :.
phrre was fairly cdillel by doubts anl out
right condemnation. Beecher took his
usual seat on the low platform-h, remains
Scatel during this service--and as he looked
round the assemblage he appeared to me
the moment to be crushed by the situation.
d. lection and sorrow were expressed In
every line OF his strong face.
"lle slowly turned the leaves OF the Bible
to select passage of Scripture TO read. His
choice was tina famous psalm OF consolation
and faith, beginning The Lord is my shep-
herd: | shall not want His eyes were not
on he page, and throughout it was a recita-
ton from memory, not reading. There
was al aim 3 piteous tone Of appeal in tho
uttarance Of the sentence, as though 1t was
his prayer for the fulfillment OF divine
promise, rathor than a declaration Of conf
dence. Then he went on quietly, fervently, a.
though somewhat remini cent OF pat relig-
ious sweetness in his experience lie max
eth mo to le down in green pastures de
leaio h me beside the still waters. He re-
storeth my soul. Into the succeeding sem
tence he injected, as clearly a, though he
had interpolated an explicit assertion Of his
per onal rectitule spirit of bold sslf-vin-
dication. lie leadeth me in the paths o.
Righteousness for His names sake The sc-
cusel + acher's head was now hell higl,
his voice was declamatory, and something
Of defiance was IN his mica.
"Blt after "a silent moment, his q pect
chang u utterly, in iieating that the ,ht
of his trouble had been lifted for an instant,
only 10 return cru hingly Tears came into
his eyes. aul his voice was tremu, u as he
proc e Tel: 'Yaa though walk through the
valley Of tho shadow OF death, | will fear
no evil, for Thou art with me- Again a
pause, with ensuing exultatio1: Thou pre-
parest a tablo before me in the pre- .ence OF
mine enemies; Thou annointe,t my head
with oil; my cup runneth over BY this
time tears were dropping from half the eyes
in tho hou @, and the sobs Of deeply affected
women were heard. Bsecher is "A poor
reader His part In the recent authors ex-
hibition was disappontingly tams, so bad
was bis elocution. But this was impuisiv',
ON onal, with those qualities which IN AXE
his impa si)nel preaching so wondrou ly
effective
"Tne final lines were delivered In climax
of quverng agitation. Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life, and will dwell in the house of the
Lord forever That psalm won the case for
Beecher so far as his own people were e)nr
ceruei"