The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-01-05
BEEcHER IN Low SPIRITS.
A Melancholy Tone to His Friday
Evening Address.
He DeplOres the Enefliciency of His Later
Work, as COnnpared with That of EarIi-
Years.

NEW YORK, Jan. 3.-1.he Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher was in low spirits last night, and a
certain amount of melancholy was infused into
his prayer meeting: The hymns he selected
were OF mournful character, and the prayer
ne tHsred up for the Rev. Dr. Noah Hunt
'Scnenck was fervently sorrowfal. He took for
the subject of bis talk the horror with which
men view death, and dwelt long upon the
theme IL God were to ordain me to begin
he said, "of course l would list cheerfuly; but
am glad the end is drawing nigh. have
had good deal OF trouble, though they say
thrashing is good for wheat and ministers. 1t
taxes away lots of straw and leaves the grain.
hope 1t will have good effect upon me And
yet, said Mr.. Beecher, wistfully and delber-
ately, II have had health vigor, quick percep-
non OF humor, clear understanding and great
enjoyment in the product of 1t. have had
the sympathy of men, and certainly no one
ever had church gathered around him with
people more a;fectionate in it. They love
ne, and have been taught, as the Lord has
said, Those whom the Lord loyeth lie chaS-
tiseth.'"
Mr.. Beecher's voice sank into whisper, and
1t was with an effort that he reused himself
from his reverie. 81 am II or 70; which is il?
Not qaite Y years old, think, aud at that
age most folks are dead and gone. But fad
myself IN perfect health. [ am strong. in
good spirits, and IN good relations with men.
But do feel with the Apostle Paul, that it
lssbstter 10 depart and be with Christ. / have
had t1is feeling good many years, aud did
not die. dent consider that ii ia All iatima-
ZION non. that am going to die. though have the
Ieoilng noR l caDnot help thinking OF DR..
Sebenck. y ho was my friend at a time when
friendship meant something; and thongh do
not covet any ene's goods, say to myself,
why he? Why not l? 1t seems to me that
theao boundaries are either brought nearer to
me or to them. | have chided myself that l
have never been able to preach what lies lat
ont, IN my farcg, in respect to the blessed ness
OF the other life. Dying is radiant. 1t is the
whitaness of the saints descending from heaven
am living. and l have reassu&ble prospect
OF living. l take mp the burden again upou
my shoulders, aud enter upon new YEAR with
the earnest desire that it may be better one
than the last, or than any that have pre-
ceded IT. wish that these prayer meetnge
vera mora attractive. | wish that they I'd
the pcwer OF drawing together the brethren of
this churcb. lt used to b5 80. No doubt nv
words are becoming trite. You have got used
to them, In more recent years I don't seem to
have done What Old in my earlier lita coy
less my own inetlicisncy in that regard. Nor
90 l blame ANYBODY. One does not
naturally SEEK table that has Indifferent
food upon it. Men who are hungry 20
where there is good food. | recognize that,
and set this church is alive aud this meet
ing is the balance-Wheel OF the church
W nen look at the board of deaoons, l am
not discouraged or angry but sometime say
49, oSis "a T" "AsAh9OlOoo HHJi A SHALL AuLrC-
duce new law, so that every man who be-
comes deacon must pledge himself to attend
at lesst one netting ia the year.. Soma OF
them come. bnt they ara few. Il SCENE TO me
tnat when first came here no one
would lave dreamed of giving party
Oh Friday evening, any mora than they would
on Sunday afternoon. / think it ought to be
part OF the feeling and purpose of every per-
son in this church to be here. Without going
further into tho future OF onr church. life, may
I not lay before you the simple qasstion,
What will do in year to coIne2''
Mr.. Beecher's voice failed him. He glanced
expressively at his listeners: 81 have nothing
more to osay," he added, and no one else had.