The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-06
MR.. BECKER IN LONDON.
lie breaches to Great ThrOng in City Tenn
ple--Narrow Christianity Denounced.

Cable Special July 4.
The voice of Mr.. Beecher was to-day again
heard IN an English pulpit. and several hundred
Americans joined the immense crowd of London
srs which besieged DIR. Parkers City Temple on
Holborn Viaduct this morning quite an hour be-
fore the time appointed for the opening service.
I reached the church rather later. and had some
difficulty in pushing through the perspiring
throng which INSTRUCTED the backstair entrance
set apart for the more privileged ticket-holders
At least a dozen policemen had been requisi-
toned to keep order outside, while inside small
army of volunteer door-keepers marched hither
and thither, showing new arrivals to their seats
The scene just before Mr.. Beecher made his
appearance was striking ard strange. The City
Temple. with its rather gaudy decoration, its
modern stained-glass windows, painted columns,
and parti-colored stone and marble pulpit, is one
of the handsomest and largest non-conformist
tabernacles in London. Facing the organ loft
is gallery running round the church and rising
almost to the roof. in theater Indeed, the
whole mise scene was theatrical, and it fitted
the reverend preacher like a glove. The congre-
cation seemed abnormally agitated, too, and set
you thinking of Lyceum audience before the
curtain goes up on new play, or the Speakers
gallery Gladstone night.
Every corner of the huge building was occu-
pied, chiefly by people belonging to the comforta-
BILE middle classes The front rows were almost
monopolzed by Americans and detachment of
reporters while, utterly regardless of British
decorum, eight or nine enthusiasts had taken
refuge on the steps below the pulpit, where they
squatted during the service, like so many Sauls
ut the feet of another Gamalel. dutter went
through the church elder solemnly issued
from the vestry with basket of red, white and
yellow and blush roses set in maiden hair and
adorned with a small American flag. The
elder placed the basket floral tribute to Mr..
Beecher from the ladies and gentlemen of
the City Temple Band of Hope'-on
table before the pulpit and retired. AS
Ill rang out from church opposite the Old
Bailey. Mr.. Beecher assembled the pulpit steps
''Four-and twenty maidens" in the organ loft i'm
mediately behind him semi-circular as he
entered and burst into song Seen from the
front, they seemed to compose halo around his
head. He reminded one strongly just then of
Mr.. Casby, in Little Dorrit," and, as thus sur
rounded little of the aesthetic Bunthorne, in
Patience" Three thousand necks craned for
ward, 5000 eyes grew fixed as Mr. Beecher got
on his feet and began his sermon. He looked in
tensely patriarchal, with his long white hair and
black coat, his turned-down collar and his up
turned eyes, Isn't he beautiful" murmured
lady me, tanning herself into delicious
fever He certainly was extremely decorative.
A trife more unctuous, perhaps, than the preach.
ers one is accustomed 30 in this cut-and-dried
city but decorative
Announcing the well known text about
''Loye," taken from Corinthians, Mr. Beecher
showed some initiatory nervousness. but soon
his voice acquired its old ring and clear enun-
citation. The subject was admirably suited to
an Independence Day, and he treated it in his
own inimitable manner, contrasting what he
called pale moonshne sentimentallty and the
'smush of love- human love which specialized
its object with the divine love of Christianity,
and summing up severely against the .'mush.'
Rv fha yvav cd mr. Y
in the breast of John Bull. Every DOW and then
the preacher fred off a joke. This was at FIST
rather alarming to the congregation, though DIR.
Parker has accustomed them to some pulpit
to have conquered their prejudice,
for every five minutes the church
was CONFUSED with laughter by his quaint, If to
English ears shocking" sallies. The sermon
was long and airy commentary on the text,
once or twice rising to rhetorical heights more
often keeping within the limits of humorous and
familiar discussion. Towards the close, talking
about the uncharitable nature of the pharasaic
al Christians, he got off mosquito story, which
set the congregation into fits. After likening
the pharisees to hypocritical and ill-deserving
mosquitoes, who always say grace before they.
put their stings into you, he theoretically ex !,
claimed THANK God! are not insects. y
He made another point by attacking those self
ish people, who cali themselves by holy names
and live like devils. Then, gradually dropping
banter, he returned to the original subiect-love
and wound up with an exhortation to his hear
ers to cast off the bondage of fear, and enter
into the resurrection of the freedom Of the love
of God and sobriety
Mr.. Beecher's gestures seemed to astonish peo
pie around me even more than his very broad
comedy and familiarity. | doubt whether En-
glishmen would relish much of Mr.. Beecher's
eloquence, cut to-day he unquestionaby had a
success as a humorist
Let me not forget to add that honor was paid
to the musical traditions of Plymouth Church.
A chant and an anthem were exqusitly sung by
the choir, also four hymns, Dr. Parker doing all
the nterlocutory rhetoric needed before the con-
gregatoE dispersed. Mrs. Ann Bulkley Hill, of
st. Bartholomew Church, New York sung
Gounods "a King of Love My Shepherd Is.o
Handbills were handed to the congregation
nouncing another sermon next Thursday by Mr.
Beecher, admission tickets half crown with
shilling extra for s'early doors, to avoid crowd
at the main entrance" This latter was con-
venient invention of Manager Harris, of Drury
Lane on crowded nights.
After the service l drove to DIR. Parkers
house, near the British Museum, and interviewed
Mr.. Beecher. He was iolling back on sofa
day was hot and the divine has brought as an
American July. His resemblance to Mr. Casby
was stronger than ever
what did you think of your audience, Mr..
BeecherW said /.
10 / was we'll enough pleased with it, re-
piled MIR. Beecher. 1T was very like my own
audiences. But don't think the English are
used to pulpit humor. For my part, / don't
think it is unworthy to use any Of my talents in
the service of the Lord"
"What plans have you formed2"
II have no plans. / leave all that to nv
agent, and he fires me off wherever he thinks fit
shall lecture or preach at different places, not
alone On religion, but also on political economy
Morals9 No I shall avoid special subjects and
say nothing on the burning question of the day.
ho mis- alyo ~
NEEDLE with local politics In fact, it would be
what we Americans call bad nolifics,r