The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-07-06
AN AlIEnIcAN pREAcnrn.
ev. SIr. Beeeher Talks to n City Temple
-fs,,u0r,,,,ntIun

Rev. OIr. Beecher Talks to City Temple
Congregation.
NEw YoRE, July 5.-A London cor
respondent telegraphs: The voice Of Mr.,
BeeCher was to-day again heard in an
English pulpit, and several hundred
Americans Joined the immense crowd OF
Londoners which beseiged Dr.. Parker's
City Temple on Hilborn YiaduCt this
morning quite an hour before the time
appointed for the opening service. At
least dozen policemen had been re.
quired TO keep outside order, while inside
a small army Of volunteer doorkeepers
marched hither and thither showing new
arrivals to their seats.
The scene Just before Mr.. Bsecher made
his appearance was striking and strange.
The city temple with It's rather gsudy
decoration, It's modern stained glass win.
dowB, painted columns, and partcolored
stone and marble pulpit, IS one Of the
handsomest and largest non.Oonlormist
tabsrnacleBi in London. Facing the organ
loft is gallery running round the church
and rising almost 10 the roof, as In O
theatre. Indeed, the whole mise en- scene
was theatrical, and II fitted the reverend
preacher like glove.
THE CONGREGATION.
The congregation seemed abnormally
agitated, too, and set you thinking Of Ly-
ceum audience before the curtain goes up
on a new play, or the Speakers gallery on
o Gladstone night. Every corner OF the
huge building was oCcu pied chiefly by
people belonging to the comfortable mid
die classes. The front rows were almost
monopolized by Americans and detach-
ment Of reporters, while utterly regard.
lessof British decoruu, eight ornineenthu.
siasts had taken refuge on the steps below
the pulpit, where they squatted during
the service like 80 many sauls at the feet
OF another Gaualiel. A flutter went
through the shurch as al elder solemnly
issued from the vestry with basket OF
red, white, yellow and blush roses set In
maiden.hair and adorned with small
American flag. The elder placed the
basket Ia floral tribute to Mr.. Bsecher
from the ladies and gentlemen Of the City
Temple Band OF Hope) on q table before
the pulpit and retired.
As II rang out from church opposite
the Old Bailey, Mr.. Beecher ascended the
pulpit steps. -Four and twenty maidenB"
In the organ loft Immediately behind him
rose as he entered and burst into song.
Three thousand necks craned forward, six
thousand eyes grew fixed as Mr.. Beecher
got on his feet and began his SER
mon. He looked intensely patrisrChal
with his long white hair and black coat,
his turned.down collar and his up.turned
eyes. "Isn't he beautiful, " mufmured q
lady near me, tanning herself into deli
ciouB fever. He certainly was extremely
decorative. A triae more unCtuous, per.
haps, than the preachers one Is acCustom.
cd To In this cut and dried city, but decor.
ative.
THE sKRxoN.
Announcing the we'll known text about
''lovs" taken from Corinthians, he showed
some initiatoty nervousness, but soon his
voice acquired its old ring aud clear enrn-
citation. The subject was admirably suit.
ed to an Independence Day, and he treated
II In his own inimitable manner, contrast.
ing what he called "pale moonshine senti-
mentality" and the "mush Of love-" a
human love which specialized It's object,
with the Divine Love Of Christianity, and
summing up severely against the "mush."
BY the way this word excited much curl.
osity In the breast Of John Bull. The
sermon was eloquent.
Every now and then the preacher fred
Of Joke. This was at frat rather
alarming 10 the congregation, though DR..
Parker had accustomed them 10 some
pulpit humor. Somehow Beecher seemed
10 have conquered their prejudlces, for
every ave minutes the house-1 mean
chutch-was Convulssd with laughter BY
his quaint, II 10 English ears shocking"
Ballies. The sermon was d long aud airy
commentary on the text, once or twice
rising 10 rhetorical heights, more often
keeping within the limits ol humorous
aud familiar discussion. Toward the
close, talking about the unCharitable
nature Of phGriBaical Christians, he got OF
4 MOSQUITO story which sent the congtega-
tion into fiIB, After llkenlng the Phati.
seee 10 hypoctitiCal and ill.deeerying mos.
auitoes. who always say q grace before
fhay NIT their Btings into you, he enefgeti.
caily exclaimed, "thank God, We are not
an fnseolg,D He made another point by
attacking those selAsh people who call
themselves by holy names and live like
devils. Then, gradually dropping banter,
Ne returned 70 the original Bubiect-lov0
land wound DIP With an exhottAtlon 70
MA heAfefs 70 cast Oh the bondage of fear
and enter into the resurrection ol the free.
dom ol ihe love Of God and eobtiety,
Beeohet'a gestures seemed 10 astoni1h
peopie round me even mora than his very
broad comedy and faniliafity, ! doubt
whether Engllshtnen would relish much
Of BeeOhef eloQuenOe, but today no nn'
queallonably had q asuccebs % humoriet,
- aaa-.l-aAs@s
iniuFed on the HAIL