The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-15
Mr.. esEcHER's FIRST SERMON.
His Widow Describes the Great Preach
er's First Brool ayKI Sermon.

HIS w idow Describes the Great Preach
er's First BrooE ayxi Sermon.
Mrs. Henry Ward B eecfer gives an in
teresting account of the first sermon
preached by Mr.. Beec her in Plymouth
church. Brooklyn, in her fifth paper on
"Mr. Beecher as I Kl lew Him" in The
Ladies Home Journal. a perfect food
of warnings and critici: ms came to him
before his first sermolt. Doubtless all
these warnings determi ned Mr.. Beecher
more than aught else hat the people OF
his new church should ltully understand
before he was installed, what course he
was likely to pursue. He told me that
if Plymouth church de cided to install
him, it would do so with its eyes wide
open. 1t was upon the evening of Sun
day, Oct. 10, 1847. He sat quietly ON
the pulpit while the choir was singing.
His eyes scanned the ccmcoupse of PEG
pie before him, but it was the look of
confidence that | saw.
Knowing as did something. of what
he intended to say, l could not but
thiak, "Will these people accept the
bold course he has marked out for his
work from one so young loe,king?" For
his ten years of labor atathe west had
not rubbed the youth fl ON his face
noticed the almost cont EN- ptuous looks
of the strangers present rs they watched
his face. AS he rose to pead the Scrip
lures deathlike silence, pervaded the
great church. But not temor was
visible in the voice that spoke. With
that mellow voice which the BROOKLYN
public learned so well to know he read
the lesson of the evening ass if hewere be-
fore his Lawrenceburg audience. Then
as he uttered the first low sentence of
his prayer, as his heart ros, , heavenward,
the effect of the preacher became visible
on his congregation, and he brought his
hearers close to the mercy seat. All was
changed. An almost breat bless solemn
ty pervaded the church, and tears were
On many faces.
The youthful look vani shed and did
not return, as in his sermon he plainly
and with great solemnity showed his
hearers the course duty called him to
pursue. AS he said of these remarks
years after: 81 lifted up the banner and
blew the trumpet in the application of
Christianity to intemperalhce, to slavery
and all other great national sins. | said
to those present, IF l remain here and
you come to this church it must at the
commencement be distinctly understood
that I wear no letters, that / will be
bound by no precedent, and that l will
preach the Gospel as apprehend it,
whether men will hear or whether they
will forbear, and l will apply it sharply
and strongly to the overthrow of every
evil and to the upbuilding of all that is
good"
After the close Of the sermon many
came to counsel Mr.. Beecher. They
were actuated by kindness to him and
anxiety for the church. Such bold, plain
speaking they did not understand. They
had never been used to it. 1t would
overthrow this young church.
Don't ally yourself to unpopular men
or unpopular causes" they told him
"There is no call for it. You will only in
jure yourself and break up this church.
After preaching month III Plymouth
church he was installed as pastor on
Nov. II, 1S47.