New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-04
LYMAN ABBO1T'S WORK.
HOW HE CAME TO PLYMOUTH CHURCH
AND WHAT HE HAS DONE THERE
DIR ROSSTER w RAYMOND DESCRIBES THE
TASK OF SECURING HIM AND THE
RESULTS OF HIS MINISTRY

that his resignation of the pastorate viii be |
felt severe blow by its members and by |
thousands Of Christians to whom the sermons |
OF the eloquent preacher have come through inc |
press. Like Plymouth Church. DR.. Abbott stood |
for a principle: like the church. he has been |
the champion Of the freedom of conscience, and
under his pastoratc Plymouth Church remained
what il had been under Henry Ward Beecher q |
bulwark against dogma, forum where
thoughts free as the air might be uttered.
Or Abbott came to Plymouth Church under |
conditions which would have deferred a timid
or a haif-hoartod man. What he did and what
he said he knew would be judged and measured
by the standard which an llustrious predecessor
had established, and IT required no little ability
to meet the demand. But there never a
time when the members of the congregation
regretted their choice although in time ii was
found that DIR Abbott hal ideas far in ad-
vance Of many of his parishoncTs and that his
uttcrances were frequently 'liberal' TO
shock the orthodox members He was criticised
by many of his congregation on that account,
but he could not be swervcd from his duty as he
saw it, and even those members who refused
to agree with his advanced ideas now join his
most ardent admirers in regretting his retire
ment from the pulpit
Dr. Rooster W RAYMOND, who has been
member Of Plymouth Church for more than
forty years. and chairman Of the Advisory
Committee of the church appointed at the time
of MIR Bcecher's death said TO a representative
OF The Tribune:
TIE CHURCHS DILEMMA.
After the sudden departure Of MI. Beccher
Plymouth Church was generally believed to be
not only overwhelmed with grief and consterna-
ton but also SO demorazed to be in doubt
whether not 1t should continue its organized
work all The first part of this current
opinion was true enough; the second WAS a pro-
,ound mistake. based upon the notion that the
church simply a heterogeneous multitude
held together solely 10y personal love and 10y
atty To- Henry Ward Beecher. 1t not
realized that this unqucstionable love and 10y
atty had a deeper foundation. and that Plym-
outh Church would regard the continuance Of
the work Mr.. Beechcr had planned and inspired
ss the best tribute of grief and gratitude which
could be offered to his memory. Suggestions
were rife. both from hostile and from friendly
sources that the church should disband, or
should sell its property and remove 10 more
favorable location to begin new and different
career
Nor such advice, from the standpoint
Of ordinary prudence. without reason. The
members Of the church resided as they still
do. mostly far from its locality Uhe average dis
prospect was that the change of residence still
going on in Brooklyn would make il more and
more difficult to maintain prosperous church
In the locality which. already in 1S41 when the
new Plymouth Church took possession of il, had
been abandoned by another denomination as
too far downtown 1t was pausibly argued
that nothing but the genius Of Mr.. Beecher
could have revived and maintained under such
disadvantages, efficient church life and
church work And it natural enough to
suppose that, his centraizing attraction and IN
spring leadership being taken away, the enter
prise would be left to the operation OF the
natural laws which had caused the dscon-
tinuance removal consolidation Of so many
other Christian churches on the Heights
1T should be said that such prophecy or
counsel came from within the church It's
unanimous purpose, from the beginning. was
10 go on with its work and its Advisory Com
mittee received among all the countless sug-
gestions offered TO il by the members OF the
church. not one which intimated either sur
render retreat
IMITATION BEECIIERS NOT WANTED
"In looking for a successor TO Mr.. Beecher
tho Advisory Committee received numerous sug-
eoetions from the admirers 81 popular preach
ers often recommended as the Beecher OF the
Northwest or Of some other region Such sug-
restions met with little favor. 1t was unani-
mousIv felt that Mr. Beechers successor ouRh'
NOT 70 he an eccentric OF sensational mtator
OF him
..Meanwhile it was speedily recognized that
the supply Of the pulpit by diherent ministers
from Sunday to Sunday was both annoying and
,<.rI