New-York tribune., 1900-01-08
BROOKLYN NEWS.
FIFTY YEARS IN ONE HOME
PLYMOUTH HAS ANOTHER sEMI-CENTEN-
NAL CELEBRATION

slEEBERs GIVE "REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY
DAYS OF THE CHURcH-FATAL ILLNESS
OF GEORGE z DAY ANNOUNCED.
Plymouth Church celebrated last night the hf-
steth anniversary OF the opening OF its present
building More than three thousand persons were
present Many were compelled 10 stand. General
Eoretio C. Kiog presided. Seated on the platform
were the Rev. DR.. Newell Dwight Hills, the Rev.
Horace Porter. Frederic ". Einrichs, Thomas G.
shearman John r Howard and Stephen NJ Girls
weld
General King announced that George 4. Day. who
Is one oS the Oldest mem bers OF the church
unable 10 be present TO read his "reminiscences as
he was confined with a fatal Illness at his home.
LEIs paper was read by the Rev Mr Porter the
assistant pastor
Dr. Abbott sent his regrets from Chicago al not
being abe 10 be present
Al organ prelude played by G. wartnE steb-
bins the organist. The "Reminiscences OF Mrs.
John T Howard. the widow OF the first member Of
The church. were read by her son. John r. Howard
She spoke Of the popularity OF Mr.. Beecher. She
also referred 10 the energy and eloquence with
which he preached oil the slave question
IN Mr Days "reminiscences the reading OF which
Followed. he said;
From the first this church has been ora-led very
the young ex-slave. Frederick Douglas addressed
the school ana to-a the stoTE oL MS hare conIict
with slavery II 1saz Louis hossEtn was gwen as
: recall so vivtdly, z grand ovation within these
=, % , - 1 ne Ne 14Tl - 3b -1rc7ea " s3aTD's
rifles for the Kansas patriots
M Day said there ought 10 be az least tablet
OF the walls OF the building in testimony OF John
7. Ho@srd's enduring labors for the hrm upouAo-
ing OF Plymouth Church
An anthem. Now Rest Te Pilgrim Host which
was composed for the occasion by G. Wartng Step-
bins was sung. This followed by the rerni-
uiscences Of Stephen NJ Griswold- Mr. Griswolo
said IN part:
M Beecher was great lover OF flowers. In
eInost every seTnon hs drew 1lustraGions Za from
morning nearly fifty years ago he had & oouQuSt
eeE f6iIowfng the " whole town was in an u6roar
Everywhere the remark was heard that Bsecher s
had 6esscrated the house Of God by taxing mowers
when he struggle between the North and South
took place-whefher Kansas should come into the
union as fres or E slave state-Mr BsecneE & sa1o 10
border ruflau-" A committee was ap-
R23'ea E6 20 eTs Tlss 9 ( Rsas 2 6 the
room Of this church in the cause OF liberty Inc Inc
bright little mula1Io girl who was allowed 70 come
returned 10 slavery If her freedom was not pur-
chased was called up 70 the platform 2 by ~ NJ
ana appealed 10 the audience. IN few moments
a watch and chain and Other jewelry were among
80 =9s 1ss - % % e5I5 s--es+
applause Mr. Beecher announced the mulatto g1TI ;
was present at great anti;;slayeEy meeting in
While Mr. Beecher was speaking some one handed
Ltnn the chains which hsd been taken from a
[hen dashed them 70 the floor Standing on them.
ne said This IS the way We - T i oeaL Win n I5.s
ike the roar OF the
II vas gwen out that M Eeecher was % be
NODDED me ne1s 9laQab sDsI-S nth 4T+ IF his
best men, stationed in the lecture room ana
7 2s o. ftS 3 eg 3eet %[ o NJ | |echer % Dung ~; the ser
mon stone crashed into one Of the gallery win
window and said. "1Iscreant, appear and went on
win his sermon and no more disturbance was
Thomas G. shearmau then told about The
Great Revival Of 1855" saying that It was de-
cIdedly different from those Of to-day After the
address OF M. Shearnan Frederick W Hinrlchs
read extracts from Henry Ward Beecher's sermon
AZ the opening OF the church This was followed
by the rendition of thanksgiving hymn The
Rev Dr. Newell Dwight Hills talked on The
Future q Plymouth Church In part he spoke
rs follows:
For Us thrice sacred this room. this threshold,
into which for fifty years have come the eager
later teacher taught Of beauty, traced the rugged
truth, and brought divine stimulus 10 bear z aB1.
through all the years, the eager nulutudes nave
pressed and thronsed. and here have found ne
jock gushing forth is Evlng stream ana Inc
heavens raining hidden TnapRs 43.- have coma the
sons Of greatness and goodness F1ltner came
Te~ and IN -e+l5rn for Mr Beecher's EermOns left
upon this platform his own book ana on ne ny
Either came Charles Kingsley, preacher, noyeLlst,
socis1 Fe5ogIeF @ siT,ed 5o - T .1t Tc have tried
. % for thirty years and have failed IN doing q
here set forth II perfect and final form: Borne
down BY his weight Of responsibility, hlther came
Governor Morton OF Indiana, who LEFT this tesIi-
ru0nv that his friend who was prophet OF God
seemed him also the WtSest statesman with
whom he ever counseled- And hlther came tnat
Edwin Il Stanton. who. in the darkest hour OF Inc
war in his encouragement turned toward Plyrn-
oUth pulpit and wrote Let -el you that often
end often "a dark hours you have come before me
and I have Iouged 10 hear your voice feeling thai
above al men YOU could cheer, strengthen guide
I'D 11DEold ne IN this great battle. where by
(zoSE providence, II has fallen 70 perform z
e5-l HID ms Nzr0