New-York tribune., 1919-03-24

"A l. AA \
as that Of the most distinguished citi-
zen Brooklyn ever had produced. They
lived to see the name of Beecher grow
as a tradition in America, and to hear
their pastor spoken of as one of the
two greatest preachers Of America.
The name of Phillips Brooks was al
ways linked with his. 1t seemed as if
no one could determine which was the
greater preacher.
Abbott Mirrored Beecher
Lyman Abbott's ministry was in con-
trast, not only in pulpit methods but
also in the calm that settled upon the
parish. Or. Abbott spent most of his
time telling the people of Plymouth
how really great was the Beecher tradi-
ton. His preaching was a remarkable
example of self-cffacement
In the ministry of Dr. Hills Plym-
outh Church has passed through an
other crisis. On public platforms. in
print, and even in the civil courts, Dr.
Hills has been a target of attack.
The sale Of the little slave girl NAV
have focused attention upon Plym-
outh. 1t may have presented a dra-
matte situation the like of which was
never known in a church before But
Tor human interest, for dramatic eff
tect, Or. Hillis's own statement fol-
loving the airing of the charges in the
matter of his land development scheme
exceeded even that of the sale of the
slave girl.
One Sunday DR.. Hills began his ad-
dress to the congregation with this
statements:
During the last few months I have
been the centre Of a storm. with alter
mating blame and praise. wish to meet
this storm with face to the front"
Feared Ideas Misunderstood
Then he proceeded to recount his
connection with the land development
plan and said: "For several wears |
have been increasingly disturbed lest
my influence upon some students and
young admirers was far from ideal.
have feared lest | was biassing them
toward the lecture platform, public
life and prosperity, instead of toward
OBSCURE, gentle, tender, Christlike
service.
Io them | owe this statement: That
often | have loved my books more than
the poor; | have loved position and
honor and sometimes I have thought
OF my own interests, when every drop
or blood and every ounce of nv
strength and every thought Of my mind
belonged to our schools, to the sick,
the friendless, the poor and to the
boys and girls with eager and hungry
minds. Often | have taken honors Of
tered to me when | should have chosen
solitude and dwc]t apart and listened
to the voice of God and tried to be a
truo prophet of God to you. For sew
eral years | have had a growing con-
vlctlon that Il minister has no right
to make money, and does his best with
out it.
Proclaimed Own Humbleness
"lf, therefore, there is anywhere in
TINS wide land a noble boy who has
done me the honor to read my books
or sermons or to listen to my lect-
ures, and who has come to cherish a
secular ideal for the Christian minis
try, let me say to him that | deplore
my own influence, and that my deepest
and latest thought is that there are
home missionaries and foreign mis-
sionaries and social settlers and neigh
borhood visitors whose shoe latchets
am not worthy to stoop down and
unloosc."
Those that were present at the SER
vice when this address was made de-
clare that they had never witnessed
any such elf-abasement and had never
known such an enthusiastic and loyal
response to what was tantamount to
plea for toleration, sympathy and
confidence. They declare he seemed
greatest in that plea.
Soon the war obscured the parish
issue. Soon DR.. Hills took place as
leader in patriotic cndeavors. He
gave up his own pulpit for a time to
spread gospel of Americanism and to
work for the success of the Liberty
loans. He went to France and studied
conditions at frst hand.
Returning to his pulpit one Sunday,
ne pointed to a mass of papers before
him and said they were evidence in
affidavit form of German atrocities. He
gave utterance to the most scathing
personal attack on the Kaiser and the
kaiser's forbears that had been heard
in this country. He spoke so plainly
that even Plymouth Church, accus-
toned to shocks, reacted visibly. His
address was reported in newspapers all
over the country and repeated from
pulpit and platform in many Of the
large cities.
From the time of his coming to
Plymouth DR.. Hills had little difficulty
in holding large congregations At
first he alienated some Of the old time
members. But gradually most Of them
returned to him. DR.. Hills is not an
easy man to follow. He has many
mannerisms in the pulpit that distract
the attention. His voice is unusual and
one has to become accustomed to its
infections in order to understand him.
Usually he reads the Scripture lesson
in a subdued voice. There is pro-
nounced echo in Plymouth Church and,
although the acoustics are generally
good, this echo has to be counteracted.
There is quality in DR.. Hillis's voice
as he reads that encourages the echo.
Begins With Closed Eyes
One of his pulpit mannerisms is to
begin his sermon with his eyes closed,
Thus, he loses that intangible some
thing that holds the speaker and audi
tor in communion.
He begins his sermons with his
voice at a low pitch and gradually
warns to his subject. His opening
paragraphs are spoken as if he were
searching his mind to recall what he
had prepared.
On one occasion when the writer was
present DR.. Hills seemed to be hav-
ing difficulty in recalling a sentence.
He stopped suddenly and said, 81
thought had committed that sentence
N~.E1 L..