WARD-BEECHER’S RETURN TO PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4314, 18 January 1875, Page 3

WARD-BEECHER’S RETURN TO PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OP THE SOCIETY. ■ (From the New York Herald, Oct. 3.) The usual Plymouth Church prayer meeting was held last night, in the auditorium of the church. In consequence'of Mr. Beecher’s return to his pastoral work, after his summer vacation, it was expected that the lecture-room would be insufficient for the number of persona desirous of being present. This expectation was realised. Shortly after six o’clock the doorsof thelectureroom wereopened, and before half-past six, it was found that the crowds demanding admission would speedily fill the church. It was therefore opened ;at twenty minutes to seven, every available place that gave sitting or standing accommodation in the church was occupied, and though even the outsides of the windows were thronged, it is supposed that many hundreds went away, unable to get nearer than the outside of the vestibule. Among those present in the audience who were prominently connected with Plymouth Church were Mrs. Beecher, Mrs. H, 15. Stowe, who is a member of the church; Mrs. Perkins, sister of Mr. Beeoher ; Rev. Charles Beecher, of Florida, and Dr. Edward Beecher. Mr. Horatio King, who presided at the organ, entertained the vast audience until the time appointed for the commencement of the service, namely, half-past seven. The platform was tastefully decorated with flowers, the Mount Olivet stand was filled with plants of rich autumnal tints. About twenty minutes past seven o’clock Mr. Beecher entered by the little door at the back of the platform. The well-known chair was pushed aside, and there was seen the familiar face of the Plymouth pastor. The audience applauded vigorously, and ladies rose in their places, waving their handkerchiefs, apparently with great delight. Mr. Beecher appeared not to notice any of these demonstrations, and taking a little hymn-hook from the little table, proceeded in his usual manner to turn over the leaves for the selection of a hymn. The choir sang, apparently impromptu,

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, to the tune of “ Old Hundred,” the congregation rising and joining in with earnestness and vigor. . This was followed by a solo, “ 0, rest in the Lord,” by Miss Dunphy, the leading contralto of the choir. Mr. Beecher then advanced to tho front of the platform, hymnbook in hand. There was a hushed attention when it was found that, instead of giving out the number of the hymn, he was about to say something. mb. bebcuer’s first address. Mr. Beeoher said;—“l could have wished on my return from my summer vacation to have met my people in the lecture-room, that being our usual custom, but I recognise tho reasons that have made it impossible for ua to assemble there to-night. But just as far as it is possible let us imagine that we are meeting as usual in familiar Christian brotherhood. We have struggled together in the great battle of life ; we are come together for God’s honor, not to gaze upon eacli other, but to worship, to hold sweet fellowship, to strike tho same old chords wo have vibrated for nearly thirty years ; for it is tho evening of the Srd of October. Twenty-seven years ago X took tho pastoral charge of this church and society. It ia a lit anniversary of our first autumnal meeting, and in tho beginning of this meeting let that one name which is forever above every other name he tiie only one asserted, tiie one thought of ail and the only one. His presence will thon diffuse a benediction around this great congregation.” Mr. Beecher then announced tho 660th hymn, commencing— When I survey the wondrous cross, reading it with evident feeling from the firnt line to the last. Mr. Beecher then led the great congregation in prayer, the leading thoughts of which were as follows ; THE PRAYER. Thou ever blessed-God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, wo render Thee thanks tor all the mercies vouchsafed to us through Him ; for His words, tor tiie knowledge of tho riches of His love, for His life, for all that. we have derived from His life, from His dying, from Ids life that haa gone up into heavenly K laces ; for Hia leading of souls through darkness to gilt, from trouble and sorrow and shame to glory. Thou art our life, our light I Shed down upon us the bright influences of that life, and kindle a hope of Christ Jesus, our Lord, In oven heart. More are they wlip are for us than those who are against us, since Thou hast given us tho earnest of Thy Spirit? O, God I teach how more and more to glorify Thy name. Draw near to all who are struggling with their pride, and are cast down and wearied by tho unequal conflict. Draw near to nil that are struggling with inbred sins and passions. Help thorn to learn truth, and may they learn to stand In the circle where Thou art. May they bo able to overcome ail and walk among men ia nil sweetness and purity. Make os to feel

not that the things that are seen are without value, but that they are of great value. Grant wo may know how to adorn life. Gift us with the peace of God, with the presence of divine truth and love, with the peace of God that passeth all understanding. This was followed by the hymn of the Plymouth Collection, commencing : —' Love divine, all love excelling, sung to the tune of “ Beecher.” The pastor called upon Brother Robert llaymond to pray, of which the following is an outline ; BROTHER RAYJIOND’S PRAYER. Oh, God, we sanctify Thy name for all Thy mercies: we thank Thee for all our prosperity as well as for all the sorrows that .have sprung up in our midst, for behind every frown Thou bast permitted us to see Thy smiling face; Thy Anger has pointed tile way, and we thank Thee for the checkered lot with which Thou hast moulded and fashioned us. Now, when wo are assembled hero on so solemn and touching an occasion, we. ask Thee only this, that Thou wilt meet us here, where Thou hast so many times been with us, where our hearts have melted together under the sweet songs of Zion. Oh, God, Thou hast never yet hidden Thy face away from us, though we have forgotten Thee, and now wo pray that Thou wilt still be with ua. Wo need Thy presence and help, and wo pray that Thou wilt come to ns now that we once more And ourselves in our accustomed channel of labor. We have, not been guilty of transferring the glory of the giver to the instrument, through which it is bestowed, for Thou hast been our strength, and to Thee shall all the glory be given We know we are but instruments in Thy hands. Oh, God ! may onr dear pastor be strengthened. We thank Thee for the measure of strength Thou hast bestowed upon him. We pray Thee to bless him. And now, after Thon hast caused us to pass through the sea, let us come forth as with cymbals, and wilt Thou crown our feeble efforts with such prosperity as Thou seest fit. We commend to Thy care this people and church. May peace and prosperity rest within these walls, and to Thy name. Father, Son and Spirit, be glory everlasting. Amen. Jiff DEECHEIi’S LECTDBE-BOOM TALK. Mr. Beecher prefaced his remarks by reading the fourteenth and eighteenth verses of the fourth chapter of Second Epistle to the Corinthians —“ Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Mr. Beecher said that it might be safely said that every person who has experienced a change of heart knows how much more precious are the invisible things of life than the visible. It is not the mother’s hand, but the love that moves it. It is not the words that speak in the intimacies of friendship, but the disposition that lies beneath. It is the inner man that gives power, not the outer. Let us turn our thought for a moment to-night to the richer grounds of our love for the Lord Jesus. The inner qualities that go to make up manhood are those that speak with a simple and ample force. ’Tis by the recognition of this truth that,our spiritual life is arrested ; that we have the light that enables us to begin that untempestuous life. It is here where our sorrows come; trouble that has to us many births; there are in themselves powers to lift us up to above the sources of sorrow. It is deep answering unto deep, and yet we know that in this dispensation that is passing over our head that it will he turned into love and gladness. If we have strong faith we get where all sorrow will finish in the peace that comes from our Lord Jesus Christ. There may he on the mountain great trouble, hut that is because we keep low down, but we should go above the clouds. This summer mauy of the tourists went to the summit of Mount Washington and saw nothing but clouds. Other persons went up when it was raining and they were laughed at; but they asceuded to the top of Mount Washington, got above the rain and saw over the wide range, saw the storm, but it was under them, for they got above the clouds. So is this the tutelage of God that you should look down upon the trouble and sorrow of this world. The one thought that I should like to dwell upon tonight is “ Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also,” the little children of my charge, the maidens whom I have baptized, instructed the young men now gathering into the fulness of strength, they who are, in the midst of the battle of life, old men and matrons, who for twenty-seven years—how large the army ! —I have led. It is to me an inexpressible thought, so that I am sure that, by the power of the divine love, I shall not slumber in the dust—only this body, not I. I shall rise by the irresistible power of the heart of Christ Jesus, and I shall be present with you. It is not your fondness, not your sympathy, not your acclamation is half so sweet to me as the thought that, when all clouds are passed away, we shall stand together known of God and known ns we are known. In that blessed hope let us stand more firmly united than ever. Beloved God has seen fit to pass this church through a discipline, so as to prove all of us ; Ho lias led us through all this to make us strong. It is as though he had brought ns to a grindstone to sharpen our weapons of warfare for the day of battle. Never before was there in the history of this church such a need for you to do God’s work. You ought to feel an overwhelming sorrow for sin, and struggle for men’s souls. It is for you to go out for men and labor for them. In myself I have no new Gospel, no new promises. I am the same man I have been for the twenty-seven years I have been among you. I have only one single desire. God knows my soul, and that it is to do good to my fellow man. It is a desire that was given rne by my mother ; in that I was bom, and it ia baptized into my nature. It is my end to live for this, and to live for it better than ever before. Let us, then, join hands in the year on which we are entering, that we will not seek a passable honor—a passable acclamation—all ends that will perish ; but live with a deeper and newer consecration of ourselves, that we make more perfectly known our Lord Jesus Christ ; that we may seek only the divine honor. In all the ways that we have been accustomed to do good wo may seek and bring a better faith, a better vitality, more love to men, and then the blessing of Him that came to seek and to save the perishing will be upon you and go with you and reogive you to immortal labors ; make your labors through faith perfect ; make your face so to shine, so that every day you can look upon Jesus aiid look into the gate of heaven. After tills address was sung the 605th hymn, commencing:— To thee, my Shepherd and my Lord, The grateful song I raise. Mr. Beecher then pronounced the benediction. Ho was immediately surrounded, and for half-an-honr he was engaged shaking hands with all who could get near him. PLYMOUTH ASSOCIATION SIKETING. After the prayer meeting the Plymouth Association met in the Sunday school rooms, which were very handsomely decorated with flowers and banners.. The platform was one huge pyramid of plants and flowers of all kinds and hues, and in the centre of the room was another not quite so large, while all round the room the pillars were twined with vines, and each space between filled with a hanging basket of blooming flowers. A largo oil painting of Mr. Beecher hung at one end of the room, surrounded with a mass of green on white cloth. The room was densely thronged; all were walking round and greeting their friends in the most social manner possible. Mr. Beecher’s entrance was hailed with hearty applause, and immediately after his entrance Miss Lazar sang “Home, Sweet Home,” after which Mr. Moses Beach took the platform and said—“ Perhaps I should have been on the platform to inform the association what we are going to do. Wo have sung ‘ Home, Sweet Home.’ Now, if you will make yourselves at home, or let .Mr. Beecher circulate among you, and not stop him, that is what we want you to do.” Mr. Beeoher, with Mr. Halliday to guard him and see that no one shook hands too long, then passed round the room, shaking hands and speaking to every one in his way. Notwithstanding Mr. Halliday’s precaution he had to take the stand and say :—“ Mr. Beecher wants his hand to preach with on Sunday. I see some of you folks grip it as though it were the last time you ever would.” While the business of shaking hands was going on “ Auld Lang Syne” was sung, after which Mr. Hill played “ The Marseillaise" and Mrs. John Hutchinson sang “The Last Hose of Summer.” Mr. Beecher made his exit very quietly, and after his departure the rest departed gradually.