Show PLYMOUTH CHURCH Mr Beecher Its First and Only Pastor Plymouth church has known no other pastor than Henry Ward Beecher Its house of worship is the same in appearance as when it was enlarged in 1850 a year after it was built It is a huge brick building of great architectural simplicity Is 105 feet in length SO feet in width and 43 feet in height from floor to Ceiling It has a seating capacity ca-pacity of 2300 In marked contrast with the otherwise plain interior is the immense organ which cost 27000 In the rear of the church is a building that will accomodate over 1000 Sunday school children In 1S4G a lot of land on Cranberry street Brooklyn which had been occupied since 1S23 by the First Presbyterian church was purchased by John T Howard with the idea of establishing a Congregational church On May 8 1S47 David Hale of New York Ira Payne John T Howard Charles Rowland David Griffin and Henry C BON en met at the house of the latter resolved themselves into an association of trustees of the new church and decided to begin holding services at once Mr Beecher spoke at the anniversary anniver-sary of the American Home Mission society during the next week and made so good an impression that he was invited to preach at the opening service of Plymouth church His sermon was so well received that he was invited to become pastor of the new organization and he accepted It is quite likely that he was influenced much in his decision by a feeling that had arisen in Indianapolis that he was somewhat too radical in the expression of his views upon slavery Some of Mr Beechers most prominent parishioners there were bitterly opposed to the subject being even publicly named by a Christian minister But he emphasized his position by early introducing into the synod a resolution declaring that every minister should preach a thorough exposition and condemnation con-demnation of slavery Thereupon ho preached three sermons upon the life of Moses the bondage of the children of Israel under Pharoah and their deliverance His hearers were electrified by a searching and merciless expose of American slavery and a scathing denunciation Of the whole institution There was talk and excitement of course but Mr Beecher persisted in openly attacking the system sys-tem and through his persistance his church became one of the strongholds of the antislavery anti-slavery cause Before his installation as pastor of Ply outh church he had to submit to an examination examina-tion Among the questions put to him was the following Do you believe in the perseverance perse-verance of the saints asked by Dr Humph rey I was brought up to believe that doctrine doc-trine replied Mr Beecher and I did believe it till I went out west and saw how eastern Christians lived when they went out there I confess since then I have had my doubts But Mr Beecher passed through the ordeal entered the du and October 10 1847 he upon the remainder ot IS ties continued through church One of of Plymouth life as pastor the state from first distinctly his first acts was to his principles and beliefs Plymouth pulpit Christ Renounced that he would preach He annOuflC standards all whose and full of love by living their daily acts advocate the should rule men of Stance cause and fight on the side temperance need for him antiSavery There was no antislavery his words by his to wait in order to prove burst almost imme deeds for the storm Wood was diately Mr Beechers fighting of he thick up and he threw himself into the JJe conflict In his church In lectures throughout speeches in ms writingS in out the country lth men Mr with and in his daB intercourse Beecher inveigueu against bowing to tile slave power Under his power Plymouth church rapidly increased in numbers and influence The year 1849 brought the first revival of his pas torate which was followed by many others in succeeding years rriijjl I f 1 0 PLYMOUTH CHURCH Mr Beechers ideas of church discipline were somewhat peculiar and led to a memorable memor-able scene at one of the Friday night talks in 1885 There was an unusual lack of spirit in the discussion until Mr Raymond started to his feet and rather excitedly charged Mr Beecher with having systematically and persistently for long years taught his congregation that they ought to do only what they felt like doing if they did not want to come to church or prayer meeting why stay away if a person per-son felt like being a Roman Catholic or a Universalist why be whichever he or she liked that Mr Beecher had never drilled his soldiers and had neglected his flock through his fear to displease somebody by a strict discipline It is not right said he for you to teach the children that they are to do only what pleases them You should teach them self denial Mr Beecher plainly showed his surprise when he was being arraigned but when the indictment was ended he was as serene as a summer day Well said he there may be a good deal of truth in what you say I have taught the largest individ unl frp loin Your conduct tonight shows tint irv seed Ins taken rootand sprung up for if it had not you would never dare aduress me as you have now In no other church in the world could this thing happen I am not mad or chagrined at your remarks Another point You say I dont drill this army No sir I do not I am the general and the general always has his subordinate officers do that sort of work I want every man to do right because it gives him pleasure not when it is self denial |