y. I began to look around for companions, or at
least for some place where I could spend my evenings, when the time
dragged most heavily.

It was fortunate for me that just at this point where so many young men
are tempted to wander into questionable or even harmful ways, my
thoughts were turned in a truly helpful direction. Like every newcomer,
I had studied the notices in the papers and on the fences and bulletin
boards, and of them all, the one that had the greatest attraction for
me was that of Plymouth Church and Henry Ward Beecher, and I determined
that the next Sunday I would find my way to the church and hear him
preach, which I accordingly did. The large auditorium of the church was
thronged, but I received such a cordial welcome as to make me feel at
home, and was at once shown to a seat. That service was a revelation to
me, it was in every respect so very different from anything I had ever
seen or heard. The singing by the great congregation, the eloquence and
withal the helpfulness of the preacher, made a deep impression on me--an
impression that stayed with me throughout the week, and I determined to
go again the next Sunday. This time I was so fortunate as to meet a
young man whom I had known in Hartford. He was a friend of Dr. Henry E.
Morrill, the superintendent of the Sunday School, and through him I was
invited to become a member of a Bible Class, an invitation which I was
very glad to accept. From this time on I had no reason to complain of
any lack of social life. No young man or woman who was in Plymouth
Church at this time could fail to find the very best type of society;
under the leadership of Mr. Beecher this feature of church life was
especially emphasised. The next year I became a member of the church,
and from that time, during more than half a century, Plymouth Church has
been more to me than I can possibly express.

_EARLY PLYMOUTH_

At the time of my coming to Brooklyn, Plymouth Church was but four years
old, yet it had already gained a most prominent position not only in
Brooklyn and New York, but in the entire country, and indeed was rapidly
achieving an international reputation. A brief sketch of its history to
this time will not be out of place.

In 1823, when the entire population of Brooklyn was less than ten
thousand, and the most densely populated section to-day was but barren
fields, two brothers, John and Jacob M. Hicks, bought seven lots
running through from Cranberr