Litchfield enquirer., 1852-12-09
From FraSer's Magazine for November.
Some Account Of Mrs. Boecher Stowe
and Her Family, by an Alabama

iVuSS 10 uo'0 "IUSIy anu IdVOfhOIv known
than almost any other in the United
States. 1t consists of the following per-
sons :!
/. Rev. Lyman Beecher, the father,
Doctor of Divinity, ex-President of Lane
Theological Seminary, and late pastor OF
Presbyterian Church at Cincinnati,
Ohio.
2. Rev. William Beecher, Pastor at
Chilicothe, Ohio.
8. Rev. Edward Beecher. Pastor at
Boston, Massachusetts.
a. Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Pastor
at Brooklyn, N. Y.
5. Rev. Charles Beecher, Pastor at
Newark, New jersey.
6. Rev. Thomas Beecher,. Pastor at
Williamsburg. New Jersey.
T. Rev. George Beecher, deceased.
several years since. His death was
caused by the accid entail discharge of a
gun. At the time he was one Of the
most eminent men in, the Western
Church.
8. Mr.. James Beecher. engaged in
commercial business at Boston.
9. Miss Catherine Beecher.
10. Mrs. Harriet B. Stowe,
IL. Mrs. Perkins. 81
IL. Mrs. Hooker.
! Twelve! the apostolic number. And
of the twelve, seven apostles of the pull
pit and two Of the pen, after the manner
of the nineteenth century. OF the other
three, one has been swept into commerce
by the strong current setting that way in
America /; and the other two, wives OF
lawyers OF respectable standing, and
mothers of families. have been absorbed
by the cares and affections of domestic
life. They are said to be no way inferior.
in point Of natural endowments, to the
nine who have chosen to play their parts
in life before larger public. Indeed.
persons who know intimately al. the
twelve are puzzled to assign superiority
to any one Of them. With the shades
%of difference, which always obtain be.
tween. individual characters. they bear a
striking resemblance to each other, not
only physically. but intellectually and
morally. All Of them ore about the
oo,nnaoa s;ze- the doctor being a trif1O
below it. AMI soma of the sons tri-
Ae above it-neither stout nor slight. but
compactIy and ruggedly built. Their
movements and gestures have much OF
the abruptness and want of grace CONF
mon in Yankee land, where the opera
and dancing school are considered as
institutions of Satan. Their features are
large and irregular. and though not free
from certain manly beauty in the men,
are scarcely redeemed from LONELINESS
in the women, by the expression of in
telIigence and wit which lights them up,
and fairly sparkles in the blush grey
eyes. ...
All of them have the energy of char
acter. restless activity, strong convic>
tons, tenacity Of purpose, deep sympa-
tbies. and spirit OF self-sacliice, which
arc such invaluable qualities in the char
acter Of propagandists. It would be
impossible for the theologians among
them to be members Of any other thar
the church militant. Father and soas
they have ever been in the thickest oil
the battles fought in the church and by
it, and always have moved together II
solid column. 70. them, questions o.
scholastic theology are mummeries. dry
and attractionless; they are practical
living in, the real present, dealing will
questions which palpitate with vitality
Temperance, fore ign. and home missions
the influence of commerce on public
morality. the conversion of young men
the establishment Of theological semina-
ries, education, colonization. abolition
the political obligations Of Christians
on matters such as these do the Beech
ers expend their energies. Nor do they
disdain taking an active part in public
affairs. one Of them was appointed al
New York City to addrss Kossuth on
his arrival. What is remarkable is that
though they have come in violent col
lison with many Of the abuses Of Amer
lean society, their motives have nevs
been seriously attacked. This exemp
ton from the ordinary lot Of reformer
| 10 O"IuS, toS VhA1 W thSu COuSiStCut uiS
interesledness, but to certain Yankee
prudence, which prevents their advanc'
ing without being sure Of battal;ons be-
hind them and also TO reputation thu
family has acquired for eccentricity.-
AS public speakers they are lar above
mediocrity not graceful, but eloquent
with . lively scorn Of the mean and per
ception Of :he comic. which overflow it
Epungent wit and whitening satire; ant
sometimes, in the heat Of ex:emporane
Gus speaking, in biting sarcasm. Thei
kstyle of oratory would often seem, to
staid, church going Englishmsn. to con
trast too strongly with the usual deco
rum Of the pulpit.
+ Nine o. the Beechers are authors
They are known TO the reading and reli
gious public of the United States by
reviews, essays, sermons. orailons. de
bates, aud discourses on great variety
Of subjects. chiefly OF local momentary
interest All of these nroducLIOnS ar,