The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-02-09

the pastoral charge Oh tHo tsioSe iSSoy
teran Church at Boston, where he remained until |
1892 Ia that year, project long entertained by
that norton of the Presbyterian Church, whose |
active and enlightened piety and liberal tendencies
had gained for it the name of New School, was
nut into execution: the Lane Theological and
Literary Seminary was founded Its object be-
ing to prepare young men fDr the Gospel Ministry,
such facilities for manual labor offered by IT,
as to make it feasible for any young man of indus
try, to defray, by his own exertions, large part
of the expenses of his education. DR.. Beecher
had long been regarded as the only man compe-
tent to direct institution which, 1t was fondly
hoped, would demonstrate the practicabity of ed
ucating mind and body at the same time, infusing
new energy into the work of domestic and foreign
missions, aud resoiutonize the Presbyterian
church. A large corps of learned and able pro-
fessors was selected to aid him. The doctor re-
moved 10 his new home in the immediate neigh
borhood of Cincinnati, and remained there until
1850, aud with what success in bis chief object we
shall hereafter see.
A certain ecceptricity Of manner and character,
aud sharpness Of repartee, have given rise to hun
dreds of amusing anecdotes respecting DIR. Beech
Some of them paint the man.
His lively sense of the comic element in every
thing, breaks out on the most unlikely occasions
One dark night, as he was driving home with his
wife and Mrs. Stowe in the carriage, the whole
party were upset over bank about fifteen feet
high. They had no sooner extricated themselves
from the wreck, than Mrs. Beecher and Mrs.
Stowe, who were unhurt, returned thanks Cor their
proVidental escape. .Speak for yourselves" said
the Doctor, who was feeling his bruises. 81 have
got good many hard bumps, any how"
In many matters he is what Miss DIVA would
have called "shiftess.'' None of the Goldsmith
family more so. No appeal to him for chari-
ty, contribution 10 good cause, ever goes un-
responded TO, as loag he has any money in his
pockets. AS the family Income is not unlimited,
ibis generosity is sometimes productive of incon
venience. One day his wife had given him fiom
the common purse twenty Eve thirty dollars in
bills, with particular instructions buy coat, of
| which he stood in need. He went down to the
city to make the purchase. but stopping on the
way TO meeting in behalf of foreign missions. the
box was handed round, and in went his little roll
of bills. He forgot his coat III his anxiety for the
| Sandwich Islanders.
Well do remember the first time heard him,
| preach. 1t was seventeen years ago, From early
childhood had been taught to reverence the name
/ of the great divine and orator, and had long
promised myself the pleasure ef listening to him.
/ My first Sunday morning in Cincinnati found me
sitting with his congregation. The pastor was not
as paneina as the feck. Several minutes had
elapsed after the regular hour for beguning the
service, when of the doors opened, aud saw
a hale looking old gentleman enter. As he pulled
off his hat, half dozen papers, covered with notes
of sermons, lutered down to the floor; the hat APP
! peared to contain good many more. STOPPING
down aud picking them up deliberately, he came
scuttliug down, along the aisle, with step quick
and resoIute rather to alarm certain prejadces
l had the score of clerical solotnnity- Hat.
met him on parade ground, should have singled
him out general in uudress, spite Of the
decided stoop contracted in study t,e iron-grey
hair brushed stify towards The back of the head
the keen sRgacious eyes. the firm, hard lines of the
brown and wriukied Visage, and the passion ant
power latent about the mouth, with its long and
scornful under-iip,besp character more likely
to attack than to defend to do tinn to suffer. His
manner did not change my first impression. The
ceremonies preliminary to the s,rmon where dis
patched in rather summary way. petition i,
tho long prayer was expressed pithly have
never forgotten it.
I forgot now what repreheusible intrigue ou
rulers were busy IN at the time, but the Doctor
after praying for their adoption of various usetL
measures, alluded to their conduct in tue follow
ing terms:-" Aud, o Lord, grant we may no
despise rulers, and grant they may not act SO
that we can't help it.' 1t may be doubted wte'h
er any Englisi, Bishop has ever uttered sin.iia
prayer for King and Parliament. To deliver hi
sermon, the preacher stood bolt upright, stiff as
musket. At first he twifched of and replace
his spectacles dozen times in as msny minutes
with nervous motion, gesturing meanwhile witt
;, frequent purnp-handie strokes of mis- right arm
but as he went on, his unaffected language bega
!, to glow with animation, his simple style 6ecam
fgurative and graphic, aud flashes OF irony i'ghte
. up the dark groundwork Of his Puritanicai reason
q ing. Smiles aud tears chased each other over tn
# faces of many in his audience. His peToration wa
4 one of great beauty and power. l have heard hir
hundreds of times since, and he has never failed
! Justify his claim to the title of 'the old man eiC
9 quent."
}. Harriet Beecher was born at Lchfie'd ahou
Ii the year 1912. After the removal of the family
: Boston, she enjoyed the best educational advau
9 tages of that city. With the view of preparn
n herself for the business Of instruction, she acquire
: all the ordinary accomplishments of ladies, an
t. much of the learniug usually reserved for ia
,r stronger sex. At an early age sue began to al
to her eldest sister, Catherine, in the management
to flourishiug female school, which had been bui
by tho latter When their father went West th
sisters accompanied him, aud opened similar Ct
, tablshmeut at Cncinnuti.
10 This city is situated on the uothern bank of ill
r Ohio. The range Of hills Which hugs the rive
s. for hundreds Of miles above, here recedes from
N in semcircle, broken by valley aud several r