New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-19
Mr.. BEECHERS LECTURES.

Tbs Rev. Henry Ward Beecher has long letter in
the lest Independent in reply to certain charges made
in the western papers and elsewhere accusing him Of
bad faith and e1orbtant charges in his l.te lscurng
tour After statement Of the fact, he says:
"No positive engagement was made with the Chi
csgo asso iaton. II was an open negotiation which
reserved the right TO drop II, after my vacsion
thought it iDexpedient to leave home in the Water.
The charge that broke one pledge and sQpk up
with higher offer Of Mr. WeIs is Quiie untru4 Nj.
Ward offered two hundred and fifty olsrs for two
lectures Mr.. Wells sI hundred dollars for lectures.
de lined both. proposed 10 Mr.. Ward one hundred
and twenty dollars per lecture for series Of lee
lures and transferred the same proposal to Mr.. Wells,
making DO change, except the addition Of expenses in
consequence Of difference in time required in the
second Gaze.
"In regard 10 the charge of The Cincinnati Gazette,
that had broke eDgss ement Of two seasons in that
city, pronounce the charge unfounded and untrue.
And o gentleman having official connection, or hsv-
ing had such connection with the Young Mems associa
ton Of Cincinnati, will choose to assert any such thing
over his own proper ma
any arsDt ement with Mr.. Wells at Chicasol was
made on purpose to relieve me OF all thought care
Of the details and he fixed the price Of dnssion
he beo right 10 do, without consultation with me,
and without my knowledge have already expressed
nv Judgment that for the eatest benefit Of the
munty lectures should be made accessible 70 persons
of slender ears, and tb8t 10 prices aud large audi
ences and not small audiences aud high prices, we're
the proper method. But cannot refrain from reflect
ing that communities which had paid fifty cents for the
least respecable amusements, and had rsen in not at
charges of dollar, and dollar aud half for higher
cOnotr ts, must have had some deeper feeling behind
this preiense for 90 sudden and violent indEnson.
Or was this of these spasms OF virtue TO which
are periodically a5oicted, in which the damage of
half sears drouh is sonsd for by the raging misehefs
Of an overlooking freshetl
"Tbe piice 10 not unusual one, nor is il unusual
for the ais of lecture or course of lectures to 20
TO tie lecturer and not to local associations hen Mr..
Dana ectured upon Shakespeare, when Mr. nerson
delivered courses Of lectures when Mr. Lord gave his
historical courses when Dr. Baird gave his lectures
upon Europe and now, when Mr.. Thsckersy is deliv-
trDg his present SERIES in almost every fifty cents
has been charged. And in every case, believe. but
ene and that one Mr. Thsckersy's the fruits of the
lecture belonged to the men who carr ed hem and not
10 the communities in which they were delivered. The
principle 10 just. And 10 urge contrary pracipls for
the Hke Of making case against particular Lecturer
is to overurn equitable and long settled principles
"W bile profoundly sympsthze with the sssocis-
tons of young for libraries and lecturiDgs, yet
cannot disguise from myself that men are still only
men, even when associated for the beet purposes and
that they liable to esprit du corps which shall
regard with jealousy the rising up Of other aud rival
sOciafiops of young men, and that conflicts for lee
lures and lecturers may ensue with force that will
b. acrimonious unless powerfully restrained that
such associations will gradually tend to usurp author
y and 70 demand thar all lecturers shall come to the
community through their course making indepen-
dent lectures 0fense TO be visited with punish
hroue the organized interference Of the loo ci.
TORS between the lectlIer and the citizens II is
question worthy OF serious consideration, whether it
desirable that public seDtime mt 81 oud grow up which
thall cor sue lecture mtees cepsorships Of lee
tures, opening shutting the mouths OF men at their
own discretion