Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-12-20
Written for the Newsdealar.


Henry Ward Beecher was born in Litcb-
held, Connecticut. June "a, lsl3,--and
consequently is now 50 years of age,--
though his general appearance is that of a
man somewhat younger. .. ...
lie graduated at twenty-one years of
age at Amherst College, and was first set
tied as a Presbyterian minister at Law.
renceburg, Indiana. In l847 he accepted
the invitation to become pastor of Flynn
outh Church, in Brooklyn, N. Y.,-an or
ganlzation of orthodox Congregational be.
lievers,-an Office which he still continues
to occupy.
Henry Ward Beecher possesses sound,
healthy and vigorous bodily organization,
and he is one of the best specimens of
sound mind in a sound body that we rec
collect ever to have seen. ....
he is we'll proportioned-having pref
ty evenly-balanced organization--stand-
ing as he does five feet and seven inches
In hight having head measuring twen-
ty.two and three-fourths inches in circum-
ference, and weighing one hundred and
eighty pounds. His head, though large,
is we'll supported by large vital organs
manufacturing sufficient steam to run his
mental machinery the powerful effects of
which are now resounding throughout the
moral and intellectual world.
He has 6ne-grained organization and
is very sensitive and susceptible, capable
of receiving external impressions quite
readily. 1t is in vain that we look in his
countenance--lighted up as it generally is
with lapturous EN- otions-for anything
coarse, gross or indelicate. In conte=.-
plating his physicgnomical expression, one
is led to note the peculiar and happy COM
bination of dominant faculties which give
him the motives by which he is actuated.
Every lineament of his countenance, every
curve and every angle, and his prominent
gray eyes show forth a genial aud friendly
nature heart full of benevolence and
love towards his fellow men, and of
deep devotion to his God. s.L
Although sensitive and susceptible to
outside influences, he has a strong vital
mperament,--the life-creating and life
sustaining power--which gives him the
physical constitution to back up his men,
tai labors and enable him to endure the
hardest of life's efforts which seem to have
fallen his lot to perform. "Fti
i Henry Ward Beecher is a very modest
looking and unassuming man, and alto
gether such an one as puts you at once at
your ease when in his company. There
il none of that unmanly dignity which
holds itself at distauce and says Il am
better than thou" but there is that cor
diality of feeling and friendlincss of ma
ture, that congeniality of disposition that
makes one feel at home while with him.
AS preacher be is said to have the
largest uniform congregations in the Init
ed States His church can accommodate
about three thousand, and every pleasant
Sunday the house is crowded. This is
not SO much to be wondered at when we
understand his great command of Ian
guage and the peculiar aptness and fitness
of his illustrations. This, in fact we re-
gard as the great secret of his success.
One Of the leading phrenologists in the
United States says, "he has the largest
chronological development of the organ
of Language of any man that we have
seen" N'
Hc has great imaginative powers and
when his faculty Of expression sets forth
the beauty of the mental conceptions Of
his imaginary picture SO as to be thorough
ly daguerreotypcd upon the minds of bis
hearers it produces very marked effect.
He is eminently pleasant, he appeals to
the heart and understanding Of his audi,
euce, his illustrations are not cquivccal
but direct. practical and shows up his
subject completely. Born an orator the
smiles and tears Of an audience are at
his command and he works upon them at
will. w.