Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-05-19
Beeeher on COMPLIMENTARY rides.

! lOuOIdTy degree OF II. II. lOOcbOF o.
Divinity, offered him by prominent
institutions. The reasons for his deeli
nation of a nominal dignity which
most gentlemen in his profession are
only too anxious to append to theil
names, are pointedly as well as char
acteristically stated in a letter to Mr.
Bonner, of the New York Ledger
Mr.. Bonner, it appears, wrote to Mr.
Beecher, asking the question, "Why
did Mr.. Beecher decline the degree o
ID. D., when it was conferred upoT
him?"1
L declined it because L did not want
it. / had it already. Every Irishman
called me Doctor" Every man that
begged for fifty cents called me doc.
tor" Indeed, l was called "youl
reverence"-a title which belongs tc
the Cardinal, / believe. What good
would a college degree do a man who
already had it conferred upon him by
the great university of the common
people? Are these not good reasons
But there is a difference between
reasons and causes. After a man has
given his reasons for any course, he
might with profit analyze the real
causes which produced the result
Men act from many motives combined.
They select from among them those
best suited to bear exposure; and state
them as reasons. Thus the real causes
are often hid by the alleged reasons.
1t would amount to quite a subtitle
disquisition if / were to go into the
interiors of the matter.
i think that / was a natural-bOrn
Quaker. / agree with that. worthy
sect in everything, unless it be in the
matter of Doctrine and Practice. |
always admired plain and straight
forward speech. My early reading
was of authors who sprang up with
the American and the French revOlu-
tions, and who had in them the glow
and fervOr of those early democratic
doctrines which prevailed before
slavery debauched this nation. The
doctrine of the unity, fraternity, and
equality of men had charm for nv
youth not less bewitching because it
was an enthusiasm rather than a phi
lOsophy. In some vague way, l can
hardly tell how, conceived a notion
of repugnance for all titles. remem-
Der distinctly that, as early as when 1
was fourteen years old, / had con-
tempt for any author who put into his
title-page a string of hOnOrs and titles.
L was much taken with the story of
some of the French nobility who re-
nouneed their hereditary titles and
Joined themselves to the democratic
citizens. formed romantic notion
of true man, as one whose character
and actions needed for their illustra-
ton neither office nor title. Insensi-
bly, / ynbibed that a title was a sign of
imbecility or vanity; that q strong
man needed no such erutch or bolster;
that it was useless if 1t conferred on
one nothing but what he had in him
self, and dishonest if it gave to a man
something more than really existed
These were boyhood whims and
notions.
They were strengthened by the in
fiuence which was derived from my
first teacher in mathematics. / had
no fOndness for this study, yet 1 be-
came proficient in its elementary
branches, in my school days, under
the teachings of w. p. n. Fitzgerald,
which, in full, is William Pitt Nelson
Fitzgerald. When Prof. Davies, of
West Point, was once travelling in
Canada, he was served by an hOstler's
boy, and in putting some questions to
him, he proved so sharp at figures
that the Professor took him along as
He was waiter and boy of all
work. But he developed such gifts
and graces that he was put to his
books, and became cadet, and stood
second to none, until an unfortunate
Christmas spree delivered him from
the thrall of West Point, and sent him
to finish his career in the great acade-
my of the world. / found him, in
1927, teaching mathematics at Mount
Pleasant Classical Institute, Amherst,
Mass. He taught me to conquer in
studying. There is a very hour in
couraged, and weary with books, rises
with the consciousness Of victorious
power into masterhoOd. Forever after
he knows that he can learn anything
if he pleases. Itisa distinct intellect
ual conversion E..r
first went to the blackboard, un-
certain, soft, full of whimpering.-
''That lesson must be learned" he
said, in a very quiet tone, but with a
terrible intensity, and with the GER
tainty of Fate. All explanations and
excuses he trod under foot with utter
II want that problem.
l don't want any reasons why l don't
get it."
AZ did study it two hours"
"That's nothing to mel want the
lesson. You need not study it at all,
Or you may study it ten hours-just to
suit yourself. 1 want the lesson
go to the blackboard"
"Oh, yes, but Underwood got some
body to show him his lesson
"What do / care how you get it
That's your business. But you must
have it.n
1t was tough for a green boy, but it
him. In less than a month
| had the most intense sense of intel
Iectual independence and courage TO
defend my recitatiOns.
In the midst of a lesson, his cold
and calm voice would fall upon me in
the midst of a demOnstration-''NoW ~
[ hesitated, stopped, and then went
back to the beginning; and, on reach
ing the same spot again-"Nom ut
tered with the tone of perfect cOnyic-
ton, barred my progress.
"The next!" and l sat down in red
confusion. He, too, was stopped with
mol" but went right on, finished,
and, as he sat down, was rewarded
with Every we'll"
Why" whimpered 1, ~ reeited it
Just as he did, and you said NO!"
"Why didn't you say Yes? and
stick to it? 1t is not enough to know
your lesson. You must know that
you know it! You have learned moth |
ing till you are sure. If all the world
says No, your business is to say Yes,
and prove it,"
The inward confidence inspired by
such a drill, Joined to the chiyalrie
notions of independent manhood
already existing, tended to fix and
iasten the feeling that man is what
he is in himself, and that the love of
doing and the power to do are all the |
honors that he needs; that no man |
deserves a title who has not the power !
70 make his own simple name a title, |
and that then he needs no other, and |
hat a mans own life is the true uni !
versity that should confer hOnors upon |
him! These were the impulses of
youth. L had not quite got over them
when a dOctOrate was proffered to me,
and in moment of haste it was de- |
,lined although the goOd-willOf al
ma Mater gave me gentle pleasure.
"But-wOuld you take one now |
Like a prOdigal beauty who has for
forty years refused suitOrs, have you /
not. come to a time of life when
round, plump, cOmpanionable Doctor
would be an agreeable prefix or ap-