The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1869-12-22
Beecher and His Friends.

The New York World has the following in
regard to the free love death bed match be-
tween Richardson, Of the New York Tribune.
and Mrs. Mcfarland, whose husband shot
Richardson for robbing him of his wife:
On Tuesday evening Mr.. Richardson was
thought to be so low that his desire to have
the marriage ceremony performed beteen HIM
self and Mrs. Mcfarland was deemed proper
to comply with, and as the lady for whom his
attachment had been so irrepressible expressed
herself anxious that the formal seal of matri-
mony should mark her relations with him be-
tore he passed away, it was arranged that the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher should solemnly
marry" them. Rev. o. B. rockingham
and Rev. Nm. Field participated in the eere-
mony, and many friends and acquaintances
were present In the room. Mrs. Mcfarland
held the hand of Richardson, and the clergy
men proceeded to perform the work:
Rev. .. b. FrOthingham offered up the fol-
lowing prayer:
20, our Father, may it please Thee in this
place and at this moment to bless these Thy
children with that blessing which thou alone
canst give--a blessing that shall make the
dying bed full OF peace and satisfaction and
gratitude; that shall make the living heart
full of courage and faith. Bind together these
two hearts, our Father, and though the hand
may not hold each other through the journey
OF life, may these hearts still be one before
Thee, to whom life and death, the world to
come and this world are the same. Father,
we thank Thee for what these two have been
to each other, for what they may be yet
May he take her image with hinFao the spir-
itual life, and may she, bearing is name and
vindicating his honor, carrying him about
her through all the pilgrimage that is ,raA h0-
patience, under her burden. to help her through
all her care. Bless those who may depend
upon her. Bless the little ones who are left
in the world without their father Be Thou
their father, their, mother, their constant
friend. And in the assurance of the heavenly
life may he pass on to Thee: may she remain
with them and him here below"
Mr.. Beecher Ito Mr.. RiehardsOn)-DO Ou
take the woman whom you have by your
side now, in this hour, standing near the
heavenly land, and renew to her the pledges
Of your love ? Do you give your heart to her,
and your name Is she, before God and before
these witnesses, your beloved, your honored
and your lawful wife,
Mr.. Richardson (in an audible and clear
voice)-Yes.
Mr.. Beecher (turning to Mrs. Sage)-And
do you accept him as your head in the Lord :
And are you now to him a wife sacred and
honOred, bearing his name? And will You
love him to the end of your life'
| Mrs. Sage-I do and will.
| DCcCutI-4u ucu Uy Uuo duIuOIlty gwen
me by the Church of Christ, do pronounce
you husband and wife; and may the blessing
of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit rest upon you and abide you.
Amen.
And the wOr d adds the following items:
The very perfection of cruelty was reached
by the Tribune when it sent reporter to the
City Prison, in the dead of the night, to wake
| up Mcfarland and inform him that his wife
had been married" to Richardson. 1t was
only done to see what effect it would have
on him, and make q report of the same. That
was all. His feelings were of little cOnse-
quence, for had he not protested in the most
forcible manner against the progressive theo-
ries of the advocates of Free Love!
i Henry Ward Beecher did not preach on the
Sin of Adultery last Sunday. The proba
b;lity is, that in connection with the Free
Love associates, who witnessed his mOckery
of the Christian Sacrament of matrimOny, h'
will next proceed to reconstruct" the Ter
Commandments.
1t appears that Mcfarland is lawyer o
of some means, that he supported his wife ant
children well, that be loved his wife, but sh
could not love him as well as she did Richard
son. So she went to Indiana, and says she go
a divorce, but her husband knows nothing o
} the matter. She and Richardson sent off Nc
Farland's children, and Mcfarland, in desper
ration shot Richardson. Such is free love.