The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-01
BEECEER ON INITIATION.
Henry Ward Beecher ut Stcinway Hall
Last Evening.

Henry Ward Beecher ut stcinway Hall
Last Evening.
There was a great audience at Stenway Hall
last evening. 1t was not the promise or the pre-
sentation of some great foreign favorite which
sold the tickets, but it was of having "The Wastes
and Burdens OF Society" thoroughly commented
upon by one OF the most popular pulpit orators OF
our own land. 1t was not such a congregation as
thrOn2s the doors OF Tree lecture, nor was 1t an
audience remarkable for extreme religious or So
cial views. 1t was thoroughly intelligent, moral
and thoughtful audience, without being SUPER
fetal, pedantic or dogmatlcal, that greeted the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher as he
stepped to the front of the rostrum.
Those who for the past two years have
been abusing the lecture rostrum as a means
Tor amusing, as well as instructing the metropo.
tan mlnd would have led people to believe that
the speaker OF last evening would not draw"
The lecture, without the cause OF poor destitute
woman to cooperate" always fills house, but,
with "charlty" as an object, tickets soon find
market. The receipts of last evening were for the
benefit OF the "Free Dormitory Tor Women" No. "a
Amlty street. Among others on the platform were
the Rev. DR.. Deems, Theodore w. Dwight, Judge
Davis. Douglas Taylor and Algernon 5. sullivan.
The lecturer was introduced by Mr. Algernon s.
Sullivan, who referred to the work OF the
"Fraternals" In establishing tins home for desti-
tute women, and stated that during the past year
women. Mr.. Beecher was received with long and
continued applause. After the noise had sub.
sided the lecturer ad:-An nations consider the
people OF all other nations concelted The truth
is that there Is considerable concelt at the bottom.
To have good opinion OF ourselves Is TO Ike the
first step toward advancement. l propose to talk
to you tonight oil the lauits and ioibles OF
society and to point out that there ample oppor-
tunlty Tor every one TO reform some abuse or to
point out some Improvement on what is
now regarded IA perfection. The relation or good
health to society as wen as industry Is not always
fn nG mot I'D In AM m tu nnn hnrL fn hn,rn
many scN people among It's ranks. IL Is very
poor Investment. Weakness IS just as great q
burden as sickness. A SICK man either gets well
or dies, out weakness Is chronic annoy. No man
VINO Is weak, be he ever so capable OF great
efforts when well, can perform good work. Tne
people oil great city cannot AFFORD to have u pOr-
ton OF their citizens nving Wen while the great
bulk OF the population are dwelling in novels The
second element OF waste which small speak of Is
ignorance. by this do not mean those who can
not read and write. l have men who could
read and write-aye, and cypher-who were pro-
fOundly ignorant. Some are troubled about their
pedigree. For my part, this does not disturb at
all. nave no prejudice against the animals.
monkey as not, II the line could be traced far
enough back to satisfy me- What is more WORTH
less or even more helpless than man when he is
born II would be an honor to begin as high up in
the scale as calf. BY an ignorant man l mean
one who Is born an animal, grows up and always
made IN the choice OF trades or professions. 1
know 1t to be true OF the ministry. When men are
called to preach some are always called to hear
after fair trial 1t Is u pretty good
evidence that they have mistaken their
calling. l would next refer to The
waste Of lying, considered in the light or political
economy. II we can't trust or believe any one but
ourselves industry is cl0gged IN every branch.
Anything which weakens public confidence
weakens society. l cannot pass even the
gigantic welcomes OF our government in printing
lies by the hundred thousand. Ueaening APP
plause.) would next refer TO the burden oil war.
1 hold that many wars are inspiring and that q
nation often comes out OF a war better. But this
4 u TWentV-OUe Thousand nj
lars of war debt overuangs the Christian nations
OF the globe. DO you wonder what makes Com
muniSm Where debts are infamous they never
will pe paid. The devil can't tax me for vice and
not near about it. The three classes whom to
blame Tor this more than all others are the rich,
the politics oil the country are in the hands OF the
low and INSCRIPTIONS.