The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-14
FORTY YEARS AGO.
BEECHER's EARLY LIFE.

AND PEOPLE THERE-HIs MARRIAGE AND
MANNER OF HIS LIvING-THE YOUNG
DAvID's POPULARITY.
A correspondent writing from Lawrence
burg to the Chicago Times gives some in
teresting items concerning the early clerical
life of Henry Ward Beecher in that village:
Henry Ward Beecher preached the first
sermon of his life in this little city Oh the
north bank of the Ohio river. forty five
years ago, when Lawrenceburg was the
chiefest commercial town in this common
wealth. when she boasted the best and
largest buildings, the most enterprising and
richest men, the handsOmest women, the
prospect of the first railway west of the
Alleghenies Ia charter having been granted
about that period for the "Lawrenceburg
and Indianapolis railroad" two miles of
which were CONSTRUCTED before your
correspondent was bOrn), and when
her people had "made up their
minds" to lead the advance guard of west
ern development, fourteen of her citizens,
Presbyterian in belief, organized themselves
into ''the first Presbyterian Church. of
Lawrenceburg. They proceeded immedi-
ately to erect neat and substantial brick
and stone church building, certainly one of
the best edifices of that character in any
village of the west at that time. Ii was fin
the Ohio at this place being southwardly,
streets leading from it extend westward
ly. This Presbyterian church, which IS now
invested with so much historic importance,
in connection with Beecher and the scandal
stands here to-day precisely as erected,
precisely as young and handsome
and luxurious as when Henry Ward en-
tered upon his eventful career in it, and is
assuredly as unique and interesting an
architectural link coupling the past and
faded generation with the present, as the
west can show. On thorough
ingly suggestive name of"Short" street, ex.
tending from the river west toward this dis
tant hills, two squares from the waters
edge, stands this cosy little old building. 1t
is not precisely "wart of an edifice on the
wrinkle of a HILL" but reminds you, in its
cob-webbed and grimy appearance, of a
wrinkled and 6ecrepit old man, one foot in
the grave and the other speedily going
hence. My friend, Mr.. Sparks, unlocked
the old door and it creaked on its rusty
hinges as he swung it back to admit us. L
found plain, airy, cleanly hail, 50x60, occu-
pied by the cushioned pews, Mason Il
Hamlin organ, a bookless new bookcase and
graceful modern reading stand in the CEN
ter of the dias, upon which lay handsome
copy of the Bible. L found the dias neatly
bur unpretentiously carpeted. The only in
ternal change since
THE DAYS OF BEECHER
was substituting this slightly elevated dais
for the old-fashioneJ coop in the air. from
which elevated box young and handsome
Henry made his ministerial debut 81 years
ago. Your correspondent came here pur-
posly to investigate upon the ground, and
come face to face with the ancient living
witnesses In Mr. Beecher's famous Friday
lectures has q his
markable career in Plymouth church, made
the reading world familiar with ''that
obscure little town in Indiana" Under the
circumstances of the attitude of fame reached
by Brother Beecher and of the great scandal
hanging over him like avenging Nemesis,
il may prove interesting to turn to Beechers
beginning. In 1887, Henry was twenty
four years old, and about TO graduate from
Lane Theological Seminary under the direc-
ton of his father, eminent Lyman Beecher,
and go out into the gospel work OF
the wide world. This town was regarded
as "choice spot" of beginning by graduates
of that college. Situated but an hour or two
| by boat from the Queen City, youthful as
pirants to the Dul pit could run down here,
try their hand, and go back to their dormi-
tory or their sweetheart In a brief time.
Whenever the pulpit OF this church became
vacant, all that was necessary was TO send
up to the LANE" and ask for "cadet." At
all events, the Presbyterian church of Law
renceburg was minusa minister in 1887. A
call on Lane Seminary was made. Success
sive Sabbaths several young graduates came
! down, young Beecher among the rest. He
preached two or three times: was liked; pro.
posed to become their regular preacher, and
| finally was accepted. In a contest like that
where the church took 'pick and choice
i from a dozen, it was regarded an honor tC
win the prize-au honor conferred by the in
telligent congregation and membership
lThnS thirtu.Sovau vQarG 400
| YOUNG BEECHER CAME,
and entered upon his work in the ministry
He soon became popular and started OF
his career of worldwide fame. About tina
time he had added rib to his anatomica
economy, by taking unto himself q Mis-
Eunice Leighton, bright, ambitious, will
iul, energetic fame loving, goldworship
ping country girl from Hill Farm" the
been Tilted by a rich Boston rOue banned
Dalton, whom she afterward denounced
as "a self-conceiLed young man, VI
terly devoid of deicacy, aud moth
ing daunting but that half millior
could buy the fairest lady in the land. >
In her autobiography, :" From Dawn Il
Daylight" Mrs. Eunice Beecher describes
herself, as at that time, very young girl
"verv beautiful" in her "fond mothers eve,
and who wore "rich auburn curls." Late
through the book she contrasts herself to th
wife of George Beecher, brother of Hen r
! W., and calling herself Mary, says: " Ma
ry's figure was larger and not so graceful
or dignified, and her educational advantage
had been far inferior. She was inclined t
> grieve over this, fearing that she might no
prove, in all things, such wife as her lovin
/ heart believed her husband must deserve
With his young wife, in 1893, Mr.. Beeche
el quit boarding and went to " housekeeping
) in apartments which have inspected to-day
r only refer to this trivial matter because NJ
) Beecher is so very fond of calling the atten
t ton of his millionaire and aristoeratic Ply
Z mouth church audiences toit
Z MRS. BEECHER IN HER BOOK
, pictures the apartments and all the su
! rOnp6ipUo simnlv torrihla The m