Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-07-13
NEW YORK.
The Residents Of PeeksktII Bere-
made Henry ward Beecher-Sy-
nOpsis of his Remarks.

The Residents az PeeksktlI Bere-
made Henry Ward Beeeher-Sy-
nOpsis Of his Remarks.
New YoRK, July l3.-The people and
temporary residents Of Peekskill and
neighborhood, preceded by a band of
music and company of militia, marched
to Rest Hill last evening and serenaded
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. After an
address by Judge Wells giving expires.
sion to their con6dencein him as a man,
a Christian and a minister of the gospel,
Mr.. Beecber spoke for nearly an hour.
Among other things be said:
When began my life / had no inten.
ton of being a great and eloquent and
wise man, but did mean TO be a good
and honest man; | did mean to spend all
the strength God gave me in making my
fellow-men better, This has Leen my
ambition. This | have done by the help
Of God. | make this assertion more
emphatic because not a few newspapers
seem to think l have done it by the help
and permission Of newspapers, but 1
have done it in spite of them. l don't
ask that they should care for my future.
My future is in the keeping of the Lord
God to whom my mother directed me,
and | should like to know ofho is going
to stop my mouth with a muzzle, or my
hand that | cannot write if it is given to
me to say things which men want to
hear and to write things which make
men better. / went through the Red
Sea, but it was a long time ago. The
fact is, gentlemeH, that about 1870 and
1871, and for three or four years, | had
to 90 through pretty deep waters at
but l kept it to myself.
Revelation to it came to mankind within
a year, but l got through it. l am re-
ceiving scores and hundreds Of letters
couched in the most earnest and affec-
tomato coincidence for the fiery trials
through which / am going. But, bless
you, the ashes Of that fire were scattered
long ago. l am growingin strength and
elasticity of body; | am all right. The
letters | have received from Baptist
clergymen, from clergymen in the min.
istry Of the Episcopal church, and espe-
cially the letters and messages from
Roman Catholic priests, have been
among the most Christian expressions
rendered me. l prize these letters.
Churches have prayed for me, house
holds have prayed for me, mothers
kneelipg in the midst of their little
children have prayed for me, and ! will
say that these prayers have been more
to me than the plaudits Of tie people on
the streets. 1t has been this that made
me happy. l have no new course to
take. l am too old to change my posi-
ton. / shall go on trusting men; |
have pursued that course all my life,
ard only once in forty years have | made
a mistake. l shall love men; | shall
not stop to think Of their faults before l
love them. l propose to go on with my
work, confident in men, not preaching
merely the difference between right and
wrong, but this l shall preach: that
there is no justice, no severity, no pun
ishment that are good unless they are
administered in a spirit of love. The
expenses Of the trial have been enor-
nous enough to bankrupt a country
minister five times over, and
would have destroyed me but
for the Plymouth church, and even with
their help / shall barely get through, for
the expenses of the trial to me have been
over $4,000. On the other side they
have been very large, but they have got
no money to pay them with"
Mr.. Beecber elected much laughter
and vas frequently warmly applauded
throughout his someWhat lenOthv ad.