The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-07-16
Beeeher at his Farm-Serenade and
Speech.

New YORK, July 13.-Some of the
people and temporary residents Of Peek
skill and neighborhood, preceded by
band of music and company of militia
marched to Rest Hill, last evening, and
serenaded Rev. Henry Ward Beecher,
and after an address by Judge Wells,
giving expression TO their confidence in
him as a man and as a Christian minis
ter of the gospel, Mr. Beeeher spoke for
nearly an hour. Among other lhings
he said: when began my life ! had
no intention of being great and elo-
qucnt and wise man, but | did mean TO
be a good man and an honest man. i
did mean to spend all the strength God
gave me in making my fellowmen better.
This has been my ambition. This !
have done by the help of God. l make
then this assertion, more emphatic be-
cause not a few newspapers seem TO think
I have done it by the help and permis-
sion of newspapers, but | have done it
in spite of them. 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 who Is going 20 stop
my month with muzZle-my hand.
that / can not write, if it is given to me
to say things which men want to hear,
and to write things which make men
better. l went through the Red Sea.
but it was long time ago: the fact
is, gentlemen, that abou: 1870 and 1871,
and for three or four years, / had to go
| through pretty deep waters at times, but
I kept it 10 myself. The revelation OF
it to mankind came within a year, but
had got through it. / am receiving
scores and hundreds of letters conched
in most earnest and affeetionate condol-
ence for the fiery trials through which
I am going But, bless you, the ashes
of that fire were scattered long ago.
| am growing in strength and elasticity of
body 1 am all right. The letters
have received from Baptist clergymen,
from clergymen in the ministry of the
Episcopal Church, and especially the
letters and messages from the Roman
Catholic priests, have been among the
most Christian expressions rendered me.
prize these letters. And the churches
have prayed for me; households have
prayed for me; mothers kneeling in the
| u1idst of tboir little oh III ron have Drav
ed for me; and I will say that these
prayers have been more to me than the
plaudits of the people on the streets. 1t
has been this that has made me happy.
I have no new course to take. ] am too
old to change my position, and 1 shall
go on trusting men, and / have pursued
that doctrine all my life, and only once
In forty years have | made mistake.
shall love men, and shall not stop to
think of their faults before love them,
and propose to go on with my work
confident in men, not preaching merely
| the difference between right and wrong.
But this I shall preach-that there is
no justice, no severity, no punishment
that is good unless it is administered
in the spirit of love.
"The expenses of the trial have been
enormous enough to bankrupt country
minister FIVE times over, and wonld have
destroyed me but for Plymouth Church;
and even with their help shall barely
get through, for the expenses of the
trial to me have been over $4,000, and
on the other side they have been very
large, but they have got no money to pay
them with"
Mr.. Beecher elected much laughter
and was frequently warmly applauded
throughout his somewhat long address