Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-05-20
Lecture of Rev. Henry Becchcr.

az
Rev. Henry Ward Bcecher, of Ply
mouth Church, Brooklyn, n. Y. deliv-
cred his lecture on "Religion in Educa-
ton" at the Baltimore Academy of Mu-
sic Wednesday evening, before an au.
dience numbering abont one thousand
persons, perhaps half of them ladies.
Several of the private boxes were occu-
pied, and the orchestra chairs, and hrst
and second circles were well filled. The
stage was set with library scene, and
table was placed in the center. Short
" after o'clock Mr.. Beecher came ont
from one of the wings and was intro
duced to the audience by Rev. Mr..
Morrison, editor Of the Presbyterian
Weekly. Mr.. Beechcr was received
with applause. He looks something
older than when he last lcctured in Bal
timore several winters since, and his
long hair is whittier, but his complexion
is still fresh and bis physique vigorous
Leaning one lend Oh the table he I'M
medately commenced to talk, and IN
few minutes stepped nearer to the foot
lights. The lecture occupied an hour
and half in its delivery, Mr.. Beecher
not even stopping to take drink OF
water. The salient points were received
with applause or laughter, and the
whole was listened to with close atten-
ton.
lie said that by the ancierts man as
man was not thought of but as a tool.
Education was for the nobility and the
priesthood, but for the masses ignorance
was duty. Now, for the first time in
the history OF mankind, ignorance IN
Europe has become dscontented with
its condition. The grea: democratic
masses, who have the eagles eye and
the lions strength, are asking why they
are vet but as barnyard towls-to lay
eggs and let others eat them! The de
manG for education is made by them,
and they have learned that knowledge
is the Moses 10 lead them up. One man
seldom acts on high Christian principles
-one hundred men rarely do-and
when nation is found dong so, then
the millennium is at the door. Laugh
ter
Mir. Beecher said the impulse of de-
Tense and attack is condition of exls-
tence, and asked what would the lion
be without his paw, the fox without his
cunning, or the wolf without his fierce
ness? He said he knew all about proph-
ecy. He had made many war speeches,
but twenty five years ago he delivered
lecture on peace, in which he prophe-
cied there would be no more wars, and
that peace congresses would settle all
differences In the past twenty five
wears, however. five tremendous wars,
greater than all those in the previous
century, took place. He said he was
good in making prophecies, but they
are only about half realized. What
has this to do with education! 1t is that
school-houses make good soldiers, and
men are made intelligent 50 as 10 fight
better. There are more men in arms
today than ever before, and he had lit
lie faith in the future peace Of the
world.
lie said there were no braver men on
the earth than the Southern soldiers,
and there never were ADLER leaders.
TApplause.] But the Southern armies
we're worn out by the general culture
and habits of liberty which gave their
opponents superiority. An uned-
ucated man is one, hiaded man, the
other blades staying in the handle and
wearing out. Mr., Beecher said one
fourth of mankind only are producers.
How to augment The wealth-producing
power is the question with governments
and communities. and education adds
to the workers He called the drones
that most respectable class in society
who are eating up what their fathers lett
them; eating up last years honey. Iher
hard working fathers turn them out
without edge or grit, uutanned, raw
leather men, who part their hair exactly
right, wear gloves and are polite good
fellows, but who are thrown up " hen
ever commerce has spasm, and then
fall back on some aunt or papa.
The laborer at IS cents day, COM
plaius that he is a sovereign and voter,
and as good as a lecturer who receives
s1OO for two hours talk. That is un-
true. The man who sells his bone and
muscle without his brains has million
others Just like him, and every OK and
every ass for his competitor, Education
united to sound intellect commands
fancy price. He came from laboring
stociLis an aristocrat descended from
the anvil aud the saddlery, and he Is
proud Of the blood, belonging TO the