Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-03
MIR. Beecher on wealth.

Mr.. II eecher ON Wealth.
The first time for eighteen year., Henry Ward
IIeechcr appeared before an Augusta audience
last evening. The night was inausp cious, but the
hall was filed, and the gree ting he received was
as warm and earnest as it was spontaneous. II
showed something of the mistaken faith of our
people in the good man. A more intelligent,
thoughtful, Christian audience never gathered in
| the hail.
Mr.. Beecher was accompanied to the platform
by Mayor NASH who introduced him to the audi
ence in well chosen words, as being the foremost
man and teacher of the age, whose words had
| charmed, instructed and elevated humanity.
| Mr.. Beecher's subject was "The Ministry of
| Wealth" He spoke entirely without notes, and
| with the same freedom with which he appears be-
fore the thousands who every week crowd Ply
mouth church. He made himself perfectly at
| home with his audience. Naturally enough it
was expected there would be some illusions to the
great trial and its manifold troubles, the meshes
woven by cruel hands and brains to tarnsh his
good name, but all illusions to these matters
| passed by.
| lie talked with all of his old-time pathos ard
| eloquence Of the frangility of human nature,
and the temptations Of ambition, praise, love, af-
| fiction, and good fellowship to men who could
| not be moved by the baser temptation of money.
| "lle who was not vulnerable on some Point wa.
| not man, but God"
| Mr.. Beechcr took the ground, and logically
maintained it, that the general desire to obtain
wealth on moral grounds, is right and just, worthy
OF emulation. Industry was the teacher, not only
of cviity, but also of morality. Property was
matter into which b ain had been infused. Prop
erty would follow the lne Of civilization; for, al
though riches might rot civilize, there was no
civilization without riches. The larger results Of
industry must stand on truth, honesty, and fideli-
ty; on these rested society and religion. The pull
| pit taught and piled the soul with motives, but
the outside world trained men in habits of moral.
| iy and virtue. The only royal virtue that the
Church taught and trained men in was pateuce
! Men said all business was full of the abomna-
| tons OF deceit. Did men suppose that if more
| lies than truths were told in Wall street that
Wall street couldexist Capital could enter ev-
cry kingdom in the world except the Kingdom of
| Heaven. Hence much of it was desirable, and
that it be turned to good uses such as improving
the individual and the household and the commu-
1
| day came for the payment of taxes And yet in
every community men covered Up their property
to escape taxation. lie especially urged wise
benefac,ions and requests for the promotion of
the public good, and tina. men do it in their life
| time, and not he benevolent only when they
corld no longer be selfish. The great danger
| from wealth lies in its admiration.
The lecture occupied an hour and twenty min
utes in its delivery. 1t was interesting, instrnc-
tive and eloquent one of the finest eff Jrt. of the
| foremost preachers OF the age.
Colby University Notes.
There are two all absorbing topics here for the
present, one is "Oul Gymnasium" and the other
| is Centennial" AS to the former the prospects
are quite encouraging. The foundation is entirely
laid, the floor also, and the walls have risen to the
| height Of several feet. A rainstorm like that
| which threatens, will delay, but not seri-
ously hinder the work, and nothing but an untime-
ly snowstorm will prevent the speedy completion
of the work of building. The building will be
6jx10 feet. made of brick and in perfect propriety
with such buildings as Coburn Hall and Memorial
Hall
As TO Centennial" several students have gone
thither, and professor, Prof. Elder. Others
would go were it not for the great inconvenience
of being absent from recitations-an nconven,
fence which almost amounts to an impossibility.
Monday evening the Literary Fraternity held
public meeting in the college chapel, according to
the following order Of exercises
Music, College Choir.
Poem, +. q. Nichols.
Music, College Choir
Debate-Que stion Resolved, That the rights of
suffrage should be restricted to those
persons who read and write. AT
firmative-l. NJ. Thompson, III. n
Haynes. Negative-J. +. Case, w. Ii.
Looney.
Essay, F. NJ Hollower.
Music, College Choir.
Qute good audience was in attendance and
though but small portion voted the question was
decided in the affirmative, 90 to 80.