The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-09-28
HENRY WARD BEECHER

HENRY WAhD BEEChEk
Is here. He is the lecture excitement of the hour
just now, and the pulpit excitement, as well, for he
has preached both Sundays be has been in town. He
came out under q contract with the Boston Lyceum
Bureau to deliver ten lectures in the State, four Of
them in San Francisco.
The people here have been very anxious to hear
Mr.. Beecher lecture. 1 might remark incidentally
(not by way of news however, that that is the case
wherever he speaks. The people-common or I'M
common-hear him gladly. He is the most success
full talker in America. He lectures on an average
five nights a week in ten months of the year. He
draws better than any actor, singer or any combina-
ton of singers or actors. He has lectured 200
times since last September and travelled 10000 miles.
He receives $3.50 a night and all expenses paid;
more than that in large cities, if the agent feels dis
posed to give it to him. The estimate is that be will
make 100000 or $4,000 this year. and give it
away as fast as he earns it, for he has a weakness
for lending money to good fellows and endorsing
notes for hard-up friends. The receipts of four lee
lures in San Francisco amounted TO S9,450. The
largest temple in the city was filled each night
seats all reserved at S1.50 each or $500 for the
course of four lectures. He is advertised as the
"World's Greatest Orator and Preacher" 1t will
probably be many generations, if ever, before as
gifted a man takes his place. But for the great
gifts that nature and culture has given him he has
paid dearly. Who envys him, in view of all the
malignant abuse his marvellous ability has called out
from the lowest depths of jealousy and envy and
hate in human nature, good, bad and indifferent
from every class of men This is the way in this
"vale of tears"-in this bloody arena OF human
gladiators. Human ambition has a law written
upOD II like the adict IN prOud old ncaan from tho
prouder land Thus far shalt thou go and no far
ther.'' So a lofty throne and st. Helena are never
very far apart.
Mr.. Beecher preached the first Sunday in DR..
stones Church. Tickets of admission were given
out by 8 good old deacon. BE said he would be in
his Office from 9 until 5. He was besieged by a
great multitude and by noon the deacon was rot to
be found. He and his tickets were gone. There
was a crush at the church the next day, and when
the doors were opened (after all ticket holders had
been ADMITTEDLY some got in but they didn't know
how-they simply knew that they were suddenly
landed in front of the pulpit in one of the aisles.
He preached again yesterday in the Grand Opera
House under the auspices of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association. 1 am sorry to say people broke in
doors and windows in order to get in where the tick
cts we're to be distributed an hour ahead of the time.
And after they got them, some of them sold them at
$500 each on the outside.
If Mr.. Beecher was studied as a copy or example
more than he is criticised by his brethren in the
profession, the Christianity he breaches and they try
to preach would make more progress among men
than it does at the present time.
A LEPER. (
The Board of Health has been notified that a lerer
is residing at one of the hotels in this city. He is
to have come from Honolulu in q sailing vessel,
quite an excitement has been created about the
Yours,
BERKELEY.