The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-07
PLYMOUTH'S JOKE.
MeSsrS. Beecher and Bowen as the Elk
eeutOrS Of a Singular viii.
AN INTERESTING RESUME.
Was Miranda Wood a Wag or
a Peacemaker

The brethren of Plymouth Church have yet
another topic of interest that bids fair to become
subject of general gossip in that unfortunate city.
already noted for the multiplicity OF its churches and
tho non-ceesation OF it's talk" That Henry Ward
Beecher. pastor. and Henry Chandler Bowen. dis
missed disciple. could again together
this side Of the Judgment Day was. in the
minds of all Brooklyn. an impossible 40
surdity That they would ever be cited
as co-defendauts in a court of law, was happening
but one remove from miracle When therefore,
it was announced in the HERALD that a venerable
lady. by the of Wood, had died. leaving her
estate to the care, custody and administration of her
beloved friends. Messrs. Beecher and Bowen the
mouth Of the entire community stood agape and the
quidnnncs congratll themselves that Plymouth
Church was more in the throes of development.
HISTORY OF THE WILL.
The will. its provisions. and above all. its
tors. have been discussed pro and since the eth
of November last. when the instrument fled for
probate in Surrogate Daileys court, and yesterday
proof OF the citations service presented be-
fore that official 1t appears that Miranda Wood,
who made the will. born In $685. and carly life
conceived desire to benefit religious corporations
then existing. She naturally henevolent and
her charities known in all the region
thereabout. When Mr.. Beeaher opened
| vices in Plymouth Church Mr.. Bowen his
right hand man. usher fugleman and friend. To
his courteous welcome Miranda Wood was indebted
for seat in ''near pew on the all important sun
day morning when she made her experimental trip to
| the Plymouth sanctuary. Miranda late, but
Brother Bowen alert. and seeing the lady in dis
tress and In the aisle, CALAMITY extended his hand
and led her to his own front pew Together they fol-
|
that followed they participated. As together
| they hald the book of praise. The head
and heart of Miranda were touched. and
| ere month had passed she became
reg ular attendant the ministraGons of Mr. Beecher
and tho lessee Of a pow not far from those Of the
select circle in which Mr.. Bowen a central and
influential figure. That the humane impulses open
hand and tender sympathics OF Miranda should At
tach her warmly to her pastor and his right hand
was she. They We're devoted to the advancement of
tho blacks. so she. Prior to these halcyon days
| hearts and swelled the Golfers OF the agents
| of the American Seamen's Friend Society,
| devoted to the cheer of the Presbyterian Board Of
| Education. That this was fact OF moment in her
mind is evident by the existence Of win in which
| tho bulk of her fortune left to those two al
mirable institutions and further by the appearance
in court yesterday of sundry reputable lawyers,
who purpose contestng the will. In 1852. when the
| late Miranda in good health and full communion
| with the happy family in Plymouth Church,
she made tursd ne WILL Of w So to
| on the institutions referred to and left them
metaphorcaly in the cold. Mr.. Beecher had not
then made the acquaintance of Captain Charley Dun
can an ancient mariner. who subsequently, deserted
the plymouth bark and joined himself to the Pilgrim
Fathers under the leadership of Dr. Storrs. Cnnsc-
| quently the American Scamens Friends Society was
| not on terms with the collections of plymouth At
that time, a. since. Mr. Beeeher was not prosby-
terrain, but Congregationalist, and naturally the
presby tcrian Board Of Education was not in favor
with the worshippcrs in Plymouth temple
1 a FRIEND OF THE BLACKS.
As one did all did, and Miranda put from her heart
her old time loves. determining TO devote her brains
while she lived and her fortune when she died to some
organization in which her pastor and his dearest
| friend would feel . common interest At that time
the American negro of African descent occupied a
1 large part OF Mr. Beechers time and talent. In
church. the platform, in Mr. Bowen's news
paper. in sermon. essay and lecture, the
negro and stirred his congregation by his
matchless eloquence in their behalf. In this M in
among nsH the friends and hackers Of Nj BeecLer
that time he was engaged in the salo OF dry goods.
| With such examples before her what could Miranda
do with her money better than care in way FOR
the unfortunate negro to whose relief the late Abra
/ ham Lincoln then as yet a stranger. She
her death in an iporishae fund to be devoted 70 Is.
tablishng seminary for the education of her colored
sisters, like the Mount Holy oLe Female Seminary.
| Miranda cautious woman. and she pom
dered long before she frrevocably committed her
pious purpose to pen, ink aud paper: She was
|
| will and testanent-which to DO of no avail in
twenty six years, with five added thereto-she spent
DAYS and weeks in prayerful consideration. Finally
she wrote the document In which she provided thst
in ut least I'VE years after her death all her real
and personal estate. OF the value OF $1,000,
stitution such as has been described, and
she added her preference for the State OF New York.
unless (which God forbid public opinion should
| forbid" This OF itself is curious. but more re-
| manned. Although Miranda had cousins and rela-
;ous in tha Su TIA X Cour a.
| ample prcof-she being Of pious and churchly
nature. preferred some OF her religious associates
The courtesy OF Brother Bowen still fresh in her
| afetionate memory, and tho earnest magnetism Of
her pastors eloquence was yet burning the altar
| of her loving heart. She knew their common dcvo-
ton TO the negros and the harmony that char
acterized all their actions. As II inspired Miranda
instantly inserted the names OF Henry Ward Beecher.
| minister, and Henry c. Bowen, me rchait, to whom.
their heirs and assignees forever she bequeathcd
| her sacred trust.
All this which happened twenty. six years ago. now,
| by the death of Miranda, first the light If
amused and interested world Already the circles of
the City OF Churches excited. The parties in in
tcrest are-First the colorei girls, eager to partic
| pate in the educational advantages suggested by
who Insist that Miranda's hesd cracked If her
heart not and they hope to break tho wills third.
the American Scaincns Friond Society. which joins
hands with the Presbyterian Board OF Education in
protesting and colsesting; fourth, the executors,
Mcssrs Bcccher and Bowen, who are no longer bound
| by church communion and who long since burst
asunder tho famous trpartite agreement and fifth.
the heirs aud assgnees Messrs Becchcr and Bowen,
| vast army OF and daughters, grandsons
and granddaughter. who naturally wonder
| why they and the coiored dansels OF TO-
| day should be = thus brought face to face.
Owing to the extraordinary array OF lawyers Mcssrs.
1rtssidor, culver, Wright. Benedict. Taft Benedict.
| in Court yesterday and their innumerabc sugges-
| tons, surrogate Daily concluded 20 postpone the
hearing until December II. II Mr.. Bcechers old
time counsel appear there will be added to those
named Mcssrs Evarts Porter. Tracy. SheaInan. HUI
d Abbott, while Mr.. Bowen will DO represented by
Naeh Holt. 1t is not known who will represent the
'heirs and assignces.'
PLYMOUTH VIEW OF RI.
Plymouth lecture room was well filed last evening,
and after the adjournment of the prayer meeting
OF the oldest members OF the congregation said:'I
knew Miranda than forty years. She knew her
own mind, if any ever did. That she should
have made Mr. Beecher executor is right enough.
She believed in him and his love tor the negro, and
WAS clad to do what she thought would please and
aiJA him Than she knew Nj. Bowen to be a