New-York tribune., 1879-06-02
TRIBUTES YO Mr.. GARRISON.
A SERMON FROM Mr.. BEECHER.

SERMON FROM Mr.. BEECHER.
TIE LIFE AND SERVICES or TIE PHILANTHR0PiST
REVIEWED.
Mr.. Beecber's sermon yesterday morning was
to review of the character and services OF TIC
late William Lloyd Garrison, his text being Hebrews.
ri, 3S "Of whom the world not worthy" The
pulpit was decked with flowers and large congrega
tion was IN attendance. In Mr. Beecher's pew sat
Oliver Johnson, Mr. Garrison's lifelong friend.
The death Of Mr.. Garrison. said Mr. Beechor. after
long life and hard struggle, calls to mind class OF
who, with him, wrought out one OF the greatest
changes this world The ranks OF those who
IN my youth worked for this end thlnned. Only
and is left and many OF them are just
totterng the brink OF the grave. They did noblo
work In their own way. Some mistake sthey made, as
often do but they set themselves against oppres
Of every kind and did not compromise with eVl In
any form. The wonder is not 80 much that they ran
into danger that they lived TO meet the
dangers through which they passed The great
evil which these men sought 10 destroy
was slayery-an evil which had become ngrained into
the Constitution and into the social and political fabric
OF the Nation until 1t had become part and parcel OF
that fabric. Slavery existed primarily az commercial
necessity but 1t grew and increased and sprea until IL
became gigantic political power. IL stung the Constr
tuition of the country and ate out OF its vitality
and material prosperity This II was which raised up
that noble band OF Abolitionss. every one Of whom
must always stand high the estimation Of their coun
trymen, and the highest of whom was William Lloyd
Garrison.
That great company ought not TO be forgotten. Few
yet live. Phillips, Johnson Mrs. Stowe and rev more
remain; and long may it be before we shall have To
speak of life work after they have departed! Who
does not remember the martyrdon Of Owen Loveioy; (;
the lifelong services OF Charles g. Finney joshua
Leavt and othersi Let not men say, when the
churches are rebuked, as many of them may he when
human rights at stake. that all were asleep VINO
sfh eFaa fan1n nj
man. and what shall We say Of John Brown, that i'm
practicable chivarc and heroic man,who though he ac
complished nothing but his ruin, attempted more
than was ever accomplished by the most heroic knight
of the chiyarc age Nor must We forget to name
William Cullen Bryant and Horace Greeley, who, with
Others brought the power OF the press as batcrnS
ram before which the wall OF slavery was
weakened so that 1t fell easily at last;
and John Quincy Adams. Joshua r. Giddngs,
Thaddeus Stevens. william II. Seward, and many
others who made great by their courage ana Ihe
faith in the future the Of right OF all
the men who labOred Ia this great Work IN It's dark
DAYS when IL much and meant more 10 Oe counted
one OF their number one of them was more worthy
10 i've 10 see the victory won than william Lloyd Gari-
son. reserved for him TO taste the fuy npened
fruits OF ms life's labor,
Garrison was great man, but his gTeatnes;,
did not lie wholly IN the bitterness OF
his language. The cause Of that was in the
school in which he found himself Not that his words
ought TO have beer severe but they were erel
open enemies and treated them such Personally he
was very KIND ana his heart tender as wonans
and pure chi!as but when he looked OF slavery
he became an avcugpE power. Much ot TINS, however
was due to the circumstances OF the times 20 the pros
titutcn OF the church. the di8erings Of com
mercc, and The trucking OF politicians Every
thing mad been made subscrYlent 10 the DOM
inant spirit of tho slave power. The man who prayed
in the pulpit the poor slaves could not hope lOr
future sIccCss and unS IN the shape O sympathy
for the slaves carefully eXpunged rom the pages OF
the literature OF the day Bad as was the INSTITUTION OF
slavery, and much blame tho south Tor holding
slaves the condition OF things at the North was int
nitey dsgfBGeiG t may be sald 20 the credit OF
Garrison that IN the beginning the dangers mat
were hidden tie carcass OF slavery, ana tnat
lie lald out at the start course OF action
from which hc never swerycd, and which
I'm the end was carried ont by His position was
tba slavery was wrong aud that the only thing 10 do
was 10 assault il and destroy IT, Garrison seems to
have been a man who took his inspiration from very
near throne of God. There some who Thought
That, in way, commercial interests or pOltlcai
policy social wei-beug might correct he evil They
lived hos ever the sword cut the GOrdian knot,
behold stain OF slavery botte ont forever ~
blood OF the nation. II the South that brought
on the war; brought emancipation, ana the
faith people OF the South III the justice OF tuor
cause was great and they made such resistance as
to reduce them 10 abect poverty and force them TO
labor for their bread.
Mr. Garrsons lire illustrates the advantages Of look
ing forward for what Is TO IL IL lesson 10 az
men, especially TO those just entering upon lfe that
is always TO take the highest ground foI princpe
and that matter what one may suner on The way II
Is always best IN the end. Think because you SOW
to-day ana do not reap tomorrow that yOdr labor Is IN
vain. Think not that the days Of revolutions have
passed. There for all. Garrison mas gone To
risen and is standing among the prophets and IN the
,,Vgs a