The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-16
BEECHER AS A MONEY MAKER.
How the Great Preacher Earned Two
Millions of Dollars.
DETAILED ESTIMATE OF HIS RECEIPTS.
Magnificent Results of Thirty Years
intellectual Labor


took many people by surprise and IT was not until
they turned to the printed record that they could
realize the startling reality. But il Mr.. Beecher has
thus far been monumentally successful in filling the
Golfers OF the corporation OF which he is the head
and anmating spirit. his own personal reward has
been greater and more remarkable yet 1t has
been said that, like other men of genius. Mr. Beocher
is chronicaly hard up and that the pull of the dun
is not entirely unfamiliar to the Beecheran gong
or this sad fact the distinguished divine makes
secret Indeed. i'll Enthusiastically jolly why he
makes light of it and allows his own money
matters to worry him iota keep him
| ragged edge for moment.
With the possible exception of The late Daniel Web
ster, to whom money dross and debt chronic
fact. it may be doubted if any American ever made
money rapidly spent it as easily as Henry Ward
| Beechcr. IN round figures he has handled, out
side of the funds Of his church; not less than a
round milton Of dollars. and yet if he unfor-
tunately die to-day it is doubtful if his estate after
| his debts paid. would net $4,000 in cash. In
his early ministerial days he lived charity to
certain extentthat is, he preached in churches
BILE to pay his salary, and. as he often stated in
| public, he beneficiary Of the American Home
Mission Society. without whose aid neither he nor
his charge could have lived.
His salary when he became pastor of Plymouth
Church. at first $1,000, although it was soon
|
society grew and prospered the first effort made was
to pay off the church debt. Then the pastor was
remembered, and it not long before he received
the then handsome salary of $1,000. In fact, it
would be fair average to say that Dir. Beecher's
compensation during his first Brooklyn decade was
5000 per annuIn, which includes what he may
have received at meetings and presents. by this
time he was quite popular lecturer before ly-
ceums mercantile associations and general socie-
Benjamin and others, Mr.. Beecher was very
glad to lecture for what DR.. Chaplin called
''F-AM-E"-i. e., Fifty dollars and my expenses
Engagements poured in rapidly and he soon found
that the only way in which he could restrain the
rush for his services was to raise his rate to SIS
lecture. But after while even that failed
him. and he raised to 500 which sum checriully
paid by associations, that found it easy matter
make rom $500 to $1,000 by the operation. low
estimate Of Mr. Beerhers lecture receipts in the irst
ten years OF his Brooklyn life is $4,000 per year.
Putting his pulpit income at $1,000 year and his
lecture receipts at 000 it is clear that he made
less than $1,000 $4,000 in the decade from these
two sources
THE SECOND DECADE.
But the second term of ten years developed the
young mans money making faculty still more
sne care to OF &
all Boston offered him the old Park Street Church
and New York was willing to build him great tabcr
naclc centrally located, where strangers well as
residents might have the pleasure of listening to his
eloquent nlinistraons. A series of reyivals ana
several nsIortunes conspre to keep Mr.. Beecher in
Brooklyn, where his salary'was gradually increased
and averaged during the second decade the cheer
the term of his greatest activity, when
he preached political sermons. sermons on
the war, sermons the dignity Of man. sermons
that from his standpoint taught men how tot serve
tho State. Naturally the fed the other, and Mr..
| BcecIers services in the lecture field were in in,
creased demand. He prepared several spropos the
excitement of the time and went from State to State
sowing liberal seed in fallow ground. and making
money rapidly He made not less than 5000 a
, year. and probably much more. by locturing in the
hat c 70 faced the nr fiuh
and earned the gratitude of the nation. For that
great service he received no compensation except
the thanks of the government and the empty compli-
ment of few brcvets in the army for his son.
Having been the pastor of the leading Congrega-
tional church tor twenty years and having carried
the corporation which he served through period Of
financial depression. it was but natural that his
prosperity. 1t was Argued that as Mr.. Beecher's
preaching put in the Plymouth treasury 900
to 100000 year. it but fair that he should have
at least 10000 year salary His friends said he
could easily make three or four times that sum by
$4,000 year. That sum he has averaged
in the past Ten years. few seasons back
$4,000. put Tom shearman made point in his be-
half by voting that donation of $4,000 should be
cepted from the pastor but that his salary should
ing popularity took sudden rise. and under skful
manipulation his income has averaged not less than
S15,UU0. Some 1t not quite that figure, but
| In others it exceeded it by very large amount
Mr.. BEEcHERs LITERARY LADoRs
| Although there has never been q time in Mr.
Beecher's busy life when he was not lat" some
literary labor the little lac made by his pen prior
his settlement in Brooklyn cannot effectively be
sdered in the estimate of his pecuniary successes
The lynx-eyed Henry c. Bowen saw the money
there in the pastor ut very early
date. and after pay ing HIM Iborally for several
years the "star contributor to the bdcpeadeat
him editor Of potical-rcligous weekly at
handsome salary. About this time Robert Bonner
Of Mr. Becchcrs greatest admirers and most
stanch supporters He in vain endeavorod 70 capture
!, him u story writer, but succeeded in securing
number OF articles called star Papers, by Man
I il M he mai no writ encb Ix
means of shrewd diplomacy and 2 magnificent ofer
the Ledger the New England story OF Norwood
aad most regularly essctins work Mr.
he received Mr.. Bonner's check for $4,000. and,
dt that liberal doucears to Mrs. Bcechcr
given for her persisoncy in keeping Henry to his
work; FROM TINS ume on the editorial peg. the
contributors ?. neil the hymn book makers scissors
and tho compilers pastepot wore part aud parcel of
MIR. Bccchcr's regular outfit.
THE LIFE OF CHi,Isr
When the great and good Alr. Bowen and his
pastor became two There was an opportunity for the
latter in paper called the Church Union. 1t pur
chased ana put in a stock company as the CHRISTIAN
given one-hlf the paper. About this time Ford a
Co. conceived the idea of Decchers Life OF Christ"
aud made him an oher Of $4,000 for tho book and
large copyright. he took the check and wrote
volume. irom the sales of which he realized largely
also. Then came the Titon mcss, and tho aid
ordcd in one way or another not less than
100000. The ''Iiie of Christ dragged slowly in
volving the distress of the publishers and wide
sprcau discomfort OF all who had purchased the nrst
volume and waited Tor the second. u IL part of
the motive OF this review treat of the iiie of
Christ" other than of the elements OF Mr..
Bcechcrs wonderful money making faculty. His
receipts from that source in the ncighborhood
OF $to.O0v.
Ak EXTRAORDINARY IRcrunE SEASON.
An cnterprsing Boston iirfl have mono polized Mr..
Bcecher la the last two years, and they Harmed him
out IN the lecture held to iinineEsc prohts. Under
their management he has travelled from Maine 20 Cat
iicrnia iectured all over the country and refused
four Times many offers as he accepted IL is within
bounds to say that AFR Bcechcr has prohed by tins
engagement not less than s3OO ana lac is yet ia the
cary days OK his ,our
ttf.tAPIruIATIoN
From this brci and ciisory review of great mans
pccuuiary progress IL viii be that lie one OF
million maker IL not saver, of the one thing
neeilul.
Tabuated the estimate is ~ foliows:--
| C.lu. H-st t.,.x IN fuut