Morning journal and courier., 1882-06-08
Beecher "Reminiscences.
Amusing Incidents of His Early ExPerf-
 ence in Indiana.
 sfa Ind

TFrora the Indianapolis Journal
 The publication by Mr Beecher of some "reminiscences of Indianapolis ss it WAS when he first saw it, reminds the Journal of what Beecher was when Indianapolis first saw him Each saw in the other rather promising pos abilities, but each had to submit to some things merely bearable in the other If h. dianapolis was new and her streets badly paved and not lighted at all, except as every man carried his swn tin lantern, with piece of taIlow candle in it, MT. Beecher was young and rollicking, full of fun and frolic, and ut- terly defiant of all the conventional notions of ministerial dignity. He read some, wrote some, and talked great deal He did not play croquet or base bail, but he went sfsh- ing and hunting, much to the scandal of those who had high notions of ministerial proprie- ty He held cats in abhoTxsnce, especially concert cats and mathematical the geology of the embryo city because there were not stones convenient at all hours and in all places to huri at them while holding their musicales Hogs were his perpetual tormen- tors, especially one old SOW, long, lank and always hungry, who defed fences and gates, and who took such sEinisE delight in break ing into his garden nightly that the irreYer- ent preacher declared that she was lineal descendant of the old SOW who refused to drown in the sea when the whole herd ran, violently driven, down the steep plane under the influence of the devils, and that she was a living proof of the transmissibility of total depravity He never could pass hog with in kicking distance without giving it drive His brother Charles, who was with him some months in the capacity of teacher of vocal music saw this hogophobia so developed that he often said that Henry would go square out of his direct road to kick a pig at any time What Is now Circle Park was then known as the Governors circle, and was surrounded by an old fashioned board fence,
 H. -t,. a convenient hitching- place for church goers on Sundays and for country people all other days. After night meetings the exuberant young preacher would often challenge Charles and others to try their springs in jumping the fence with him. Charles always succeed ed whether they did or not.
 One Sunday evening in the early spring Mr Beecher greatly shocked the more prud- ish memb, TT of his congregation by hastily walking down the aisle, rather behind time, with his second best oyercoat all bespattered with mud, wearing green baize leggings, which were muddier than the overcozf, a veritable reproduction of the old styled Meth odist circuit rider, batting only the saddle bags on his arm, which they always carried into the pulpit in the earlier days. With Beecherish coolness he took of the muddy outer wraps and proceeded to the business of the hour without hls supper, and without any explanation except that he had been to Southport on special service that afternoon and the roads being very bad he was a little late, though be had ridden DS. Bullard's best horse, and had barely time to tie him to the Circle fence until after meeting His grow ing popularity a lecturer induced the students at Greencastle to invite Mir Beecher to address them at the first commencement in lS4O. He complied, patronizingiy essur- ing the messenger who was sent to take him by open buggy to Greencastle that he had great respect for the Methodist church for the good it had done by way of preaching in the destitute regions, but he feared that in turning their attention to educational matters they were entering field in which they were not likely to be so successful However, what help he could render them should be afforded cheerfully. He made a frst-class speech, as did Gov. Wallace on the next day, and from that time forward the Metho- dists have been as successful in their educa- tional work as they ever had been in their pioneer work, all things considered