Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-29
A SEVENTEEN RIr1hnav,

n oCNCntACtM DAELnuHXs
N. Y. Tribune, &c.
Mr.. Beeeher's SEVENTEEN birthday
finds his physical powers undated
and his intellectual force unimpaired.
Born in 1913, graduated from Am
herst College in 1884, and installed as
pastor Of a Presbyterian church in
1887, he has been preaching for forty
six years. The Oldest members of
Plymouth church, WHO have listened
to his sermons for thirty six years, can
see no evidence of decadence in his
preaching. His theology has become
more elastic, but his manner has not
altered and his power as pulpit ora
tor has not been diminished, although
the influence OF his sermons, ewing to
causes to which it is unnecessary to
refer, is no longer what it was when
his twenty-ttth anniversary was cele
brated eleven years ago at Plymouth
Church. He remains, however, the
most conspicuous of American
preachers, with an unrivalled
capacity for expression and
orators magical power of
swaying mems hearts aud minds
and of bringing either tears orsmiles to
their faces. The broad effects of his
decade of active work in the West
have never disappeared in his preach
ing. His sermons still seem to have
the breath of the prairie stirring in
them, and his manner hes never lost
the elements of heartiness, simplicity
and informally which it acquired
during his earlier experience in the
ministry. His VOICE is as strong and
melodious as ever; his hapor has not
grown stale; his memory has not
failed him; and he is still in the ma.
turity OF his intellectual powers. The
great audience that gathered to honor
him last night in Brooklyn did not
need, when he spoke, to listen long In
order to be convinced that as popu
lar preacher and platform orator he is
still the foremost. Others may equal
or surpass him in intellectual vigor, in
rhetorical graces and literary finish, or
in logical subtlety and argumentative
power, but no other preacher is so
richly endowed with those q Qualities Of
heart, mind and voice which give Mr..
Beecher a fairly electrical asoendanoy
over an audience.
In responding to the congratulations
of multitude of friends on his 10th
birthday, Mr.. Beecher had compare.
lively easy task. Every face that was
upturned to meet his glance was
illumed with sympathy and affection.
He was the central figure in a great
concourse Of loyal adherents and de-
voted friends, every one of whom
lnvoluntarily held his breath in order
that it might be easier for the Ply
mouth pastor to make himself heard. |
How different his emotions must have |
been when in his 50th year, Just 20 |
years ago, he faced the English mobs
in Manchester, Liverpool and Londen
and pleaded the cause of the Union
and of FreedomI He was subjected
1t that time to every conceivable an>
1oyance His voice was drowned by
continuous upToar; he was insuted BY
gallery and pit he was Kissed aud |
booted, and every sentence that fell
rom his lips was punctuated with
'oars and yells. AS he himself de-
'cribed the scene: II had to speak
9xtempore on subjects the most deli
,ate and difficult as between our two
nations, where even the shading OF |
ny words was of Importance, and yet
had to oqtsoream mob and drown
,he roar Of a multitude. 1t was like
irving a team of runaway horses aud |
making love to a lady al the same
lme.P The maH who responded to |
he address Of welcome and congratr.
alton last night could not have faced /
IN English mob at thraa seore and !
en- as successfully as he did at atty.
Advanced sge requires exemption
rom tho supreme tests of mature man
lood. But the far reaching voice, the
Enthusiasm, the earnestness, the conr.
ge, the humor, the pathos and the
Iloquenee remained in the man. as
hey were when be closed his series of
Iar tune addresses in England. With a
ter Hall, - "a