Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-26
BsECAER's BIRTHDAY.
The SeVentieth Anniversary Of Brock.
lyn'S Great Preacher Celebrated,
The Academy Packed with Admirers
of Henry-Speechcs, Rcsolu-
tions and Presents,
Special Dispatch to Tins BEs.

Special Dispatch to Tins BEs
New York, June 20. Every seat and
every foot of standing room in the Brook
Ign Academy of Music was filed this
evening by friends and admirers of Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher, assembled to cele-
brate his 10th birthday. The Academy
was tastefully decorated with flags and
streamers, hanging baskets of flowers and
vines circled the lower gallery and a line
of living plants took the place of tho foot
lights on the stage and rose in the center
to a bank of flowers. In one of the
boxes was seated Mrs. Beecher, Mrs.
Harriet Beecher Stowe and other mem
bers of Beecher's family. The entrance
of Beecher himself on { e stage was
greeted with the warmest enthusiasm,
the audience rising and ladies waving
their handkerchief, while the men
loudly cheered.
Professor Charles Il. West said they
had come to honor the philosopher, the
poor mans friend, the lover of nature, of
flowers and children; to honor one whose
name will stand for centuries like Mont
Blanc-alone in his fame. Ex-Chief
Judge Neill proposed Rev. DIR. Charles
III. Hall as presiding officer. DIR. Hall
on taking the chair said Mr.. Beecher, al
though he had been the most abused man
in Brooklyn and in the country, was
never known to utter an unkind word of
any a He differed from him in the
belief that he had never seen
. man who loves God and his fellow man
as deeply. He then introduced Rev. DR..
J. o. Peck. Rev. DR.. Ingersoll read q
number of kilograms and letters of regret
at their inability to be present. Resolu.
tions Of respect, esteem and affection, to-
gether with congratulations on the life SC
useful and honored, were adopted by q
rising vote. Rev. DIR. Gotthiel, rabbi OF
the Brooklyn temple, Brooklyn, read an
address and presented on behalf of hi,
follow Hebrews, a handsome silver
pitcher.
DIR. Collyer, DIR. Fulton, Mayor Low
and John Berry, member of thrliamenr
for Wexford, all spokesof Mr., Beechsr',
labors, and paid warm tributes to his sue
cess and genius. Beecher then rose, ant
was greeted with the warmest applause
the audience again rising for severa
minutes. When permitted to speak, HI
said if he were susceptible of believing
one-tenth which had been said aboui
him, the celebration v 'nld be that Of tn
birthday of a fcoJ,c., ~ fools. Wher
hsSsleakcd back mat vears aeo
it seemed to him nothing had the
been done. Almost everything grea
that has been done i'm science has bee
accomplished since then. Power ha
seen itself obliged to consult the multi
tude. Italv has gained its unity. Greco
has raised her head, Hungary has force
itself from oppression. Wprkingmel
have been enfranchised in England. H
expected yet to see every man 81 gears o
age in England receive the franchise
Then he expected to see some othe
changes there. The world has been NOV
ing and he, rs one of Gods passengers
could not be left behind. The steps O
progress made are the footsteps of God
Looking down at the future he was hope
full because God lives. Whateve,
faults have marred the symmetr,
of his life, he said, were his alone. What
ever of service he has rendered is Gods
He accepted the love which prompted tn,
exaggerated praise given to him because
he loves men, but yet he could do with.
out their love. He owed more to hi.
father and mother than to any otIel
human being. Concluding, he said: II
is easy to stand alone if you know you are
right. After returning thanks for the
honors paid him, the audience were re.
quested to rise, and Beecher pronounced
the benediction