Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-26
BEECHER'S NEVENTIETH
BIRTHDAY.
He Gives Sketch of His Life in
the Church and the Growth
of His Religion.
special 70 COmmercial Gnrstte.

NEW IOhh, u une 20 henry vi ard
Beecher viii attain tie age of seventy
years to morrow, having been born on
une "a, 1873 He took occasion in
the Plymouth lecture room, last
evening, to refer to the fact, which has
been brought prominently before the
public by the preparation for fitting
celebration Of the occasion, on Mon.
day night, 10 the Brooklyn Academy
Of Music Mr.. Beecher in his remal ks
dwelt upon the details of his religious
career, and the dominating motives
in his life. He spoke at times with
deep feeling, and his hearers were
affected as well as himself. One woman
tainted, and had to be removed from
the room, just as he closed.
He said, among other things, that
arrangements had been made for the
public celebration OF the fact that sew
enty years ago man child was born,
and he had had TO take care of him
ever since. Seventy years was not a
great while He was modest man.
and when he heard of this public
meeting he was in a panic. But his
life had been a public one, and he felt
1t his duty to give way, and let his
friends go it. 1t might bea lesson to
young men TO know that one could
safely trust to moral principles, could
be in the minority, and could hold
views out of Joint with the times.
Il cant tell what [ shall say in the
public meeting" continued Mr..
Beecher. "But there are some things
| Ecan say here, and no. there
For that reason have referred to the
matter here, and if it gets into cold
type, why | can't help it; SO let us
consider ourselves in an upper cham
Der, with the doors shut. with no re
porters after us. owe it to you now
on my SEVENTEEN birthday, to make
you a confidential statement as to nv
family 10 the Lord; to whom | may
speak Of myself and Of my own feel.
ings."
Mr.. Beecher then recited in detail
his religious life. He was born of
cody parents, and brought up in an
atmosphere as purely modest and as
piring, unworldly and religious, as is
often found. He learned that the
chief end of life was to glorify God,
but as to enjoying Him forever, it was
Q matter of election. When he went
from college he found the theological
schools Of New Haven and Andover
in full fight. His own father was
charged with being off the track, and
was aiterwsrd tried by Presbytery.
When he himself was about to 20 to
Lawrenceberg the Council found him
hyper<orthodox, as he had always been
since; but when be declared his ad-
hesion to the New School Presbyte.
rians, the Council refused to ordain
him, but the church accepted him,
because indepedent, The fight be.
tween the new school and the old
was very hot and heavy for
years, for questions that would
make crab laugh. So he
got great reputation for dogmatic
theology. He received great light
when he saw Christ as He was, the
manifestation of the love of God.
That view had grown larger and lar
ger, The idea Of the compassion of
God led him to have compassion for
the week. As soon as he was called
he went to the side of the dumb and
needy. He was glad he had q chance
to work for the slaye amid SCOT and
reyiling. So always he sided with the
weak; with Greece, with Hungary,
with ireland, with the Jews and all
the oppFeGald of every pStipn. lie
was not philanthropist, but . Chris
tian. In all his pulpit preaching he
had tried to make palmer paths for
msn and to remove stumbling blocks.
n ms @sFk three things had be
gone more intense ana so#prehensive
as tbe years passed 9neY Vas EbS m
iversal sihfdiaess of men, needing a
reconstruction or regeneration. The
second was the converting and effect-
ual influence of the Spirit of God, and
the third was the love of God in
HhHst, re entree of all systems, joy
Of life here aHd tLs hqne Of the life
hereafter. Amid ell trials sad diii-
cu!.ies, this had supported him. lie
had only one fear, and that fear was
thar he'sboGl5 live too long, but God
knew best. As seea &C he was una
BILE to be active and useful 10 welk,
be hoped God would let him go. he
had been pastor Of plymouth Church
for tbirty>si1 years, and peyer felt the
power of the Gospel as to>dsy, How
much he owed TO the church, to its
forbearance, its kindness, be could not
put 10 words.