The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-26
The Brooklyn Academy Filled by Vast
Crowd and the Stage Packed with
Distinguished People.
A Retrospect of Half a Century
Crowded with Hard Work.
Struggles of the Anti-SIavery Days-His
Work in NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Thoughts
of Resigning His Position.
THREEsCORE AND TEN.


day in the Brooklyn Academy
NEW YORK, June 25.-Every seat and every
foot of standing room in the Brooklyn
Academy of Music was filled this evening by
the friends and admirers of Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher, assembled to celebrate his
SEVENTEEN birthday. The Academy was
tastefully decorated with flags and streamers
hanging baskets and flowers; vines circled
the lower gallery, and line of living plants
took the place of the footlghts on the stage,
and rose in the center to bank of flowers
On the platform were a large number Of
the most prominent citizens, together with
large number of representatives
from other cities. Amongst those present
were Mayor Lowe, of Brooklyn; Rev. Drs
Robert Collyer, Thomas Armitage, Edward
P. Ingersoll, Justin D. Fulton, C. L. Wells,
L. w. Bancroft, Edward Beecher and 7. j..
Conant. Andrew Mclean, managing editor
of the Brooklyn Eagle and John Foord,
editor of the Brooklyn Union, were also on
the stage. In one of the boxes were seated
Mrs. Beecher, Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe,
and other members of the Beecher family.
The entrance of Mr.. Beecher himself on
the stage was greeted with the warmest en-
thusiasm the audience rising and the ladies
waving their hankerchiefs, while the men
loudly cheered.
Professor Chrales E. West said they had
come to honor a philosopher, a poor man s
friend, lover of nature, of flowers and little
children; to honor one who, in the incoming
centuries, will stand like Mont Blanc alone
in his fame.
ExChef Judge Nelson proposed Rev. DR..
Charles H, Hall as presiding officer DR..
Hall, on taking the chair, said that Mr..
Beecher, although he has been the best
abused man in Brooklyn and in the country,
was never known to utter an unkind or Sc
we're word of any man because he differed
from him in belief, and that he had never
seen a man who, he believes loves God and
his fellow man so deeply.
He then introduced Rev. DR.. ]. O. Peck,
who offered prayer. Rev. DR.. Ingersoll read
a large number of kilograms and letters
President Hayes, Hon. A. S. Hewitt, Prof.
Jas. d. Dana, of Yale College; j. G. Whittier,
| Geo. VIM. Curtis Ex-Governor Nelson
Dingley, of Maine; President Andrew D..
White, of Cornell University Colonel w. A.
Roebling, Senator Dawes, Governor Cleve-
| L.
| Sherman, Whitelaw Reid, DR.. Oliver Wen
dell Holmes, Frederick Douglass, Wendell
| Phillips, Mark Twain" p L. Barnum,
General Hancock, and others.
Resolutions expressive of respect, esteem
and affection, together with congratulations
on life so useful and honored, were adopted
| by rising vote.
Rev. Dr. Gottheil rabbi of Broadway
Temple, Brooklyn, read an address, and pre-
sented, on behalf of his fellow Hebrews, a
handsome silver pitcher.
Among the pleasant incidents of the occa-
sion may be mentioned the receipt by Mr..
| Beecher of letter of congratulation from a
thirteen-year-old girl residing in Denver, Col.
Her name is Nellie Johnstone. and her birth
day falls on the same day of the month as
Mr., Beecher's.
Rev. DIR. Collyer said he had only once
heard him preaching in his own pulpit but
he then spoke of spring in words that gave
him new poem of spring to remember for
ever afterwards. 1t was a grand
thing for Plymouth Church to have
such an all-round and thoroughly
human man. He then referred to Mr.
Beecher's visit to England in 1868, and paid
a warm tribute to his success in winning
| English sympathy to the side of the Union
Rev. DIR. Fulton and Mayor Low followed
John Barry, member of Parliament from
county Wexford, Ireland, was called
upon. IN honoring Mr.. Beecher, he
said, the people of Brooklyn honored them
selves In behalf of the people of Ireland,
| he took pleasure in returning thanks for aid
given the people in Ireland in the dark hour
offamine and when she was struggling against
oppression.
Mr.. BEEcHERs REMARKS.
Rev. Mr.. Beecher then rose and was greet
ed with warm applause, the audience rising
and cheering, applauding and waving hand
| korcbiafS for savarol p,irutoS NVbar n loo.
permitted TO speak he said, if he were sus-
ceptible of believing one-tenth of what
had been said about him, the celebration
would be that of the birthday of a fool by
| fools. When he looked back seventy years
ago it seemed to him nothing had then been
| done. There were no railroads, no gas
lights, no telegraph lines. Almost every
thing great that has been done in science
has been accomplished since then. Power
has seen itself obliged to consult the multi
tude Italy has gained its unity; Greece has
again raised her head Hungary has freed it.
| self from expressions the workingman has
been enfranchised in England; he ex-
poets yet to see every male twenty
one years of age in England re-
ceive the franchise, and then he expected
to see some other changes there. The world
has been moving, and he, as one of Gods
passengers couldn't be left behind To sup
pose he had anything to do with the progress
made sounded to his ears almost blasphem-
Gus. The steps progress made are
the footsteps of God Looking down
at the future he was hopeful,
because God lives. Whatever faults have
marred the symmetry of his life, he said
were his alone; whatever of service he has
rendered, is Gods. He accepted the love
which prompted the exaggerated praise given
to him, because he loved men, but yet he
could do without their love. He
/ loved men hut bo lovad tr,tb ,,,o,o