New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-23
MIR. BEECHERs LIFE IN RETROSPECT.
REFLECTIONS CALLED OUT by THE PREPARATIONS
FOR CELEBRATING HIS 10TH BIRTHDAY.

REFLECTIONS CALLED OUT by THE PREPARATIONS
FOR CELEBRATING HIS 10TH BIRTHDAY.
Henry Ward Beecher will attain the age of
seventy years Tomorrow hay ing been born June 81
1913. lie took occasion in the Plymouth lecture room
last evening refer to the fact which has been brought
prominently before the public by the preparations for
fitting celebration Of the occasion on Monday night In
the Brooklyn Academy Of Music Mr.. Beecher III his
remarks dwet upon the details Of his religious career
and the dominating motives in his lite He spoke at
times with deep feeling and his hearers affected as
well as himself. One tainted and had TO be re-
moved the room, just he closed He SKID among
other things that arrangements had been made for the
public celebration OF the fact that seventy years ago
manchd was bOrn and he had had TO take care OF him
ever since. Seventy years was not great WHILE lie
didn't believe lie was seventy years old He was mod
est man and when he heard Of this public meeting no
was IN panic But his life had been public ono and
he felt It his duty give way and let his friends go It,
IL might be lesson to young men to know that one
could safely trust moral principles, could be in the
minority could hold views out or Joint with his times
Il can't tell what shall say IA the public meeting"
continued Mr. Beecher but there some things can
say here and not there. For that reason have re-
fered cthe matter here and 1t gets into cold type
why can't help It. SO let us consider ourselves In an
upper chamber with the doors Shut and no Jews or re-
porers after U.s. owe It to you on my SEVENTEEN
birthday 10 make you confidential atement rs TO
my family IN the Lord, 10 whom may 81 eaA Vi yse
and my own feelings" 49,
MIR Bcecher then recounted In detail his slgious life.
He was born OF gOdly parents and brUughS up In an
atmosphere purely modest ana aspiring, unwori1ly
and re gios often found He earnedthat the cnle
end OF lite 10 gorify Cod but as 10 enjoying ltllu
forever It was matter OF election Nheh ne went from
college he found the theological schools OF Haven
and Audoyer I'm full fight III. OTn father was charged
with being OF the track and was aiterEard tried by
Prcsbytery when he himself was about TO 20 TO Law
rence6urg the council found him hyper-orhodox, as he
had ALWAYS been since but when he declared MS adhesion
10 the New choOlof Presby terans the council refused0
Oraiu him. but the church accepted MIN ana became nue
pendeut. The fight between New School and Old school
make a crab laugh. So he got great reputation 10
dogmatlc theology. He received great light when he
saw Christ lie the manifestation OF the love Oh
God. That view had grown larger ana larger Inc
sion for those in trouble. When the ant-sayery move
ment began he drawn in II by two f0reeS-one ne
roir love OF liberty and the other religious sense or
passion for the weak. A. he was called ne
went 10 the side OF tine dumb and needy lie was slad
he had a chance to work for the slave amid soon and
reyillug 80 always he sided with the weak-with
Greece with Hungary, with Ireland. with the jews ana
All the oppressed Of every nation. He was not pnla-
thropis but Christian. In all his pulpit teaching ne
had tred 10 make palmer paths for and TO remove
stumbling blocks. In this work three things had become
more intense aud comprehensive as the years passed
one was the universal snfulness OF men, needing re-
construction regeneration; the second was the con-
and efectual influence or the spirit OF COD anu
inc third was love OF God In Christ the centre OF all
svstem the 10y life here and the hope or the lie
hereafter Amid all trials and difficulties this had sup
ported him c had only one fear, and that was that nc
should live long; but God knew best As soon AS ne
was unable to be active and useful In work he hoped
God would him go. He had been pastor OF Plymouth
Church for htysX years. and ngyer felt the power or
the Gospel as to-day. How much he owed 10 the church,
10 s iorbearance, its Kindness, he could not put III