The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-15
THE PILGRIMS.
Shall Mr.. Beecher BE Invited to Speak at the
New England Dinner.

New England Dinner.
Brooklyn Eagle
rumor has been in circulation for the last
few days that the committee on speakers of the
New England Society, of this city, is divided in
opinion on the subject of inviting Mr. Beecher
to respond to one Of the toasts at the annual
dinner which is to be eaten on the evening of
Saturday the Doth inst The committee consists
of Hon. b. D. Sillman, Hon. John Winslow and
Rev. A. z. Putnam. Mr. Silliman and Mr.
Winsow are, it is said, opposed to having Mr.
Beecher invited to the dinner the ground OF their
opposition being it is reported, dissatisfaction
with the course pursued by the pastor of Ply
mouth Church during the recent election. Rev
DR.. Putnam, on the contrary, was in favor OF
ignoring politics altogether and of having ME-
Beecher invited as usual.
This morning Mr. Winslow was seen at his
Office in the Garfield Building, and said the list
of speakers decided upon by the committee was
as follows; General sherman, Hon; Charles
Francis Adams of Massachusetts; Professor
Theodore W. Dwight, Of Columbia College;
General Horace Porter, Hon. James G. Carter,
of New York; Hon. w. w. Grape, of New Bed
ford, Mass; prominent Brooklyn clergy man,
name not decided upon; Hon. Calvin + Pratt.
who will speak on the ''Old New England Bar
Mayor Low, who, in behalf of the people of
Brooklyn, will respond to the toast, I'VE are
Citizens Of no Mean City," Hon. Stewart Il.
Woodford, of the New York New England So
ciety; Hon. John w. Hunter, of the st. Nicholas
Society, and Hon, William Sullivan, of the St.
Patricks Society.
When asked whether Mr. Beecher should be
invited, Mr.. Winslow said the committee had
talked the matter over, and it seemed to be ad-
Visable that some other of the prominent clergy
men in Brooklyn should be selected for this
year. 'For instance" he said there is Dr.
Storrs, or DR.. Hall and Mr., Talmage, who is an
excellent speaker, and then there is DR.. Cham
berlaln and others l might mention. You know
clergymen are rather sensitive on these points,
and they might reasonably feel hurt if we over
looked them year after year and continued to
invite MIR. Beecher to the exclusion of others.
This is the reason why the committee has not
yet filed up Its list of speakers. You might
state that the New England Society is under
great obligations to Hon. VIM. I. Davis of Ply
mouth, Mass. He has just presented US with a
piece of oak paueling from the old Scrooby
| Church in England, where the pilgrims wor-
SHIPPED previous TO their departure for Hoilandi
also piece of a cane formerly owned by John
| Hancock, one of the signers of the Declaration
of Independence, and piece of Plymouth rock,
which will be fashionedinto a gavcl for the use
of the president of our society"
''And there is no other reason than the one
you have mentioned why Mr. Beecher is not to
be invitedF
"Oh no. 1t is a matter that the committee
has talked over every year-this plan OF always
choosing the same clergyman, and we now think
change should be made and some one else be
selected in place of Mr Beecher"
Rev. Dr. Putnam was found at his residence,
No 263 Hicks street. After the reporter had
eApldlueu HIS OuJeCI III cdllluSt LII uIlL
Il am not in favor of having politics introduced
into the affairs of the New England Society. OF
course you understand am in favor of having
Mr.. Beecher invited as he always has been, for
no matter what his course in politics may have
| been, he has rendered great service to our so
ciety from its commencement There is no
good reason, that l can see, why he should not
be invited, even if some other clergyman should
also be asked to speak, Why, last year, you re
member, Mr.. Beecher spoke, and SO did l, and
he Dla he adoDtad
corresponding secretary of the society, however,
you understand, can only send invitations to
such gentlemen as may be selected by the ma
| jority of the committee, no matter what my
! personal preferences may be. 1 have already
sent an invitation to Dr. Talmage, who, under
stand. can make an excellent after dinner
| speech, but have not yet received any reply
| from him. l understand he has been out of
town, and suppose that is the reason"
Can you inform me whether President
! Arthur will attend the dinner"
THAT l cannot tell; sent him invitation
| aA4. ia daily expectation of reply"