Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-26
WILL BEEoHER BE RETIRED ?
RumOrs that Political Enemies Seek to
Gust the Plymouth Pastor,
From the NssO York World.

Beecher's relations with Plymouth church
have been atioat, especially since the cleo
ton of President Cleveland The dis
gruntled admirers of Jim Blaine who
realized what blow they had sustained
when the Plymouth pastor announced his
Intention TO throw the Plumed knight
overheard and become a passenger upon
q ship whose captain was the great re-
form commander, are, without doubt, at
least partially responsible for certain
ABSURD statements which have found their
way into print. Some would have 1t that
the congregation is even now dismembered
and that twO-thirds of its members are
quietly looking for another pastor. One
reason-and possibly the most potent for
this alleged feeling-is Mr.. Beecher's at
tltude during the recent campaign. An
other IL the fact that the great divine Is
rapidly nearing the age of fourscore, and
therefore Will soon be unable to fulfll the
many duties demanded by such an exact
ing congregation. Still others, 1t is said,
are determined to dispense with MIR.
Beeoher's services because rumors are
afoat that he is bankrupt, when he ought
not to be. The enemies of BroOklyn's
greatest preacher have gone to Philadel-
phla, apparently, and through the Times
OF that city have permitted the following
For some weeks rumor has be IN afoat IN
Brook Ign, and now it has crossed the East
river, that the sermons or lectures Henry
Ward Beecher has been delivering on evolu-
tlon-they will be concluded this autumn
will be the last regular discouraes that will be
heard from HIM in his capacity ( pastor OF
Plymouth church. He has frequently re-
ferred TO the n as the principal work of his
clerical life, the work by which he would
choose to be pOsthumously judged, az il he
regarded them in some sort as the close of his
long and distinguished ministerial career.
For years the preachers congregation have,
according to those in position to know, been
more or less dissatisfied with what they call
his vSgaries, and would nave invited him TO
resign II they had not thought il advisable, for
manifest reasons.to sus ain, HIM, putwardly at
least. His energetic and vehement support Of
Cleveland last autum deeply offended nearly
two-thirds vt the members OF his church. and
this, in addition to all his other eccentriclties.
has, 1t II said, made them permanently indig-
nant. They believe as he grows older that he
gets queerer, and many OF them are in con-
slant apprehension Of new ana dangerous
freaks on HIS part. They were confident that
he would retract his mugwumpism--he has
been noted for his CrustaCean cOurse--When
thev had informed him how heartily they dis
approved it, and they were all the angrier
after they had discovered his obstinacy. Their
enduring patience has, it is said, been eX-
hausted, and they intend to supersede him
after his I'D birthday. which will be next
January. They do not, however, as l under
stand, propose TO do this openly; they feel
after all that has occurred, that they cannot
afford TO. just how they vii manag is un-
determined. They Will probably eliminate
him by degrees, his successor, whose name
has not been mentioned. coming more end
more to the front, and he retiring more and
more to the rear.
at is altogether likely that his salary Will
be continued in whole or in part. and that
their determination to dispense with his SER
vices will be as adroitly concealed as possible
BaFgnng hu laf tod 70 ri,s,s
Beecher would do If his salary were cut Off,
remem bering that with II he is always dnan-
ciaily behind l do not suppose that it
would make much difference with the cratic
preacher whether ne had $1,000 or 10000
year; he would surely be in debt in either
case, as he had been from the start. Indeed
his income from all sources is now. and has
been for years fully $50. 600. but money seems
to be OF no benefit to him. HIS habit OF getting
what he cannot paw for rather increases. / am
told, than diminishes with HIS years. IL he
sees ANYTHING he wants-and he wants every
thing that appeals to his fancy he cannot re
SYST the temptation to buy it on credit. Hun
dreds Of tradesmen of every kind know how
hard, not to SAY impossible, IL is to collect a
bill OF the Plymouth pastor. He must owe
thousands and thousands OF dollars to-day
much of which has been due for years, and
i'll never be paid, in all probab lity. Beecher
Is Incontestahly man OF genius, true
orator. one Of the most gifted OF living preach
ers; but he IS also. as many OF his intimates
are'obliged to admit, man OF grave mental
and moral defects"
Nearly all the leading members OF the
Plymouth Church congregation are alb
sent from the city. Especially is this
true of those who, 1t is more than likely,
have inspired the statements above print
ed. Their views were therefore not oh
tainabe yesterday. The Rev. S. B. Halli-
day, Mr.. Beecher's assistant, was, how
ever, found seated in his easv chair in the
"A in nj IN
Hicks street. The article above presented
was submitted to him for consideration.
After a careful perusai of IL he returned
il to the reporter and exclaimed emphati-
cally:
81 don't believe q word OF 1t. No such
thing has ever been intimated to me. Mr..
Beecher to retirel Why, this is prepos-
terousv
''Have you, within the past six months,
Mr.. Halliday, noticed any disposition on
the part of members of the congregation
To demand the retirement of Mr.. Beecher 2"
aek the reporter.
"Generalv speaking, no. or course. as
you remember, very many of us were
greatly disappointed with MIR. Beecher's
course during the campaign. We had
always looked up to him as a leader, and
wherever be saw 1T TO 20 we believed we
ought to follow. IL was a great surprise
to many of the congregation when he an
nOunced his intention 70 support Cleve-
land, and possibly the large majority OF
us felt that, for once, we could not go
with him"
"Y0u, yourself, strongly opposed the
position he assumed. did you not ?"
Eyes; and talked TO him as no other
man ever did, believe. | expressed The
conviction that he was making tremend-
GUS mistake. He assured me With all sim
certify that he was positive that he was
right. / believe that a pastor was never
loved more dearly than is Mr.. Beecher by
his congregation as q whole. During the
heat of the campaign. when many OF us
thought he bad committed a great error,
il was but natural that certain GOODNESS
should exist towards him among those
who could not consclentiJusly follow In
his footsteps"
"But has not time served 10 soften this
feeling, Mr.. HalidayY
s'In a measure, yes. But little more
than six months have elapsed since cleo
ton day, however. 10 requires "A great
deal of time n smooth over political dit
ferences. especially between pastor and
people. Twill ay this again-never was
a pastor more beloved for himself. both as
pastor and preacher than Mr.. Beecher.
So long as be wishes 10 remain at the
head of Plymouth church his cOngrega-
ton will most heartily cooperate with
him. However at variance he and bis
people may be as to politics they are
thoroughly united In the service OF God
and the advancement Of His cause.v
"HOw about the statement that Mr..