The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-11

A Brother of Henry Ward, Who Has Been
Nominated for Mayor of Elmira, N. Y.

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Nominated for Mayor of EImira, N. Y.
Pittsburg Interview with Hon. O. b. Tompkins.
Yes, we have nominated Thomas K, the great
est OF the Beechers for Mayor, and guess he
will De elected If he is, it will be something of
novelty in his somewhat erratic political
course. He has been candidate for different
omces at different times the Democratic
Greenoack and Republican tickets. but has
never been elected. He considers it to be the
duty OF every citizen to accept the duties OF any
once to which he may be elected, and to accept
the nomination to any office, whether there is
any chance of his being elected or not.
In saying that Thomas K. is the greatest of
Beechers, l sincere. l really consider him
the most remarkable of old Lyman Beechers
remarkable family. There were four sons and
two daughters of them Catharine was the cid
est, l think-a woman of remarkable ability.
She devoted her life to teaching and writing up to
the time of her death. which occurred about six
years ago, In Elmra. Edward Beecher, the
Oldest son, IS a preacher in Hartford Conn.
and was at one time principal of college in
ONO. Henry Ward was the next, and every
one IS familiar with his record. Harriet, the
second daughter, married Professor Stowe. and
has been familiar ever since she wrote Uncle
Toms Cabin" James went into the ministry
also but left the pulpit several years ago on ac-
count of his health. Thomas K came to Elmira
thirty years ago and founded church. 1t is a
good deal of goas- you-please kind. 1t is an in
dependent Congregational Church. with no
pecal afillation with any other. The member
ship Is immense, the Sunday school alone num-
bering over eight hundred pupils The church
building cost $130, 600, and has never been
dedicated. Mr.. Beecher didn't believe
in dedicating it until it was out of debt and since
the debt has been lifted no dedicatory services
have ever been held. 1t was always his idea to
make the church as much like family as posi-
BILE. and his great aim has always been to de-
velop social intercourse and good fellowship
among his flock, and to marked degree he has
succeeded. When he ran for Congress three or
four years ago he would have been elected but
for his congregation. nearly all of whom worked
against him. because they thought he did not
care to be elected and because they did not want
to lose him.
''Mr. Beecher dresses very plainly, and, sum-
mer or winter, wears slouched velvet cap, very
rusty-looking and much the same shape as you
sometimes see on German immigrants. Almost
his entire salary, aside from his living which is
q very simple sum. goes for charity. Day after
day either he Mrs. Beecher may be seen in
their diapidated chaise, with bushel of po-
tatoes, sack of -four bundle of clothing,
driving around to visit their pensioners With
all his eccentricity. no one ever accused
him of being sensational, or striving after
effect. Until few years ago it was not
common thing to see him step into saloon, order
glass of beer, pay for it and drink it like any
other customer but he would never drink with
another or treat another. He has stopped his
beer. but because he thought it disagreed with
with him, not because of the remarks it caused.
He has great taste for science and mechanics,
and has for years taken care of the city clock
and corrected its time, making observations him
self, without cost to the city.
PROF. Thomas Lounsbery, of Yale College,
who was one of the editors of Appeton's Ency
clopedia, places him above Henry Ward as an or
ator and preacher He frequently filled the lat
ters pulpit and indeed the brothers have been
accustomed to exchange pulpits occasionally.
Some of the eccentricities of Mr. Beecher are
these: His thick, gray hair always reaches to
his shoulders. He keeps the sewing machines of
all his lady acquaintances in good running
order. Two or three times, when going to
New York. he has run the engine himself
over the entire Susquehanna division. He raised
a cry against himself all over the country by
preaching sermon justifying suicide. under
certain restrictions. In sermon few weeks
later he casually referred to these restrictions.
as being when the persons had carefully and
prayerfully arrived at the conclusion that they
could no longer do any good, mentally NOR
ally, to any one and had the consent full and
free of all their relatives friends and guardians,
and few other like restrictions rendering sui
eide impossible. He is loved and venerated by
hos-osfly his congregation, but the entire city"