The Lamar register., 1891-06-27
A STATUE OF sEEcHER.
a Notable Gathering in Brooklyn at
the Urveiling of the Statue.

klc OTsSf'Iif " s''N St"ieS'
At 4 o'clock Wednesday afternoon,
in the triangular plot in front OF the city
hail in Brooklyn, was unveiled with suit
able ceremonies tribute in bronze and
granite to Henry Ward Bescher. 1t was
unveiled by the granddaughter o. the man
in whose memory it was erected, Ger
trlide Roxana Beecher, and by her side
stood the sculptor, ], Q. A. Ward.
After prayer by the Rev, S. B. Halliday,
Rev. Charles Fl. Hall, d. D., of Trinity
Episcopal church, introduced Mayor
Chapman, who received the statue on
behalf of the city Three hundred child
reu from the Sunday schools of Plymouth
church aud the Bethel and Mayhower
missions, stationed by the pedestal,
led IN the singing TO the music OF the band
of the Thirteenth regiment the full COM
mand being present. of the hymn Love
Divine, AL Love Excelling,n which has
been called "Beecher,n from Es prefer
ence for it
Mayor Chapman then turned the statue
the band played the adagio from Bee
thoven's fifth symphony, which Mr.. Beech
er loved
The H0n. Seth Low then delivered the
oration OF the day.
IN the course OF his address Alr. Low
said
From this city Mr.. Beeeher swayed the
minds aud hearts Of men in vast multi
tudes for forty years From this center
his voice trayersed land and sea, carrying
inspiration, comfort, courage and some
thing OF the exhiliration which freedom
brings wherever they were borne on the
four winds. The slave heard his voice,
and in the midst of despair took heart Of
hope. The slaye-owner heard it. and
writhed under its sting. The Tree North
heard it. and found it like the sword OF
that spirit which divideIh the joints and
marrow, Men might cry peace, peace :
but where conscience compelled men 10
listen 10 his burning words there could be
no peace while the Gag of the Union
waved over a single slave. At times when
law and lawlessncss alike conspircd
against the advocate OF the slave, he made
this city the torch bearer Of freedom. By
dauntless spirit he made good al all times
the words which he shouted in the teeth
OF Isaiah Bynders and his mob when they
broke up an abolition meeting IN New
York. In Brooklyn we have free speech.
.Thunghtfnlly and fearlessIy he dis
eussed all the burning questions Of his
time. Many a note he struck from the
harp strings Of the human heart but no
one viii doubt that his passion for free
dom was the master passion OF his life
And this love OF freedom WAS heaven
born. He verify believed tina, all men
are the sons of God, and that as such the
birthright of every man is freedom
freedom under law 10 become all that it is
his power 10 be-
The memorial is one OF the most impor-
tant and one OF the best works OF the
sculptor. The statue stands Beecher on
a simple polished pedestal OF dark Quincy
granite with rounded sides and heavy cap
and base, designed by Richard NJ. Hunt
the architect. This has Gu the left the
figure of a negro, given in coarse slave
costume, on the right those OF two chill
drer, boy and Pirl, humbly clad. Mr..
Beecher is shown with overooat on and
soft felt hat in hand, as il stopping for a
moment in & walk or about TO address an
out OF door assemblnge. 1t is AS the public
man and not as the preacher that the
sculptor, in view Of the widely popular
nature Of the movement which resulted in
the erection Of the statue, has represented
his subject The pose is natural, the
modelling is strong and realistic and the
expression OF the face, turned TO the right
and excellent protrait is particularly
happy.