New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-21
THE STATUE OF MR. BEECHER
TO BE UNVEILED ON WEDNESDAY.

THE TRIBUTE OF BROOKLYN TO THE GREAT
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE WORK
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
The unwilling of the statue Of Henry Ward Beecher
in City Hall Park will be important incident OF the
coming week. The day selected for 1t. Wednesday is
the anniversary of Mr. Beecher's birth at Ltchheh.
Mass, 1913 Eight years the day was observed
by meeting in honor OF Mr. Beecher In the Academy
OF Music, where representative citizens assembled TO
do him honor, and complimentary speeches were maho
by Mayor Low and others. Four ago. on March g.
Mr. Beecher died. and ten days later the movement was
started which results In the completion OF spen
did bronze statue OF the great preacher IL Is the work
of John Quincy Adams Ward, who has devoted nearly
three years to the task, for which he had prepared W
taking deathmask Of Mr.. Beecher's face Inc statue
represents him in a Characteristic attitude, III WHICH nc
was often seen when entering Plymouth Cnurch He
wears the cape overc0a which so often enveoped MS
figure and carries his soft felt hat In his hand The
face is somewhat deaised TO express the general idea
Of the man I'm distinction from mere portrait statne
With the central memorial are grouped IDEAL ng'res
which represent the characteristics OF the man. Two
children at the left OF the statue upon the lower part
of the pedesa, paying their simple tributes OF love
and admiration for the strong and kindly face beamns
down upon them. At the right side of the pedestal
knees the figure of a slave girl in position Of rever-
cnce and laying the tribute OF palm branch at tho
feet Of the central figure. All the figures about tho
pedestal are Of life sze and the statue OF MI Beeches
is heroic in proportions, standing nine feet high
The pedestal is equal height and was designed BY
Richard NJ. Hunt 1t is Of Quincy granite, mghy pol
shed and resting upon three bases which. In turn As
supporter by the concrete foundation laid six Tea
below the surface of the soil. On the front the PED
estal bears the name of Henry Ward Beeeher and The
dates 1913 and 1857 separated by Maltese cross IN
the reverse is suitable inscription, showing By whom
tile statue is reared.
The movement for the erection Of the statue TOOK
shape at meeting held in the Art Association Building
on Friday March Is, 1857, over which DIR. Charles H.
Hall presided, h. Durham Moifatt was made secre
tary and an assembly Of citizens representing every
class i'm the community called This executive
committee was chosen toact in the matter Dr. Chares
H. Hall, Frederic W. HinRchs, John A. Oulhtaiu
John b. Green, Abraham Abraham, John p. ADAMS
Dr. Arthur VI. Burns, the Rev. W. T. Dixon, Dr. W. L.
NJ Fiske, Professor F. W. Hooper, Herman Liebmanh
Joseph O'Brien, X. Durham Mofatt, Charles A.
Scbieren General John b. Woodward and George "
Brewer. Ripley Ropes. president Of the Brooklyn
Trust Company was made treasurer end after his
death General c. t. Christensen, who succeeded HIN
nj the head of the Trust Company was made treasu
rer subscriptions speedily flowed in, and s25'ooo
was secured in a few months. II was decided 10 eA'
pend $50, 900, and nearly the entire sum has been
given
When the question OF site was first discussed three
places for the statue TO stand suggested City
Hall Park Prospect Park and the small park az te
foot of Orange-st. on the Heights. But the general
opinion favored the City Hall Park SITE and this was
agreed upon informally. But the Aldermen subse
quently set apart this site for soldiers monument
before the Memorial Arch in Prospect Park Plaa
was determined upon, and then ii decided 10 place
the Beecher statue In Prospect Park. But when te
time drew near for the erection OF the statue the Oh
Hall Dahl
viyed and 1t was decided By the committee TO ask tho
Park Commissioners to rescind the action taken hAns
the site in Prospect Park, and permitting the statue
be placed near the City Hall. The suggestion was
made to put the statue the apex Of the grass plot
n front of the City Hall. where the fountain now
stands and to have it face away from the City Han
The sculptor and the architect of the pedestal selected
the side the grass plot next to the City Hail. and DC
cided that the statue should face that building.
MAY protests have been made against the practical
hiding of the statue from persons passing in the NAN
horoughfare of the city by, but they have nos
been Needed Felix Campbell president Of the Peoples
Trust Company, said recently IL makes no ulier,
encc how the statue Is placed now for TINS Is bouhd
10 be merely a temporary arrangement Inc s'aue Is
in an Inappropriate place. and Will be plaoea
in an absurd position. 80 il IS only question VI
time until the citizens Of Brooklyn Will cause il 10
he removed from the City Hall Park and put Il whefs
ii should have been placed hrst.'
The arrangements for the unvellng have been COM
pleted, and many persons As possible VIII be pro-
vided with seats in front Of the statue The speakers
platform will be placed the font Of the city Han
steps, with seats for specially invited guests oelu "'
Every subscriber 20 the fund for the statue VIII TO
cciye tickets by mail. The public officials OF the Guy
will be invited ard all tie relatives Of Mr. besenSs
will have especially reserved seats. The loth ~
ment Of which Mr.. Beecner was long the chaplain.
will guard of honor about the statue ana AZ ~
right of il will be several hundred children ~
Plymouth sunday school. who Will sing some u NJ
Rcecher's favorite tunes The statue will be W.
yelled by Gertrude RoNana Becchcr, granddaugntf
of MIR Beecher who Will be led 10 the statue OY 'ls
sculptor DR. Han will introduce Mayo! Chapln az
The prcsiGng officer and will present the statue 70
The city I'm behalf Of the committee. Mayor Chapn
win rpceive II and turn il to President Brewer u
NE palk Deuartment The 18th Regiment band VIII
nay The adaao from Bccthoyen's Filth SYMPHONY;
and DR. seth Low president OF Columbia College wiz
doliver the Grafton The benedictOn Will be pIes
noanced by DR.. Gotthel, rabbi of Temple Emanuh+
New-lork