New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-25
STATUE Barred.
GREAT CROWD DOES HONOR TO HIS
MEMORY.
THE GRAFTON BY SETH Low-PREsENTED BY
THE REV. DIR. c. II, HALL1-RECEIvED BY
MAYOR CHAPIN-J. O. A. WARD. THE
SCULPTOR, CONGRATULATED.

The statue of Henry Ward Bcechcr, by ]. Q. A.
Ward, was unveiled with impressive ceremonial in
front of the Brooklyn City Hall yesterday after
noon. A vast crowd of people witnessed the sight,
filing the entire City Hall Square. Public officials
clergymen and prominent public men participated
In the affair." which crowned the work of four years
In providing q fit memorial of the man who did
more than any one else TO make Brooklyn known
to the world, and whose fame extended from it to
the uttermost parts Of the earth.
The whole city Joined in the celebration of the
nnveilinc, and public and private buildings were
decorated At an expense of $500 from the mu-
nicipal treasury the front of the City Hall was
decorated with flags and banners. hne portrait
of Mr. Bcccher was over the portico. Platforms
we're erected in the vicinity of the statue for In
vited guests and subscribers to the statue fund
Cpon the main platform were the speakers, the
immediate members Of the Beecher family, !ncud-
ing Mrs BeecEcr, her sons lIeary s. and Will
lam c. with their wives and children; her
darghtrr. Mrs Scoville and the Rev. Samuel Sco-
Vile, DIR Edward Beecher, Mrs Mary Perkins, the
Rev Charles L. Stowe, and others.
Letters of regret were received from Mrs Har-
-Iet Beecher Stowe. the Rev Thomas x. Bcecher
nd the others of Mr. Bcecher's brothers and SIS
,rs. and also from ex-senator Evarts. Secretary
acy and eX-PreSident Cleveland. Among the
bic men on the platform back of the speakers
ere Judges Pratt. Cullen, Moore, Osborne and
N Wyck, ex-senator S NJ. Griswold. Congress
- Boody and Coombs., j. S. T. Stranahan.
2 White Murat Halstead, ST. Clair McKelway.
q henlrx and Alderman R. B. Lcech.
'ot1 sedts for persons holding subscribers tick
o,s c1e reserved until 80 o'clock, and at that
o reat crowd had assembled. The 18th
kes.a. o'.s and veteran corps and lSt Long Island
Volunteers and the Beecher Regiment marched to
Ie City Hall Park and were masSed behind the
tatue, with the band in front. On the right of
he statue on tiers Of seats were 300 children of
Jlymouth Church and missions. The band played
"The Star Spanged Banner and other patriotic
tunes At 4 O'Clock DR.. Charles II. Hall called
the assembly TO order, and Mayor Chaplin was
made the presiding officer. Prayer was offered by
the Rev. S. b. Halliday, while the children, led
by Walton ~ Ellis, sang - Love Divine, All Love
Excelling," TO the tune of Beccher
Mr. Ward, the sculptor, led Gertrude Roxana
Beecher, aged seven years, a granddaughter of
Mr. Beecher 10 the base of the statue. which
was nearly concealed by flowers, and she pulled
the line which released the flag and disclosed
the familiar features in bronze of the great
preacher The audience rose and united in long
continued applause, while the band played and
the children sang.
DIR. Hall then presented the statue to the city
ana IN tlc COURSE OF HIS SpecCH USUiicu Ouo chVio
which had led up 20 the erection of this memorial
of the Gnan whose was so long and so closely
identified with the city. He said that General
Christensen, treasurer of the fund, reported
total of S36,I73 10, of which So 5,642 81 had
been paid for the statue, and the remainder used
co defray tie unveiling expenses OF the statue
DR.. Hall said: The committee used all dlIi-
gence in searching for the American artist who
would bring to his work not only genius but also
the warm appreciation Of the peculiar idea which
was in the minds of the committee representative
as they are of various creeds, races and condl-
tons of men, and after somewhat elaborate DIS
cussion Of the matter selected the distinguished
gentleman in whose success to-day we eXult.
You have before you in heroic size the great
preacher much as he appeared our streets, in
the simple garments of citizen; the firm pose
Of preacher, who first and last, was pre-emi-
nently one who unfalterngly accepted the con-
sequences of his convictions, who looks down
upon us as if he were about TO speak to us and
whose speech would hold us as that of the ancient
mariner of the poets tale.
"On the two sides Of the base of the statue are
the realistic figures of children. On the one
side, kneeling and laying the palm-branch at his
feet, the lowly and humbly clad African girl,
looking up half abashed at the strong man who,
from the memorable night when he defied the
New-York rowdy element in the Tabernacle with
his invitations TO come to Brooklyn, where free
speech should he maintained at all hazards be-
came q marked man before this whole Nation. IL
if no allegorical, classic figure, but one most
real Her mute act Of gratitude will never be
mistaken while granite and bronze will hold
together. On the other side the boy lifts the
girl to deposit her wreath of flowers at his feet
These two figures, sir you remember, suggest
ii. A. .I.ew
last Sunday left Plymouth Church with his
arms about the two children who had been listen
ing with him to the hymn
heard the voice of Jesus say
Come unto Me and rest"
Mayor Chaplin formally accepted the statue
rom the committee and formally turned it over
30 Park President George V. Brewer, who ac-
cepted the trust.
After the band played Handel's Largo" Presi.
dent Seth Low, of Columbia College, was intro
duced by Mayor Chaplin He was loudly APP
plauded. DR.. Low in the course of his speech
said:
Brooklyn has poured forth her multitudes today TO
Beecher. To those of us who knew him well no
statue is needed to recall the wellse figure the grand
head. the open cOuntenance and laughing eve, the
playful lip, the easy bearing of the man whose mlen
so happily united Graciousness ard strength Hardly
yet have fully realized that we may not meet him
some day walking the familiar streets 50 much he
seems to part of Brooslyn'S daily life and Of her
civic pride We not here TO unvcl this statue OF
Nr Beecher because he BrOOklyne. Brooklyn
doubtless rejoices In his fame part Of her own
history but this statue IS set up In this city Of his
home BY Mr.. Beecher's friends Of every degree aud
every cline in order 10 carry down to poSterity the
likeness Of the strong brave man for inspiration
b all that shall after him. Every man, for
sOOth must have his home I'm some place, but the
great men OF the earth Overeap al boundaries aud
become the fellow citizens of all men. such a man
was Henry Ward Bcecher. From this city he swayed
the minds and hearts Of men in vast mnltitudes for
forty years. Prom this centr, his words traversei
land and sea- carrying inspiration, comfort courage
and something Of the exlIilaraton which freedom
brings wherever they were borne on the four winds.
The slave heard bis voice and In the midst Of despair
took heart Of hope The sIaveowner heard II and
wrthed under It's sting. The free North heard II and
found like the sword of that spirit which dviieth
even the joints end marrow. Men might cry peace.
peace but for cOnscicnces compelled 10 listen 10 MS
burning words there could be peace while the nag
Of the Union waved over single slave. At time
when law and l3wlessneSs alike cOnsprcd against tne
advocate Of the slave he made this city the torch
LIZ ln