The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-08-03
SATURDAY, AUG. 3.
EDITORIAL.

The Rev. DIR. Edward
EDWARD oeecner, Beecher died in Brook
" u Ign on Sunday morn
ing, July %, at the great age Of 90. He
was the eldest brother of Henry Ware
Beecher and the oldest of the surviving
children of Lyman Beecher. He was
born in East Hampton, L. l., Aug. 81
1903, and was graduated from Yale in
1922. After taking course in Andovel
Theological Seminary, and serving a
tutorship in Yale, he was called to the
pastorate of the Park Street Congrega
tional Church of Boston. He resigned
his pulpit in 1880 and became the first
President of Illinois College at Jakson
vile. Here he spent twelve years and
then resigning, became the pastor OF the
Salem Street Congregational Church in
Boston, where he remained until 1855.
He again returned to the West and be-
came the pastor of the Congregational
Church in Galesburg, where he is wildly
remembered. At the age Of 70 DR..
Beecher removed to Brooklyn and de-
voted much of his time to writing for
the Christian Union, then under the
editorial charge of his famous brother.
Since the death of Henry Ward, DIR.
Beecher has served Congregational
church in suburb of Brooklyn. Five
years ago he met with an accident which
rendered necessary the amputation OF
his left leg. He bore the affection I'M
complainingly and with great fortitude
for one of his years. His death was due
to no particular disease, the veteran
passing away gently from old age.
800
DIR. BEECHER'S work
The Conflict OF on 1.-THE Conflict of
Ages. Ages" publ h d
nearly forty years ago, attracted wide at
tention in all branches of the Christian
church. 1t was the sensation of the
time in religious circles. "The Conflict
of Ages" was a carefully prepared and
elaborate volume designed to relieve the
orthodox doctrine of native depravity of
its most vulnerable features by the
adoption of the ancient theory of pre-
existence. Its teaching was that mans
present existence is the outgrowth OF a
former life as we'll as prelude to flu
ture one; and that the strife between
good and evil, while it will not be ter
minated in this life, will be harmonized
sooner or later in an everlasting con-
cord" 1.-THE Conflict of Ages" is now
only "reminiscences, but undoubtedly it
served good purpose in its day by
stimulating enquiry and exerting an i'm
portant influence in the notifications of
the old theory of depravity which have
since prevailed.
DIR. Beecher's more recent work on the
History of the Doctrine of Scripture
Retribution is a valuable compilation of
the opinions existing in the early church
on this subject. 1t has been widely cir
culated among Universalists and amply
fortifes the conclusions of DIR. Ballou in
his Ancient History as to the wide
spread prevalence of Universaism in the
church during the early centuries.
800
THERE are m n y
OanadianPatrlotism indications of the
growth of the patriotic spirit in Canada
which certainly do not point to union
with the United States in the near fu-
ture. One of these is the monument
which has just been erected and dedi-
Gated to the Canadian dead who fell in
the battle of Lundy's Lane, July %.
1914, which was unveiled last week in
Drummond Hill cemetery, on the Cana
dian side of Niagara Falls, by the Do.
minion Government. In ancient times
monuments were erected only to the
victors, and the Spartan mothers words
when her son came home with his shield
as victor or on it from the field indicated
the love Of glory which animated the
most war.like people of antiquity
When resistance was glorious, though
Intellectual, as at Thermopyle. the de-
feated we're remembered and held IN
highest honor, but the odds must have
been overwhelmingly great. In the
case of the Canadians it will be inter
esting to know what view of that battle
the speakers took in their words as to
those who fell at Lundy's Lane. The
victory is always claimed by American
!. n
conceded it. However. it makes but
little difference on which side victory
poised in what may now be regarded az
a comparatively insignificant skirmish
Of nearly hundred years ago between
Americans and Canadians. Both coun-
tries have grown beyond the dreams Of a
hundred years ago, and while it is well
for Canada to honor those who fell al