The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-29
The Oldest of the Members Of
the Great Family.
PIONEER AsOlITioNlST.
First Preacher TO Combat the Dogma
of Eternal Punishment.
Henry Ward Reecher COT His Liberal
Ideas From His Elder Rrother- Mrs.
Edward Beecher Suggested the Writ
ing OF - Uncle Toms Cabin.''

Brooklyn. July es-Rsv. Dr. Edward
Beech-x brother Of tho famous divine.
Hcnry Ward Beecher. died at his homs
in this city this morning.
Than the Reecaer family none IS more
farrcuS in the annals Of this country. It
included IN it's members a father and SIX
sons who entered the ministry. one II
them becoming the most famous pulpit
orator Of the land. and four daughters.
one of whom wrote a worid-famous book,
and another Of whom was widely known
az an educator. Dir. Edward Beecher was
the second son and third child Of his
father and after an active life as teacher.
pastor college president. author and estt-
tor for more than half century he spent
a serene old age in Brooklyn. taking
lively interest in the affairs Of the latter
part of the nineteenth century. the dawn
OF - hich he almost saw.
Edward Beecher was horn 10 Lyman
Beecher and his wife at Easthampton.
L. L.. on August y, 1SoS. His father WAS
pastor of the Congregational church there.
hut soon removed to Couuecticut. where
young Edward was prepared for college.
entering Yale when he was Il years old.
He was graduated in the class Of iSs3. lie
then went 20 Andover theological semi
nary and studied Hebrew and attended
lectures on theology. While there he was
appointed a tutor at Yale in IS2S and
served a little more than "A year teaching
the freshman class He continued mis-
theological studies. and while there was
called TO the pastorate Of the Park street
Congregational church of Boston. This
was one OF the leading societies OF the
city. and the young minister felt his pow
els tested 10 the utmost. much was ex-
pccted Of Lyman Reecher's son. But ha
met all expectations and was conducting
an extremely successful work when he
was elected the first president of the Ilii-
nois college. at Jacksonville. H.. and re-
signed his pulpit In 1880 20 take the place.
He had married two years before. and his
wife, four years younger than he, went
with him 10 what was then the remote
West, near the banks of the Mississippi.
only 2 years old, President Beecher took
UP the work OF starting q great education
al institution. lie remained its president
for twelve years. and in that period sixty
two students Were graduatEs. Among
them were Dir. Newton BateW an. after
ward president OF Knox college, Richard
Yates. governor OF the state. and Rev,
Dr. r. w. Patterson.
1t was while Dr. Beecher was at the
head of Illinois college that the riots oe-
CURED at Alton. Ill, in IsSs. and Elijah Fl.
I,nvejoy was killed. Alton is about fifty
miles from Jacksonville, but the excite
rnent was great in the latter place and
pr Beecher himself had threats of vio-
Ience for his outspeken words. He preach
ed sermon upon the subject ard saw
signs of disturbance. As he started TO
leave the church he heard voices say:
'where Is he? Where is her' and he
walked calmly forward and said Here |
am" the men skunk away Hnd he went
on unharmed He wrote an account of
the Alton riots. which was published.
After resigning his presidency. Dr.
Reecher returned 10 Boston and accepted
a call 10 the Salem street congregational
church. with which he remained until
1SsE. This was a period Of theological un-
rest and activity, and Dr Beeeher was an
active leader. He was one Of tho founders
or the Congress nationalist with Drg. Storrs
and Parks, and contributed 10 its coli
umns. lie also wrote at this time ''The
Conflict Of Ages" IL was the first pub
Hshed utterance in the line Of the new
theology, and set forth views which were
by no means IN harmony with the ortho-
doX ideas of the day, although now there
is nothing ia tho book which lis not al
most universally accepted The book was
published in Boston IN fS3 IL met a
much more favorable and cordial recep-
tion than the author had dared 70 hope.
lie said: II expected that | would be
tried for heresy, and was acreeahiy sur
prissd when l found ! was not put upon
the piliory." Henry Ward Beecher al
ways attributed his liherai theological
ideas to the teachings Of his brother
Dr.. ReeCher subsequently, published
The Concord of Ages. whira supple
mffteH tNN previous volume ana set fcftn
the same ideas carried TO their logical
conclusion he was also the author OF
several other works, one upon Eternal
Punishment" which combats the idea OF
everlasting retribution for the wicked.
Some minor works and many articles In
THE Christian Union" "ConsregationaI-
ist." and other religious newspapers cams
from hia pen.
In 1855 Dr Reecher again left Boston
and went West. becoming pastor of the
Congregational church i'm Galesbupg. III
white there he served az lecturer in
the Chicago theological seminary. his
subject being the relation of Christianity
10 the political economy of the world.
He continued his literary work while i'm
Gateshurg. where he remained until his
10th year. He then came 10 BROOKLYN
10 live He became "A member Of Ply
mouth church and was 10 the end con-
nected with II. although living at such
distance from u 10 be unable 10 at
tend its services in recent years The
Eixtieth anniversary Of his ordination ~
the ministry was celebrated I'm Plymouth
church in iss5 Dr. Beeeher preached the
sermon ar he ordination Of Henry Ward
Peecher in Lawrenceburg. Ind. In 1877.
While he lived in Brooklyn he preached
and smoke at many religious meetings.
For several years he was pastor OF the
C-ongreaa tEonaI church in Parkvilie. be-
tween brooklyn and roney Island on the
Prospect Park ~ coney Island railroad.
II was while returning from service i'm
this church six years ago that he slipped
from the platform I'm the station and his
toft leg was run over by car wheel and
crushed SO tha, II had TO BE- aFnputated.
In spite OF his Sc years. DR.. Beecher bore
the pair OF the operation with extrer1
forflt3da He went about with crutches
for a time. but after an artificial lex had
hcen sfspr.lsea and he had become secus-
toned 20 e. he discarded his erutches ana
walked with n cane.
-rhrec of Dr. Beecher'E sisters Mrs tiar-
,iet Vsecher Stove Airs. Isabella Eseclsr
rTooker and Mrs. Mary Eeecner Perkins.
a~e still living as also his hro'a aers. the
rev Charles Reecher % Nyeox, Pa. and
the Rev. Thomas X Bseehers of Efmira
Mrs stowe lived with Dr. Beecher before
she wrote esfracie Toms Cabin" ana one
dav in conversation Mrs. Beecher SAID -
her. ''If had the power yau have wtsh
- rou I would write something ahenf
tha slayss which would make people fefi
tFAfr wrongs TO this Mrs. stowe replied.
~ think I viii" In her ai1toff'nsf ar't.y.
sF4tea nv her son. she credits Mrs.
Yc@eher with this
1rHe annual ce3ehrat IONS 81 ftr. 13eEf heF'a
t.~tfaav and his marriage anniversary
have far the past few years heen notable
/ events iu BROOKLYN
+ r,-r.-.-- rFyasferfrEr 81 he EarFgtf.