The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-29
THE BEECHER RIFLES CHURCH.
The Famous Preacher Helped to Es-
tabIish 1t in Kansas.
Kansas City Star.

\
tabIish 1t in Kansas.
Kansas City Star.
The call of Dr. Newell Hills. of Chicago,
to fill the pulpit made famous by Henry
Ward Beecher has recalled many incidents
in the career of the distinguished pastor
of Plymouth church. His church appears to
belong to the American people, as belong
Old South church and Gettysburg field; it
was made through Mr.. Beechers pastorate
a national institution more than a local
one. 1t was the heart of the abolition
movement, and was called by its enemies
the d abolition nest" During the
civil war Plymouth pulpit was the place
from which loyal Americans were given in
spiration and encouragement. The church
gave its money and lives of it's sons to the
cause Of the union. Mr.. Beecher died in
1887, and the first Sunday thereafter Lyman
Abbott preached from Plymouth pulpit. For
some time he was acting pastor and became
the regularly chosen head of the church in
1883. He resigned on November q, 1898.
One of the most striking reminders of the
character of Henry Ward Beecher is in the
little town of Wabaunsee, Kan. 1t is the
Beecher Rifles Church, erected by the men
who went out from Hartford, Conn, in 1854
ings held at New Haven to organize the
colony Mr.. Beecher made the principal adj
dress. After he had finished speaking it
was announced that, while the party was
well prepared to dig and plough it was not
in shape to fight. Professor Silliman, of
Yale college, arose and in a short speech
urged the furnishing of the colonists with
guns so that they could do something for
freedom as well as for the building up of
prosperity on the plains. He ended by sub
scribing $25 for the purchase of a Sharps
rifle. Others followed, and in few minutes
half of the colonsts had been provided with
weapons for either defensive or offensive
warfare.
The meeting was in many ways remarka-
able. but most for what followed. Beecher,
then at the zenith of his power, again took
the rostrum, and in magnetic speech gave
MS blessing to the new plans and promised
that IL the colonists could set half enough
rifles there he would promise that
his church would furnish the remain
der. In few days he sent to the COM
pany the required number of guns, over
$500 having been subscribed by his parishion-
ers for the purpose, and along with them
came Bible and hymn book for every
member of the party. On the last day of
March they tramped out of New Haven, as
splendid party of men as ever gathered
for the colonization of the West In the
party were DOCTORS lawyers, merchants,
teachers and preachers, and every one car
ried on his shoulder a rifle, in his pocket
Bible and hymn book, and in his heart a de-
termination to honor the people who had
fitted them out with the means to conquer
slavery and the wilderness. In ST. Louis
they organized a cooperative company, and
brought the necessities of life to the bare
prairies and went into the new lands with
a complete outfit, prepared to make liv-
ing and tit out homes for the reception of
their families, who were to come later
With them went the words of the preach
Brooklyn he sent the rifles: Let these
arms hang above your doors as the old
revolutionary muskets do in many a New
England dwelling. May your children in
another generation look upon them with
pride and say, Our fathers courage saved
this fair land from blood and slavery Ev-
cry mornings breeze shall catch the bes-
ings of our prayers and roll them westward
to your prairie homes. May your sons be
large-hearted the heavens above their
heads; may your daughters I'LL the land as
the flowers do the prairies, only sweeter and
fairer than they. You will not need to use
arms when it is known that you have them.
1t is the essence of slavery to be arrogant
before the weak and cowardly before the
strong"
The Beecher Rife Colony shot as it prayed,
and did not forget to pray often. Most of
the members were ngregationaliStS and
thece were not a few who carried along
with the Bibles and hymn-bookS Yale d-
plomas But there was a broad catholictty
in their religion, and when it was proposed
to found a church the platform was made
so broad that all denominations came in,
and in the big tent that the cOlonists had
bought, in the grove where in summer
services were held and in the same build
ing that later sheltered the gatherings, only
the purest Christianity was eXpounded
Once during the time of service came the
alarm of an inroad by Indians. The rifles
were unslung and the congregation went
on the warpath. No scalps were taken, but
the Indian raid was stopped. howitzer
was added to the accOutrementS of the
party, and when it was known that the
rules of the Territory forbade the importa-
ton Of arms inside the borders it was hid
den in a haystack. So the colonists worked
out their religious and financial salvation
and founded town that has ever renem-
bered the kind and patriotic offices of the
friends who put both Bibles and guns into
their hands. 1t is often said in the COM
munity that both weapons were used effect
With the growing need of the church
came the demand for better building, and
al the beginning of the war came more
funds from the East for the purpose of
erecting a new structure. In 1862 the stone
church was completed and occupied. Inside
it's walls have services been held since
and in many ways it is the most notable
structure of the kind The plains. Plain
rough-hewn and unassuming, 1t stands a
testimonial to the invincible spirit of pa
triotism and religion that animated the first
corners of the plains. 1t was not more
marked here perhaps. than in many other
colonies, but it came out more boldly be-
cause of the conditions under which the
originators of the expedition acted.
1t was characteristic of those New Eng
landers to take with them the stern podIv
spirit that had been their teaching in early
days into the new lands. 1t was seen in the
contests that came during the border war
fare, and had it's highest exempfca ton
perhaps in the almost fanatical enthusiasm
that shone in the acts and words of John
Brown not that he was of them but
he showed in his life the spirit that was seen
in a lesser and saner degree in the leaders of
the New England forces. This feeling was
shared by those who fitted out the colony
and their wishes were reflected in the set
tiers history.
THE spirit that Beecher breathed in the
colony named after him." says one writer
1.-The spirit that animated the Emigrant Aid
Societies and other colonies from the Far
East, was one of the influences that made
Kansas send more troops to the front i'm
proportion to its population than any other
State in the Union, and brought about more
tolerance toward seekers after freedom. re-
hgious or political from that day to this
1t can be appreciated now better than for
many years past how greatly was the East
interested in the struggle of the West for
freedom. 1t was Americanism in its purest
and best form. and. should occasion arise
for another exhibition of il, the descendants
of those who led the way toward the setting
sun forty years ago would be among the first
to show it,"
Showing It's Effect on the Temper.
Chicago Tribune.
The Doctor writing prescription)-You