New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-26

| present pulpit put in its stead. There are still
few Of the congregation who can recall cram
me The - r., ks In wartime days and b",cre InaI
10 see DR.. Storrs climb the stairs and appear
! in the box above This is picture that does
not fade from memory.
A story was told the other day reminiscent of
this old pulpit, DR.. Storrs and Henry Ward
Beecher. II appears that DR. Storrs and Mr.
Beecher had exchanged pulpits one sunday as
was their occasional custom. Now. Mr.. Beecher
was used 70 preaching from a platform on
their way from church the two preachers met
How did you get on-how did you feel?' asked
DR. Storrs. Get on-feel?' retorted Henry
Ward Beecher Il felt like a bunch Of lighted
flrecrackers confined in a -four barrel"
THE PERSONALITY OF DIR. sTORRs
That age has come to DIT. Storrs it is hard to
realize for the reason that he retains unim-
paired to-day his extraordinary powers, his
fluent speech and his gift Of language. Few
know perhaps that he originally started in TO
study law, and, though In the office OF Rufus
Choate. then a National figure. left all hope Of
preferment at the bar TO become the fourth min
lister Of his line. succeeding father, grandfather
and eat-grandfather in the pulpit. tie he
came the greatest Of the four following out the
tradition of each TO remain steadfast TO the
pulpit Of his younger days. No calls from
without were ever able TO get him away from
IN Church Of the Pilgrims. There was once II
is interesting to relate. fear that the doctor
a
tons poured in upon him 70 remain. one OF
| these was an extraordinary document IL was
signed by 100 Of the leading citizens or 3rooK-
Ign without regard TO creed.
The doctors main interest was In history, OF
which he was an omnivorous reader. lie had
read widely IN ecclesiastical history, OF course
as his pulpit dscourses showed. But his studies
went far beyond this They covered all that
history that is known 'profane,' with espe-
cial reference TO the history Of the Middle Ages
in this he was a vertable master lie lectuIcd
many times upon these topics even entering
the modern era. one Of his topics being the con
hicting interests OF England and Japan IN the
Far East IN which he showed that he had
prObcd recent research to the depths
In these departments especially his library is
very fun and complete. His study is one Of the
choicest Of American bOokrooms and contains
tones Of great value.
Few pulpit orators speak and have SPOKEN
IS fuently without notes as Or. Storrs, ana
this Opens UP an interesting bit OF personal
reuinfec4nce The Doctor has Of recent years
nrenared somewhat carefully in the way OF
getting the substance Of his discourse IN ms
mind hut he pays heed 10 the words, the
language or the form. Not note is made not
a scrap OF paper taken into the pulpit once
On hts feet the words come tumbling over one
another. yet uttered in scholarly form.
In the early days Of his ministry DIT StorIs
ALWAYS read his sermons. He kept on with TINS
until about twenty years ago. when OF sudden
he ceased writing them There was no aWK-
ward transition. The first sermon delivered eA-
tempore flowed rom his lips easily, nuenty'
He had had too much experience IN puDhc
sneakine 10 be at a loss for a phrase an ldea.
As time went on his public delivery only gre"
In eloouence and in dignity.