The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-05-31
REV. Tx. K.BEECHER'S WAYS
THE LAST OF A FAMOUS FAMILY
OF PREACHERS.

"Father Toms" Eeeentrieity-keeper
of the Town Clock--Surprlses in the
Pulpit-ordination Of Woman
Features Of His Church.
Many admirers of the Rev. Thomas
X. Beecher, brother of Henry Ward
Beecher, who died at Elmira, n V,
recently, believe that he was the most
original thinker of that famous fami-
ly. He united to the power of reason
ing of his brother Edward much Of
the poetical thought Of Henry Ward.
Lyman Beecher, father of the ten
Beechers, Is reported to have said that
Thomas X was the flower of the fam
;ly. This has not been the Judgment
of the world, but on one point there
Is general agreement. Thomas *. was
the oldest Of them all. "Father Tom."
Us he was affectionately called In Ell
mira and throughout this part Of the
ltate, has been accused of rather prid.
ing himself on his eccentricity. You
never could tell what lie was going to
TO- but you could generally count on
his doing something you didn't expect.
"AIr Beecher," said woman par
Ishioner to him once. "when see you
Dut of the pulpit l think you ought
never to get in 1t; but when l see you
in the pulpit l think you ought never
to get out"
He seemed to enjoy astonishing con-
ventional folk sometimes. Once he
took notion that lager beer would be
good for his health. Instead of taking
the medicine at his own home he used
20 walk in at the front door of the
most conspicuous saloon in Elmira,
pull out nickel at the bar and quah
| the beer. This troubled his parishion-
ers, and they demonstrated with him.
| but he told them that he didn't care
what folks thought about him, he was
taking the beer as medicine. and he
| lin't propose to do it secretly. as If lie
was ashamed of it. After while he
| uuit the beer, not, as he was careful
| to explain, because he thought 1t was
wrong, but because 1t didn't agree
| with him.
| Mr.. Beecher knew great deal
about many things. Many persons
may recall the fashion In which he
| demolished scientific textbook, writ
ten by a well-known man and used eX-
tensively In schools. Mr.. Beecher
| pointed out inaccuracies in statement
and false reasoning until he complete
| ly riddled the work. In his early days
he studied mechanics, and at one time
| ran q locomotive from Buffalo to New
York. In the earlier stage of his minis
try he used to repair sewing machines
for the women of his flock. He could
make a watch, and so great was his
delight in that sort Of work that he
once asked the Elmira authorities tc
make him custodian Of the town clock
They granted his request, and fol
years Mr. Beechel served In this ca
pacity at a salary If $12 year. HI
took great pride in keeping that towr
clock exactly right. and when the
timepiece happened to get few sec
onds wrong he used to put up a sigl
on the door of the door of the towel
reading like this: This clock is TIVE
seconds late to-dny, but it will he al
right tomorrow"
He was as peculiar in the pulpit Al
out Of it, and did what seemed to hin
right. One of the best illustrations o
this has already been told, but will
bear recalling. One Sunday he preach
ed in the church of his brother, Hen
ry Ward Beecher, in Brooklyn, wlil