Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-09
To Raise Funds for Grand
Memorial to Beecher.
EXPIRES. Cleveland, Mayor1ow, JUS
tice Brewer and Others Speak.
Hundreds Turned Away from Brooklyn
Academy of Music >.s-

| Many nundreQS WHO were luIieu
away from the doors gathered at an
overflow meeting in Plymouth church
| Mayor Seth Low presided and among
| the prominent men who paid tribute
| to the memory of the great preacher
were former President Grover Cleve-
| land, Justice d. J. Brewer of the United
| States supreme court, Rev. Newell
| Dwight Hills of Plymouth church,
and Rev. Frank w. Gunsaulus of Chi
cago.
Mayor Low delivered the introduce
tory address, saying:
Mr.. Low said in part: Ladies and
Gentlemen, 20 years ago, when mayor
of Brooklyn, l had the happiness of
presiding at meeting, in this very
building, held in celebration of Mr..
Beecher's 10th birthday. l am glad to
be privileged, tonight, to preside, as
mayor of New York, over the great
gathering, called to consider the cree
ton of suitable memorial of Henry
Ward Beecher. Twenty years ago, it
was already clear that Mr.. Beecher
was a remarkable man, and that from
his life have proceeded influences for
good that are certain to endure
He then introduced former President
Cleveland. who said in part
Mr.. Chairman and Ladies and
Gentlemen: l claim the right to join
! in these exercises for reasons peculiarly
| my own. | am here in obedience to an
| impulse that will not be denied; and
| am accredited to this assemblage by a
condition of heart and by influence
which have been strong within me for
years.
"It is now more than 40 years ago,
| that l heard in Plymouth church, a
sermon whose impressiveness has re-
| manned fresh and bright in my mind
| during all the time that has since
passed. l remember as if it We're but
yesterday, the fervid eloquence of the
great preacher as he captivated my
youthful understanding and pictured
| to my aroused imagination, the en-
| trance of two young men UP the
worlds jostling activiities-one laden
| like a beast of burden with avaricious
plans and sordid expectations and the
other with a light step and cheerful de-
termination, seeking the way of duty
and usefulness and striving for the re-
ward promised to those VINO love and
serve God and labor for humanity. l
have never for a moment lost the i'm
preston made upon me by the vivid
| contrast thrllingly painted in words
that burned, between the two careers:
nor have 1 ever failed to realize the
meaning of the truths taught by the
description given of the happy compen-
sations i'll life and the peace and solace
| in death, of the one, and the racking
disappointments in life and the despair
| in death of the other.
Il am not here, however, for the pur-
pose of only giving voice to a greateful
recollection, nor solely to acknowledge
| the personal benefits and service.
have received from the teaching of the
illustrious dead. l have come to join
| in the kind of hero worship which is
but another name for reverent recog-
| milton of that greatness which mani
tests itself when humble faith and
| trust in God inspire sincere and brave
service in the cause of humanity's ele-
walton and betterment. We cannot
have the least misgiving concerning the
| completeness of the hero whose name
is on our lips, tonight, and whose
memory is in our hearts. Should Il
heros aims and purposes be high and
noble? Our hero devoted his life to
teaching the love of God and pointing
out to his fellOwmen the way of their
souls salvation. Should he be unset
fish, self-sacrificing and generous?
1.-THE self-sacrifice of our hero shone
out constantly and brightly; and his
life will be searched in vain for sell
fish, ungenerous act. Should he be
Il ~
of his country and a champion of
| freedom? Our hero. in the days of his
country's danger and trial. challenged
all corners In defense of our national
safety and unity. He stood like a rock
against doubters at home; and he con-
fronted angry, threatening throngs
abroad with a steady. unyielding cour-
age which wrought triumphs for his
country and for it's conservation to
manhood-freedom not less important
than those of an army with banners.
Should he be brave and patient under
personal suffering and aifliction? Our
hero, when Affections came from
heaven submissively continued to
praise God and when he felt the cruel
stings of mans ingrattitude and
malice he looked towards his heavenly
fathers face and kept within the COM
forting light of pure conscience.
I'VE desire also to establish a me-
mortal to our hero. We know that
there is no need of duplicating a re-
minder that Henry Ward Beecher has
lived and is no longer with us in the
body. We know that neither monu-
mcnt nor memorial avails to the dead;
and we know that nothing more than
the monument our hero has himself
erected IN the hearts of men, is neces-
sary to his remembrance. And yet, in
loving honor to his name we would
erect a memorial through which the
living will be quickened and strength
ened in the emotions and sentiments
so much part of his life and death.
eff our work of building memorial
to our hero is prosecuted in the spirit
that characterized his work on earth,
and If we mingle with the love we have
| for his memory, a serious purpose to
| emulate his love for humanity our
hero worship will be inspiring and ele-
waiting If, invoking his approval and
| in his name. we extend his life work,
we shall not only, exemplify our affec-
| ton for him but shall follow the de-
signs of God as they were revealed to
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