The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-09
.BEECHER is LAUDED
MONSTER MEETING IN MEMORY OF
THE PREACHER.
$250,000 FOR A MEMORIAL
is THE MOVEMENT STARTED BY
NEW Workers..

Grover Cleveland Made an Eloquent
speech, ExtOlIing the Virtues of
Henry Ward Beecher-Referredt to
Sermon He Had Heard Beecher
Preach and Which Had Been the
Guiding Precept of the Ex-Presi-
rial Are Announced.
New York. March S.-A great mass
meeting was held in the Academy of
Music tonight for the purpose of
raising POUNDS for erecting a memorial
TO the memory of Henry Ward Beech
err the founder of Plymouth Church,
and for forty years it's pastor. Many
hundreds were turned away from the
doors and gathered at an overflow
meeting in Plymouth Church.
Mayor Seth Low presided. and
among the prominent persons who paid
tribute to the memory of the great
preacher were ex-President Grover
Cleveland, Justice j. D. Brewer of the
United States Supreme Court, Rev.
Newell Dwight Hills of Plymouth
Church, and Rev. Frank w. Gunsau-
lus of Chicago.
The meeting was opened with prayer
by Rev. DR.. Reese of Macon, Ga, and
Rev. DR.. Dickey of the American
Church in Berlin. Favor4te hymns
were rendered by the Plymouth choir.
Mayor Low delivered the Introductory
address, and then introduced Mr..
Cleveland, who said:
Grover CIevelands Speech.
Mr.. Chairman, and Ladies and Cen
tlemen: 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 l
am accredited to this assemblage by
condition of heart and by an infiu-
ence which have been strong within
me for many years.
1t is now more than forty-nine
years ago that l heard in Plymouth
Church sermon whose inpressiVeness
has remained fresh and bright in my
mind during all the time that has
since passed. In days of trial and
troublous perplexity it's remembrance
has been an unfailing comfort; and in
every time of depression and discour-
agement the lesson it taught has
brought restoration of hope and con-
fidence.
Il remember as if it were but yes
terday 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 upon the
worlds jostling activities-one laden
like beast of burden with avaricious
plans and sordid expectations and the
other with light step and cheerful
determination, seeking the way of duty
and usefulness and striving for the
reward promised to those who love
and serve God, and labor for human
ity.
Sermon Chung TO Him.
Il have never for a moment lost the
impression made upon me by the vivid
contrast, thrillingly 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 COM
pensations in 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. What
this sermon has been to me in all these
years, l alone know. l present it's
recollection to-day as a personal Gre
Dental of my own, especially emitting
meet to recall and memorabilia the
fame and usefulness of Henry Ward
Beecher.
at has been wisely said that hero
worship will endure while man en-
dures. Let us accept this as a pleas
ant truth-upon the condition that the
man or qualities worshipped and the
manner of their worship are of the
very essense of the matter. Let us be-
lieves that there is no sadder symptom
of a generations bad moral health
than its lack of faith in its great men
end It's loss of reverence for it's he
roes; but let this belief be coupled with
the reservation that those called great
shall be truly great, and that the he
roes challenging our reverence shall be
truly heroic, measured by standards
adjusted to the highest moral condi-
tions of mans civilization.
Love for the Hero.
Eve cannot have the least misgiving
concerning the completeness of the
hero whose name is on our lips to-
night, and whose memory is in our
hearts Should a hero's aims and
purposes be high and noble? Our hero
devoted his life to teaching the love of
God and pointing out to his fellow
men the way of their SOULS salvation.
Should he be unselfish, self-sacrifcing
ana generous! Inc Self-Sacrifice OF
our hero shone out constantly and
brightly; and his life will be searched
in vain for a selfish, ungenerous act.
Should he be courageously and ag-
gressively lover 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. lie
stood like a rock against doubters at
home; and he confronted angry, threat
ening throngs abroad with a steady.
unyielding courage which wrought tri-
umphs for his country and for its con-
secration to manhood-freedom not less
important than those of any army with
banners. Should he be brave
and patient under personal suf-
ferring and affection?
"Our hero, when Affections came
from heaven. submissively continued
to praise God; and when he felt the
cruel stings of mans ingrati-ude ana
malice, he serenely looked towards his
Heavenly Fathers face and kept
within the comforting light of a pure
conscience. Should a hero crown all his
high moral attributes with great and
benehcent achievements? Our hero
led thousands upon thousands 20 the
way OF eternal life; he surrounded re-
liglon with cheerful brightuess. and
taught that II grows best. not IN the
darkness Of terror but IN the constant
sunshine Of Gods unfailing love"
Cleveland and the Monument.
Mr.. Cleveland then spoke Of the
erection Of a monument 20 Mr. Beech
e.sdr.ar aHaftIF 80 49, 80