The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-09
IN BEECHER'S MEMORY.
A Great Mass Meeting Ad-
dressed by Justice Brewer.

New York. March "a great mass
meeting was held in the Academy of
Music fin Brooklyn last night for the
purpose of raising funds TO erect a me
mortal i'm honor of Henry Ward Beech
en-. the founder of Plymouth church
and for forty years its pastor Many
hundreds who were turned away from
the doors gathered at an overflow
meeting i'm Plymouth church. Mayor
Seth Low presided, and among the
prominent persons VINO paid tribute TO
fLe memory of the great preacher were
ex-President Grover Cleveland, Justice
ID. j. Brewer of the United states SUI
preme court. the Rev Newell Dwight
4iillis of Plymouth church and the Rev.
Frank w Gunsaulus of Chicago.
The meeting was opened with prayer
by the Rev DR.. Reese of Macon, Ga,
and the Rev Dr. pickey OF the Amer
loan church in Berlin. FaVOrlte hymns
were rendered by the Plymouth choir.
Mayor Low delivered the Introductory
address and introduced ex-President
cleveland.
Mr.. Justice Brewer said
fn the marvellous Transforming years
from 1850 10 1880 Henry Ward Beecher
was man of prodigious influence. He
may well be called its great preacher.
lie was The most conspicuous member
of an ilustrious family. We are here
to testify to him. Only a few speak.
but you are all witnesses. Each heart
testifes Nay. more the world is full
of testimony. There is q cloud of wit
nesses. I stood by an open grave on
the banks of the Mississippi and saw
lowered into it the cOffined body Of Mr..
Justice Miller. Not a handful Of earth
was thrown upon the coffin, but the
school children of keoxuk, one by one,
marched by and each dropped a flower
into the grave till it was filled and
monument of flowers rose above the
surrounding surface Each flower was
g witness and testified TO the city's
love of its great jurist. But in how
many thousands Of hearts is a. flower
placed this evening upon the memory
Of Henry Ward Bsecher2
He was natures child, and in some
respects always q child The overflow
ing nature of the boy remained a per-
ennial spring He could not repress that
everhowing. In him pathos and humor
Were always ut home. When some OF
his ministerial brethren gently eXpOstu-
lated with him for what they thought
too much levity in the pulpit he prompt
Is replied. "Ah brethren, you would for
give me If you knew how much i kept
back" He never placed his heart in a
straight Jacket or let it be chilled by
fhe cold touch of a business age. All
through life he followed its impulses.
During the bitter hours of the civil war.
both at home ard abroad, his voice rang
out strongly. hopefully and triumphant
lv. He stood on English platforms and
conquered English prejudiees. Pulpit
and press were filled with his patriotic
utterances. His couutry's flag was not a
mere piece of cloth, worth so much q
yard He loved the stars and stripes.
He was emphaticauy a preacher in poll
tics Tt was fitting that when the flag,
lowered at Fort Sumter on April -,
1851 was raised again on April a. 1865,
Mr. Reecher should be selected to utter
for the nation its exultant, triumphant
halleluiah. AnG Vet, as he hailed forth
his song of joy. hear these accompany
ing sympathetic words. For the people
Inisled. for the multitudes. drafted and
driven into this civil war, let not a
trace of animosity remain The moment
their willing hands drop the musket and
they return to their allegiance then
stretch out your own honest right hand
to greet them Recall to them the old
days of Kindness. our hearts wait for
their redemption All the resources of a
renovated nation shall be applied to le-
build their prosperity and smooth tbs
burrows of war"
Again. note his constant hostility tC
all forms of oppression To him the De
clarati0n of Independence meant all tina
st said. The consent of the governed
was no glittering generality he was
leader in the great struggle in the re-
public between liberty and slavery. h
stood with those who had goods, but no
conscienCes, for sale. And as faith with
out works is dead. Beecher's Bible il
Kansas became solid arguments fol
freedom. He sang with Whittier:
eve cross the prairies as of old
our fathers crossed the sea,
To make the west as they the east
The homestead of the free"
He read from the first the meaning O
the great civil war; not party suprema
cy. not sectional domination, but tfa
fransfusing into the lifebloOd of the ma