The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-09
Great Mass Meeting is Held
 in Brooklyn
TRIBUTES 10 THE PREACHER
Movement Started to Secure Memo rial to Henry Ward 6eeeher and One Lady Gives $1o,ooo.
 The Speeches.

New York March s.--A great mass meeting was held in the Academy of Mu- sic in Brooklyn tonight for the purpose of raising funds to erect a memorial in honor of Henry Ward Beecher, the found- CT of Plymouth church, and for forty years it's pastor Many hundreds who were turned away from the doors gath cred 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 former President Cleveland, Justice D. J, Brewer of the United States Supreme court. the Rev. N. D. Hills of Plymouth church, and the Rev. F. w. Gunsaulus of Chicago.
 The meeting was opened with prayer bv the Rev. Dr. Reese of Macon, Ga, and the Rev. Dr. Dickey of the American church In Berlin. Favorite hymns were rendered by the Plymouth choir.
 Mayor Low delivered the introductory address and then introduced former Pres ident Cleveland, who salo;
 Grover cleveIand's Speech.
 MT. Chairman and Ladies and Gentlemen; "It is now more than forty-nine years ago that I heard in Plymouth church sermon whose impressiveness has re- mained fresh and bright in my mind dur ing all the time that has since passed. remember as If 1t were but yesterday the fervid eloquence of the great preacher as he captivated my youthful understand ing and pictured to my aroused imaglna- ton the entrance of two young men upon the worlds jostling activities-one laden like a beast of burden with aVar1clous plans and sordid expectations, and the other with a light step and cheerful de- termination. seeking the way of duty and unselfshness and striving for the re- ward promised to those who love and serve God and labor for humanity. have never failed to realize the meaning Of the truth taught by the description given of the happy compensations in life and the peace and solaee in death, of the one, and the raclxing disappointments~ s~in life and the despair in death of the other. What this sermon has been to me In all these years, I alone know.
 T am not here. however, for the pur- pose of only giving voice to a grateful recollection, nor solely to acknowledge
  ceived from the teaching of the illustrious dead. I have to come in the kind of hero worship which is but another name for a reverent recognition of that greatness which manifests itself when humble faith and trust in God inspire sincere and brave service in the cause of hu- manitys elevation and betterment.
 Hero Worship Will Endure.
 Tt has been wisely said that hero wor- ship will endure while man endures. Let us accept this pleasant truth-upon the condition that the man or qualities worshipped and the manner of their wor- ship are of the very essence of the mat ter. Let us believe that there is no sadder symptom of a generations bad moral health than It's lack of faith in it's great men and it's loss of reverence for its 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 ad- justed to the highest moral conditions of mans civilization.
 We cannot have the least misgiving concerning the completeness of the hero whose name Is on lips tonight, and whose memory is in our hearts,"
 MT. Cleveland then spoke of MT. Beech CTS high and noble purposes, his un- selfishness, self-sacrifice, generosity, courage and patriotism, as well as his bravery and patience under personal suf- fering and affliction. He also spoke of his great and beneficient achievements, saying:
 He performed the highest service to his country in spirit of absolutely pure patriotism and self-effacement, His daily life and influence were blessed benefac- tions to his countrymen, far and near"
 Continuing, MT. Cleveland said: we daofr act 4G1. hero. We know that there is no need of duplicating reminder that Henry Ward Beecher has lived and is no long CT with us in the body. We know that neither monument 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 necessary to his remembrance. And yet in loving honor to his name, we would erect memorial through which the liv- ing will be quickened and strengthened in the emotions and sentiments so much a part of his life and death. We would make our memorial an agency for the continuation of the mission which Hunt CT took when he consecrated himself to the service of God and the elevation and improvement of his fellowmen; and by the love he bore towards God and man, we would invoke his approval of our work We seek to build a memorial which shall be a shrine. surrounded and peryaded by our hero's influence and spirit, to inspire all who worship there to noble deeds.
 Approach to His Shrine.
 'sWe would invite those who have never known his ministrations,. to come, and, standing within the influence of that cred place. to feel its gentle leading to A better and more useful life.
 "Our hero himself has declared in what manner his shrine should be ap- preached:
 When I fall and am buried In Green wood let no man dare to stand over the turf and say, Here lies Henry Ward Beecher;" for God knows that I will not lie there Look up. If you love me, and if you feel that I have helped you on your way home, stand with your foot on my turf and look up, for I will not hear anybody who does not speak with his mouth towards heaven
 Tt would savor of hardihood if we who knew Mir Beecher and his work. and now contemplate the building of a memorial to the spirit and inspiration of his labors. should be content with a mere idle token of remembrance. Our memorial must be center of work which shall redouk- = =