New-York tribune., 1908-02-09
BEECHER FUND GROWTH.
York Shortly to Begin on Outdoor
Feature of Memorial.

Now that the Beecher Memorial Fund has
been increased to upward of s95000, work is
shortly to begin upon the out doors work
which has been planned. The plans call for the
expenditure of perhaps 100000 and sinking
fund of s1OO. 900 is needed to maintain the I'M
provements when they have once been made
The members Of Plymouth Church have rail-
He'd the support of the undertaking. and it is
safe to say that all the money necessary will
be given within comparatively short time
| One man-Henry Phipps, of Pittsburg-has so
far turned IN to the fund $4,000. This Is the
largest given by one person
The exterior work is the continuation of the
improvements in the building itself, which has
already been begun by the members of the con-
gregation Eleven memorial windows have been
placed in the building at an outlay Of s1l.00o
There will be nineteen OF these eventually. The
last three Will be put in the front of the
structure. facing Orange street They will be
paid for out Of the general fund and will cost
each the the other sixteen windows
The subjects will be Henry Ward Beecher
Raising the Flag Fort Sumter" Abraham
Lincoln Writing the Emancipation Proclama
ton" and Harriet Beecher Stowe Writing
Uncle Toms Cabin
The church has already purchased the lot ad-
joining its site the Henry street side. The
price was about $4,000. The lot is % feet wide
and 100 feet deep extending the depth of the
church auditorium. The building this lot
Will be torn down and little park will be de-
veloped where it stands day. The park will
answer three purposes-it will give light To the
memorial windows. it will serve hrebreak
and it Will add beauty the surroundings of
the church.
DR.. r. W. Raymond is prepared sell the
two lots adjoining the church the Hicks
street side whenever the trustees of the memo
rial fund ready to purchase. These lots
together 30 feet wide and about 100
feet deep. AS there is court about 10
feet wide extending along this side of the
church from the front to the rear OF the main
auditorium. the requirements for light and for
a firebreak already met with. The build
ings on the two lots will be torn down and In
their place a three story parish house of the
same architectural type as the church Will be
put up at cost of some 100000. The build
ing will be in size about 90 by so feet.
In the parish house there will be large room
for meetings, especially for the consideration
of matters not pertaining to religion and it VIII
be used frequently for the discussion of live
topics of the day. Besides. there will be rooms
for the church societies-especialIy the clubs
of the young people-a reading room. bowling
alleys a billiard room suit of rooms for the
caretaker of the church and, lastly, though not
least. Beecher Memorial Museum room. IL
VIII contain all the relics of the famous preacher
that can be collected. and already many things
have been promised. 1t will contain his pulpit
and his chair and the pulpit of his fathet. Ly-
Beecher.
Last of all, park is to be created across
Orange street Here will be placed the body
of Mr.. and Mrs. Beecher. The church has al
ready purchased four lots there for the purpose
Their size combined is 93 by 100 feet. They
cost about $4,000
1t is difficult to estimate exactly how much
the work will cost. Already $4,000 has been
spent In the purchase of the lots. and 1t
has been decided TO spend $4,000 more for
the purchase of the lots held by DR. RAYMOND
and for the erection of the parish house. The
cost OF converting the lot the Henry street
side OF the church and the lots opposite the
church into parks and of building the mauso-
leum. it is estimated. will not fall far short OF
$4,000 more 1t is hoped that in time enough
money can be raised greatly to increase the
property of the church. so that II can be sur
rounded with grass and flower gardens on all
sides.