The Washington herald., 1912-06-23

American history COlLAlu1 no uBuEe
which can vie in greatness in the realm
OF preaching, lecturing, and religious
writing with the eminent Henry Ward
Beecher, the niuety-ninth anniversary OF
whose birth win be fttingly remembered
in all parts Of the civilized globe to-
morrow.
The life Of Beecher, unlike the calm
and uneventfyl lives OF many divtnes.
was replete with thrilling Incidents and
never-ceasing activities. The period OF
the life Of the great preacher and lee
turer was a perilous one for the coun-
try, and Beecher thrust himself into the
struggle for the supremacy Of right ana
justice, amid the jeers and threats and
ridicule of a half-nRtion Of advocates or
slavery. No man did more TO turn the
tide Of English sentiment toward the
Union cause in the civil war than TINS
gifted clergyman through the medium
Of the lecture platform across the seas
Henry Ward Beecher was born In
LitchheId, Conn, June q, 1873 He was
the son Of Lyman Beecher, who himself
was a clergyman of considerable ability
and renown. Young Beecher was an un-
usually modest and sensitive boy, ana
during his early years showed no signs
Of that fervor which characterized his
style during the prime Of his life The
first indication Of his oratorical ana ar
gumentative powers was noticed at the
age Of eleven years, when he paruci-
mated in a hot forensic battle with an
older schooInate over Paine's Age OF
Reason The discussion was a profound
one, notwithstanding the youth OF
Beecher, and the efforts Of the young
debater were crowned with success.
Beecher No Student.
Beecher showed no inclination toward
study. The height Of his ambition was
a life on the high seas, and he secretly
planned to leave home and board some
sea-bound vessel. These plans were sud
denly shattered when he was &C convers-
ed at a revival meeting. He at once
decided to devote himself to study, and
in 1875 entered the Boston Latin School.
Later he attended Amherst College, from
which he was graduated in 1894, display
ing marked ability as n writer AMI de-
batter He studied at the Lane Theolo-
gicaI- Seminary in Cincinnati, or which
his father was president, and in lsS; Ie-
ceived his first charge, a small i'resoy-
ter.an church at LawrenCeburg, Ind he
served as both pastor and sexton CC inc
church. He swept the church, tended the
fires rang the church bell, preAEhed'
and visited his PASTORAL fock-ah Tor
a mere pittance. After serving several
the pastorate of a Presbyterian church
in indianapolis where he remained until
lSg7. In that year he accepted charge
Of the Plymouth Congregational Church
in Brooklyn, n. Y. He remained pastor
Of this church until his death. although
In lSS2 he severed formal connections
with the Congregationalists because Of
his disbelief in eternal punishment.
Between the years 1875 and 1887 Beecher
Travelled more than 100000 miles, deliver
ing thousands of lectures in all parts Of
the country, with ]. B. Pond as his man.
ager. Many times the life of the en-
inent preacher was jeopardized because
Of the great wave Of popular feeling
against him. One Of the bOldest of
Beecher's lectures was delivered in Rich
mOnd, Va, January 3, 1871 Mr.. Pond
had arranged 10 hold the lecture in the
Richmond Theater. The hatred for
Beecher and his principals was at
stress point in this Virginia town, and
the day prior to the date OF the lecture,
Mr.. Pond, who was in Baltimore, re-
ceived the following telegram from the
manager Of the theater:
No use coming. Beecher will not be
allowed to speak in Richmond. No
tickets sold
Mr.. Pond was determined to give the
lecture according to schedule. and with
out advising Beecher OF the telegram,
sent the following reply to the manager
Of the theater:
Have started. Mr.. Beecher will be on
hard TO keep his contract
When the people of Richmond learned
that BeeCher was scheduled to deliver
a lecture, the wave of bitter feeling
sweIIed to dangerous proportions. The
manager Of the theater was afraid of
advertising. Not ticket was sold. When
Beecher arrived in the city he was greet
ed with discOurteousness on every side.