The Washington herald., 1914-12-15
HISTORY BUILDERS.
A Liberal Minded New England
Minister.
Written Expressly for The Heraln.l
By DIR. +. J. EDWARDS.

By DIR. f. j. ED"AhDs.
Henry Ward Beecher gained many
friends and aroused. also, some hostl-
NV. because he was Of the most liberal
or tolerant disposition toward all OF the
sects into which the Christian church
OF the world IL divided. There are stih
living in Brooklyn men and women now
Of venerable years who remember the
CONSERVATION caused by Mr.. Beecher
fraternal relations with certain OF the
clergy Of the Church OF Rome. wonder
was caused when Mr. Bcecher announced
that IL any person who sought admission
10 membership In Plymouth Church de-
sired to he baptized by immersion he
would gladly administer the rite In that
wav and could easily do II because
tank suitable to that purpose had been
constructed in the Plymouth Church
building He invited the rector OF an
Episcopal church to his pulpit, and he
cordially accepted an invitation to take
part in service held in one OF the
Episcopal churches. Mr.. Beecher's be-
lief was that Christians are members OF
one family. although like families or
States, there may he many subdivisions.
A member Of Mr.. BeeCher's family mar
rated to me an aneCdOte which he heard
from Mr.. BeeChsr's own lips many years
ago Beecher had been pleased TO receive a
communication conCratulat1ng him upon
the spirit OF tolerance for all sects with
in the Christian church which he had
constantly revealed. This commun!ca-
ton also expressed the hope that as
result Of Mr.. Beecher's example and in
fuence the time would come when there
would be established a cordial spirit OF
fraternaI association between all Of those
who called themselves Christians no mat
ter what their chosen denomination
might be.
Mr.. Reecher said that he recalled a
manifestation OF a DISPOSITION OF that
kind which was revealed by his father,
DR.. Lyman BeeCher. at time when the
latter was pastor OF a church in Boston.
Lyman Beecher in his day was regarded
as one of the foremost American pastors
Of the orthodox stripe. No one more
strenuously or riGidly defended the doc
trines which characterized the sO-called
orthodox church than did Lyman Beech
er. He was especially hostile to the teach
ings and doctrines OF the Cnitarians,
which in his dav were a large and
hourishing denomination, especially in
Massachusetts,
Mr. Reecher said that one Of his faith
er's intimate friends was Samuel HOar,
who at one time was deemed a lawyer
worthy to rank with Jeremiah Mason
Daniel Webster. and Rufus Choate. TWO
OF Judge Hoar's sons gained national
fame. one OF them, lockwood Hoar, hav-
ing served as attorney general In Presi-
dent Grants Cabinet and the other for
thirty years as United States Senator
from Massachusetts,.
Upon one point Judge Hoar and Lyman
Beccher were at variance so great that
they sometimes INDUCED in heated arEu-
ments Judge Hoar was a pillar in the
Unitarian church. Lyman Beechcr fire.
qucutIy attacked the Unitarian doctrine
and Judge Hoar as earnestly defended IL.
At times it seemed as IL Lyman BeeCher
were persuaded that the Cnitarians
could not enter the kingdom of heaven.
One day a message was brought to DR..
Reecher informing him that Judge HOar
lay at the point OF death. Instantly DR..
Beecher harnessed up his horse, called
upon his son-in-law-Prof. Stowe. whose
wife was Harriet Beecher Stowe-and
went to Concord. twenty miles away.
T-pon their arrival at Judge Hoar's
home they were told that the judge had
passed away an hour or two earlier. DR..
ReeCher asked II he might enter the
chamber Of death He was alone with
the dead for awhile. When he came from
the room he said. Mr.. Hoar was a good
man. firm in his faith. and am con-
WINGED he has passed on to his eternal
heritage"
And when Henry Ward Beecher told
this anecdote he said it Illustrated the
true spirit Of tolerance.
Copyright, 1915 hy F.. ]. Edwards. All rights ~