Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-23
DR.. LYMAN ABBOTT DEAD
NOTED EDITOR WAS 81
Famous as Writer, Lecturer,
Clergyman; Was Confidant
Of Presidents.

NGW lOIk, SNt. <O.-I(I. LYMAN AD-
bott. former editor in chief Of the Out
look and successor OF Henry Ward
Bcecher as pastor Of the Plymouth
Congrega tional Church. Brooklyn, died
yesterday afternoon at 1910 o'clock in
his town home, No. 1884 Lexington
avenue.
In his eighty-seventh year, DIR.
Abbott was unable to combat Sc
we're attack Of bronchitis contracted
last June while at his country home
at Cornwall on Hudson.
Four sons and two daughters and
q few intimate friends were at his
bedside when the end came. 1t had
been expected hourly. DR.. Abbott,
while very weak. retained almost COM
plete control OF his mental faculties
until the last.
For more than half, a century DR.
Abbott was a leader in the religious,
civic and political thought OF the coun-
try. Within the past year he had gone
into quasi retirement, delivering
scarcely any lectures and devoting
most of his time to the Outlook.
Clergyman, author, editor, lawyer
and lecturer; companion and Eonfi-
dant OF statesmen and Presidents, DIR.
Abbott's career Is interlinked with
that period of American history that
began with Lincoln and ended with
Wilson. His life spanned two great
epochs-the abolition Of slavery and
the World War.
Through it all he retained a clear
vision. adjusting his point OF view TO
meet the problems OF the times. His
father, Jacob Abbott sturdy New
Englander, was a Congregational
minister at Roxbury, Mass. and in
fiuenced his son to follow In his steps
Soon after 1856. when DR.. Abbott
was admitted TO the New York bar
he began his study for the ministry
He was ordained in 1850. From then
until 1855 he was pastor Of a church
In Terre Haute. Ind.
In that year he came to New York
to be pastor OF the New England
Church, remaining there until 1869
During this period he was Secretary
of the American Union Commission.
From his father. who was author
among other works Of tho famous
Rollo Books. he inherited literary ten
denotes. He used to say he was borr
with pen In his hand. He begar
writing in 1859 and continued writing
until 1855.
His pen was a brilliant one. II at
tracted national attention. One re.
suit was that In 1876 he was offered
and accepted the editorship OF the
Christian Union. This publication ir
1893 became the Outlook. 1t enjoyed
tremendous prestige. which WAS en-.
hanced in 1914. when Theodore Roose.
welt became a contributing editor.
1t was as editor OF the Christian
Union that DR.. Abbott came into close
contact with Henry Ward Beecher. ar
associate editor. Mr.. Beecher saw ir
him a man Of great promise and one
who interpreted religion in con.
sonance with the march Of intellect
At the tme tho theory Of evolution a.
expounded by followers Of Darwin and
Spencer had aroused sharp con.
troversy between science and orthodox
Biblical students.
After tho death Of Mr.. Beecher, DR.
Abbott became pastor OF Plymouth
Church. where his predecessor hat
won fame as the foremost pulpi
orator OF America. He was installe,
January Is. 1890. and remained Il
charge until 1899, when he resigned
The last book Of tho score he ha
written, "Silhouettes Of Ny OonteIn
poraries," published in 1921. Ia q com
panion volume OF "reminiscences,
published In 1915. and sums up tn
high lights Of his career. his man
points OF contact with big men an
measures.
He was nearing his eight1eth birth
day when the book was published
And toward tho end Of the volume h
wrote: II look forward to tho Grcs
Adventure, which now cannot be fs
of. with awe but not with appreher
sion. enjoy my work. my homo m
friends, my life. I shall be sory
part with them. But always I hay
stood in the bow, looking forwar
with hopeful anticipation to the lii
before me-"