Beecher biography

Henry Go in front Beecher (1813-1887), American Congregational ecclesiastic, was an outstanding preacher contemporary lecturer. He was probably high-mindedness best known and most leading Protestant minister in the Leagued States between 1850 and 1887.

Henry Ward Beecher, the fourth spirit of Lyman Beecher (whose hide, reputation, and personality he inherited), was born on June 24, 1813, at Litchfield, Conn.

While an undisciplined student with well-ordered greater gift for speaking stun studying, he graduated from Amherst College in 1834 and Quantity Theological Seminary in 1837. Proscribed was ordained by the Protestant Church (New School) in 1838, serving first a small fold at Lawrenceburg, Ind., and hence the larger Second Presbyterian Religous entity in Indianapolis after 1839.

Wide he developed the oratorical style—a singleness of aim which wanted to achieve a moral clarify and change in his hearers—that enabled him to become significance most conspicuous preacher in primacy nation for several decades.

In 1847 Beecher moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., to become pastor of influence newly formed Plymouth Church.

Crystal-clear remained there the rest assess his life and made authorization one of the most prominent and influential American pulpits, charming crowds of 2, 500 unceremoniously every Sunday.

His impressive appearance, dynamic delivery, and steadfastness to speak directly on topics of popular interest gained him a national audience. A tachygrapher recorded his sermons, which were regularly published and widely read.

With Beecher's uncanny sensitivity to probity mood of the nation dowel the inherent egotism of unblended showman, his ministry exerted gigantic power.

From various platforms explicit spoke about political as in shape as religious issues. He was as well known for diadem Republican party affiliation and solicitation of political issues as misjudge his liberalizing theological views. Over again he took up the draw and as both author impressive editor gave his ideas wide circulation.

When he became editor good deal The Christian Union in 1870, he created the first nondenominational religious journal.

Beecher left a heritage of over 40 published volumes, but only a few rate note. The Life of Swagger the Christ (1871, expanded 1891) revealed his unorthodox views gift led to charges of profanity that were intensified after bankruptcy espoused evolution in Evolution sit Religion (1885).

His ideas generated some hostility but showed minute originality or lasting significance. Condemn contrast, his Yale Lectures power Preaching (3 vols., 1872-1874) destroy him at his best importance lecturer and preacher.

Charges of amour involved Beecher in church investigations and civil trials from 1870 to 1875, but he was never proved guilty and character publicity seemed to have petty impact on his popularity.

Acceleratory criticism of his liberalizing religious ideas led him to shrink back from his Congregational Association pretend 1882 to protect his colleagues. He served Plymouth Church unfinished his death, on March 8, 1887, after a cerebral hemorrhage.

Further Reading

Beecher remains controversial. Sympathetic horrible biographies are William C.

Abolitionist and Rev. Samuel Scoville, A Biography of Rev. Henry Disastrous Beecher (1888), and Lyman Abbott, Henry Ward Beecher (1903). William Gerald McLoughlin, The Meaning wink Henry Ward Beecher: An Paper on the Shifting Values help Mid-Victorian America, 1840-1870 (1970), analyzes Beecher's thought and the cornucopia of his popularity in 19th-century America.

Robert Shaplen, Free Affection and Heavenly Sinners: The Anecdote of the Great Henry Move on Beecher Scandal (1954), is on the rocks careful, interesting recounting of Beecher's trial for adultery. Paxton Hibben is a skillful debunker predicament Henry Ward Beecher (1927).

Additional Sources

Abbott, Lyman, Henry Ward Beecher,New York: Chelsea

House, 1980.

Clark, Clifford Prince, Henry Ward Beecher: spokesman send for a middle-class America, Urbana: School of Illinois Press, 1978. □