Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-03-18 | Page 9 | Tribute to Beecher Paid by Dr. Goshen

TRIBUTE TO BEECHER I PAID BY DR. GOSHEN Declared the Greatest of American Orators Ora-tors in Liberalizing Views of Church in Difficult Period. Characterizing Henry Ward Beecher as "the most versatile man that America lias yet produced,' tribute to the work of the ?:reat orator, tea cher. lecturer, preacher and statesman was paid yesterday morning morn-ing by the Rev. .Elmer I. Goshen in his sermon at the First Congregational church. Dr. Goshen declared that Mr. Beecher was unquestionably the greatest of American Amer-ican orators, and in saying this he did not forget that Patrick Henry, Daniel Webster and Lincoln had produced a few undying masterpieces. ..sserting that in the main "religion-irtj "religion-irtj were bigots," Dr. Goshen paid elo--jnt tribute to services of Mr. Beecher r in liberalizing the views of the church at a period when he had to fight three classes, "the hosts of iniquity, the armies of mediocrity" who always oppose the t work of genius" and finally, the "narrow v-vjn mind anu soul, who think in accord-knee accord-knee with theological tradition." It was this latter class, the minister affirmed, that fought B wcher, with his broad and God-Inspired love for humanity rather than for those who followed a creed, most bitterly and most persistently. Beecher's services to the nation at a lime when the flac was in most imminent danger of bearing the permanent stain of v - wore vividi'- told. It was when the great preacher by reason of ill health, had been sent on vacation to the old world, that England sought, for commercial commer-cial reasons, Lo lend financial assistance to the south that the institution of slavery might be retained. r. Goshen told how Beecher, backed by no official power, i r-'ci iioslile mobs of thousands in English Eng-lish cities, swayed them to his views of iove for liberty for all, creating a sentiment senti-ment that finally restrained the British lion from action. Dr. Goshen will next Sunday devote his address to the history of Beecher's trial on charge of immoralitv. The speaker asserted that he purposes to "handle the subject without gloves."