Beecher, Edward
BEECHER, EDWARD: Congregationalist, second son of Lyman Beecher; b. at East Hampton,
L. I., Aug. 27, 1803; d. in Brooklyn July 28, 1895.
He was graduated at Yale 1822; began his theological studies at Andover and continued them
while acting as tutor at Yale 1825–26; was pastor
of the Park Street Church, Boston, 1826–30;
president of Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill.,
1830–44; pastor of the Salem Street Church, Boston,
1844–55, and editor of The Congregationalist
1849–1853; pastor at Galesburg, Ill., 1855–71; after 1871
resided in Brooklyn. He was lecturer on church
institutions at the Chicago Theological Seminary
(Congregational) 1859–66. In 1837 he defended
the freedom of the press in the case of Elijah P.
Lovejoy, an antislavery agitator at Alton, Ill.
When Lovejoy's presses were destroyed by the
mob, Beecher helped to obtain and secrete a new
one, and was with Lovejoy and his brother, Owen,
the night before the former was killed (Nov. 7,
1837). To resist the mob spirit he aided in founding the Illinois State Antislavery Society, drew
up its constitution, and issued a Statement of Antislavery Principles, and Address to the People of
Illinois. He published a Narrative of Riots at Alton
(Cincinnati, 1838). His views as to the nature
and cause of sin and on the atonement were set
forth in two works, The Conflict of Ages, or the
Great Debate on the Moral Relations of God and Man
(Boston, 1853) and
The Concord of Ages, or the Individual and Organic Harmony of God and Man
(New York, 1860), in which he expressed the belief
that the present life is a continuation of a preceding
existence as well as a preparation for a future one;
that the material system is adapted to regenerate
men, who have made themselves sinful in the previous state; and that ultimately the conflict between good and evil will disappear,
and harmony
be established. The doctrine of divine suffering
he held to present the character of God in its most
affecting and powerful aspects, and to be essential
to a true view of the atonement. He also published
On the Kingdom of God (Boston, 1827); Baptism with Reference to its Import and Modes
(New York, 1849); The Papal Conspiracy Exposed and Protestantism Defended in the Light of
Reason, History, and Scripture
(New York, 1855); History of Opinions on the Scriptural Doctrine of Retribution (1878).