Sixty years with Plymouth ChurchGriswold, Stephen Morrell
History
Sixty years with Plymouth Church
Griswold, Stephen Morrell
Plymouth Church (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)
Another prominent man was Austin Abbott, brother of Dr. Lyman Abbott, a
well-known lawyer, and one who was closely identified with the defence
of Mr. Beecher in his famous trial. Well do I remember him as he first
came, a boy, and took his seat in the west gallery. Then there were
Henry M. and Augustus Storrs. The former was an intimate friend of
Horace Greeley and used to travel about with him in his political tours.
Both were warm friends of Mr. Beecher, but Augustus was specially
active; it was at his house in Sidney Place that many of the meetings
for consultation were held. Robert R. Raymond came to Brooklyn from
Boston and brought the classic atmosphere, combined with a most
emphatic manner, to his professor's work in the Polytechnic Institute.
He was one of the comparatively few who took part in the prayer
meetings, which generally were really lecture talks by Mr. Beecher. He
seemed to think that a literary atmosphere would certainly do no harm,
for his favourite subject was Shakespeare, and he frequently read
lengthy extracts from his plays. He became widely known as a student and
reader of Shakespeare. His son, Rossiter Raymond, will be mentioned
later.
Robert S. Bussing was specially interested in the Bethel Mission; at
first it was independent, but afterwards became a regular part of
Plymouth Church work. General Horatio C. King was among the leaders in
somewhat later days. A son of Horatio King, United States
Postmaster-General under Buchanan, he always identified himself with the
various reform movements, especially the anti-slavery ones, and was thus
in hearty sympathy with Mr. Beecher and Plymouth Church in its
activities, and has for many years served as clerk of the church. Always
interested in music, he was a fine organist and helped materially in
that department of church worship. Another whose name became very widely
known, especially at the time of the trial, was Thomas G. Shearman. He
was also identified with every phase of church life, was clerk for many
years, and an active and most loyal upholder of pastor and church.
For the most part these were not very wealthy men, though Augustus
Storrs was esteemed such, and Mr. Bussing at one time had a large
income. There were a few, however, of large means, and they gave most
liberally: Horace B. Claflin, Rufus R. Graves, and Henry W. Sage. Mr.
Sage will long be remembered for his generous gifts to Cornell
University, and was always looked to for cordial support of any good
cause in Brooklyn. Horace B. Claflin as founder of the great H. B.
Claflin Company was not less munificent, though often in ways less
prominent before the public, and the same may be said of Mr. Graves.
These with Mr. Storrs were always bidders for the highest priced pews,
paying premiums varying from $3000 to $5000 each.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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