Ministry Lyman Beecher

1 ministry

1.1 ministry on long island in new york (1798–1810)
1.2 ministry in litchfield, connecticut (1810–1826)

1.2.1 temperance
1.2.2 unitarian crisis , women s education


1.3 ministry in boston (1826–1832)
1.4 leadership of lane seminary in cincinnati (1832–1852)

1.4.1 lane rebels
1.4.2 heresy trial on new school sympathies


1.5 move cincinnati new york city (1852–death in 1863)

ministry

lyman beecher


ministry on long island in new york (1798–1810)

in september 1798, licensed preach new haven west association, , entered upon clerical duties supplying pulpit in presbyterian church @ east hampton, long island, , ordained in 1799. here married first wife, roxana foote. salary $300 year, after 5 years increased $400, dilapidated parsonage. eke out scanty income, wife opened private school, in instructor. beecher gained popular recognition in 1806, after giving sermon concerning duel between alexander hamilton , aaron burr.

ministry in litchfield, connecticut (1810–1826)

finding salary wholly inadequate support increasing family, resigned charge @ east hampton, , in 1810 moved litchfield, connecticut, minister town s congregational church, , remained 16 years. there started preach calvinism. purchased home built elijah wadsworth , reared large family.

temperance

the excessive use of alcohol, known intemperance, source of concern in new england in rest of united states. heavy drinking occurred @ formal meetings of clergy, , beecher resolved take stand against it. in 1826 delivered , published 6 sermons on intemperance. sent throughout united states, ran rapidly through many editions in england, , translated several languages on european continent, , had large sale after lapse of 50 years.

unitarian crisis , women s education

during beecher s residence in litchfield unitarian controversy arose, , took prominent part. litchfield @ time seat of famous law school , several other institutions of learning, , beecher (now doctor of divinity) , wife undertook supervise training of several young women, received family. here found salary ($800 year) inadequate.

ministry in boston (1826–1832)

the rapid , extensive defection of congregational churches in boston , vicinity, under lead of william ellery channing , others in sympathy him, had excited anxiety throughout new england; , in 1826 beecher called boston s hanover church, began preaching against unitarianism sweeping area.

leadership of lane seminary in cincinnati (1832–1852)

the religious public had become impressed growing importance of great west; theological seminary had been founded @ walnut hills, near cincinnati, ohio, , named lane theological seminary, after 1 of principal benefactors, , large amount of money pledged institution on condition beecher accept presidency, did in 1832. mission there train ministers win west protestantism. along presidency, professor of sacred theology, , pastor of second presbyterian church of cincinnati (today, congregation covenant first presbyterian church) served pastor first ten years of lane presidency.

beecher notorious anti-catholicism , after arrival in cincinnati authored nativist tract plea west. sermon on subject @ boston in 1834 followed shortly burning of catholic ursuline sisters convent there.

lane rebels

beecher s term @ lane came @ time when number of intense issues, particularly slavery, threatened divide presbyterian church, state of ohio, , nation. french revolution of 1830, agitation in england reform , against colonial slavery, , punishment american courts of citizens had dared attack slave trade carried on under american flag, had begun direct attention of american philanthropists evils of american slavery, , abolition convention met in philadelphia in 1833. president, arthur tappan, through liberal donations beecher had been secured lane seminary, forwarded students copy of address issued convention, , whole subject under discussion.

in 1834, students @ lane debated slavery issue 18 consecutive nights , many of them chose adopt cause of abolitionism. many of students south, , effort made stop discussions , meetings. slaveholders kentucky came in , incited mob violence, , several weeks beecher lived in turmoil, not knowing how rabble might destroy seminary , houses of professors. board of trustees interfered during absence of beecher, , allayed excitement of mob forbidding further discussion of slavery in seminary, whereupon students withdrew en masse. beecher opposed radical position of abolition , refused offer classes african-americans. group of 50 students (who became known lane rebels ) left seminary went oberlin college. events sparked growing national discussion of abolition contributed beginning of civil war.

heresy trial on new school sympathies

although earlier in career had opposed them, beecher stoked controversy advocating new measures of evangelism (e.g., revivals , camp meetings) ran counter traditional calvinist understanding. these new measures @ time of second great awakening brought turmoil churches across america. fellow pastor, joshua lacy wilson, pastor of first presbyterian (now, part of covenant first presbyterian church in cincinnati) charged beecher heresy in 1835.

the trial took place in own church, , beecher defended himself, while burdened cares of seminary, church, , wife @ home on death bed. trial resulted in acquittal, and, on appeal general synod, again acquitted, controversy engendered action went on until presbyterian church divided in two. beecher took active part in theological controversies led excision of portion of general assembly of presbyterian church in 1837/8, beecher adhering new school presbyterian branch of schism.

move cincinnati new york city (1852–death in 1863)

after slavery controversy, beecher , co-worker stowe remained , tried revive prosperity of seminary, @ last abandoned it. great project of lives defeated, , returned east, beecher went live son henry in brooklyn, new york, in 1852. wished devote himself revisal , publication of works. intellectual powers began decline, while physical strength unabated. 80th year suffered stroke of paralysis, , thenceforth mental powers gleamed out occasionally. after spending last years of life children, died in brooklyn in 1863 , buried @ grove street cemetery, in new haven, connecticut.