Beecher, Edward

D.D. (Marietta College, 1831), Congregationalist; b. at East Hampton, Long Island, N.Y., Aug. 27, 1803; graduated at Yale College, 1822; studied for one year (1825) in And over Theological Seminary, but did not graduate; was tutor in Yale College, 1825-26; pastor of the Park-street Church, Boston, 1826- 30; president of Illinois College, 1830-44; pastor of the Salem-street Church, Boston, 1844-56 senior editor of The Congregationalist, 1849-53; pastor in Galesburg, 111., 1856-71; profe or extraordinary in Congregational Theological Seminary, Chicago, on the Christian organization of society, for some years after 1860. Since 1871 he has resided, without pastoral charge, in Brooklyn, preaching often in various churches. He is " an evangelical Calvin ist, except as to the nature and cause of original sin, and the question of the suffering of God and its influence in the atonement. He holds that sin did not come through the material system, and of course not through the fall of Adam, but that the material system by its analogies is adapted to regenerate those who have made themselves sinful in a previous state of existence. The doctrine of divine suffering he holds as presenting the character of God in its most affecting and powerful aspects, and as e ential to a true view of the atonement. " He went to Alton, 111., in 1837, to aid in defending the freedom of the pre in the case of E. P. Lovejoy. Resisted by the mob spirit, he aided in forming the Illinois State Anti-slavery Society, drew up its constitution and declaration of principles, and published an addre to the people of the State. He was with E. P. Lovejoy and Owen Lovejoy, his brother, the night before the former's death, Nov. 6, 1837. He aided in landing the second pre , and in storing it in the stone store of Godfrey and Gilman, where in defending it E. P. Lovejoy was slain." Since 1824, he has published in various religious journals articles on questions of theology and practical reform, amounting in all to many volumes. His books are: On the Kingdom of God, Boston, 1827; History of the Alton Riots, Cincinnati, 1838; Import and Modes of Baptism, New York, 1849; The Conflict of Ages, exposing False Views of the Origin of Sin, False Interpretations on which they are based, the Great Conflict thence originating, and the Means of the Restoration of Harmony, Boston, 1853, 5th ed. 1855; The Concord of Ages: A Defence of the Historical Statements and the Interpretations of The Conflict of Ages, and a more Full Discu ion of the Doctrine of the Suffering of God, and its Wide Range of Influence in harmonizing the Church, New York, 1853; The Papal Conspiracy, exposing the Principles and Plans of the Papacy with respect to this Country, Boston, 1855; History of Opinions on the Scriptural Doctrine of Retribution, New York, 1878.