The Birthday of Eternity

Henry Ward Beecher, died March 7, 1887

In March 1887, Beecher suffered a stroke and died in his sleep two days later on the 8th, at the age of 73. 

Brooklyn, still an independent city, declared a day of mourning. The state legislature recessed, and telegrams of condolence were sent by national figures, including President Cleveland. 

Such was the anticipated attendance at his funeral, held at Plymouth Church at 10:30 a.m. on March 11, that tickets for members of the congregation, allowing them their normal pew seating, had to be printed. 

Ticket for Funeral of Henry Ward Beecher

Crowd control was obviously a concern, as bearers were instructed the ticket "must be shown at the outer cordon of police and presented at the Orange street entrance by 10 A.M. As far as practicable, pew holders will be seated in their pews, save in such portion of the Church as may be necessarily reserved." 

The procession to the church, led by a black commander of the William Lloyd Garrison Post in Massachusetts and a white Virginia Confederate general and former slaveholder, marching arm in arm - paid tribute to what Beecher helped accomplish.  Representatives from New York’s Jewish, Catholic, and Chinese communities marched in the procession. 

Henry Ward Beecher Grave, Greenwood Cemetery

Henry Ward Beecher was interred in Brooklyn's Greenwood Cemetery.

Beecher Gravestone
"HE THINKETH NO EVIL"