The Freedom Ring

This famous sermon by the most popular American preacher during the Civil War, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, was delivered in 1861 to the two Civil War Regiments of the “Brooklyn Fourteenth . ” Many of them members of Rev. Beecher's Plymouth Church , located in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of New York City. The Church on that day contributed $3,000 to aid in the equipment of this Regiment. “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth.” – Psalms 1x. 4. FROM the earliest periods nations seem to have gone forth to war under some banner. Sometimes it has been merely the pennant of a leader, and was only a rallying signal. So, doubtless, the habit began of carrying banners, to direct men in the confusion of conflict, that the leader might gather his followers around him when he himself was liable to be lost out of their sight. And thus in our day every nation has its peculiar flag. There is no civilized nation without its banner. A tho...

Preached by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher at Plymouth Church  Brooklyn, NY - January 4, 1863 From the most famous American preacher throughout the time of our great Civil American War, we bring you this lost sermon that will place you in the hearts and minds of those suffering Americans. Those who were shedding blood with their own countrymen in the name of eliminating oppression from the land of the free. The following are the words of the famous abolitionist, minister Rev. Henry Ward Beecher preached in Brooklyn, NY on January 4th, 1863. What is Babylon? The term Babylon, borrowed from a real city, is employed often figuratively. And without straining a point at all, it may be said that it is the kingdom of despotism, the kingdom of oppression, on earth, that is meant by the term Babylon. It is more specific than the term kingdom of darkness; for it seems to refer to a speciality of despotism. The violation of the eternal principles of justice for the injury and destruction...

American Democracy Explained American Democracy as explained by our forefathers: Country, Liberty, God and Freedom.  US Capitol Building Under Construction, 1861      The year was 1862. Exactly one year after the Civil War had started. Brooklyn, New York, at Plymouth Church, the abolitionist preacher and a spokesperson for the newly established Republican Party, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was helping Americans understand what made our American Democracy worth fighting for!     These words of  Freedom and Liberty are a true gem of our American history, which now with the publication of this article is the first time these words have been brought to life in over a hundred years! The following adapted passage is from Henry Ward Beecher’s sermon, “ The Success of American Democracy.”      The history of this year is the history of the common people of America. It is memorable on account of the light that it throws upon them. We are fond of talk...

  The Sinfulness of Racism and Slavery 6 examples of the harm caused to America, by Henry Ward Beecher American Slave Auction “Let us take a look and see if there is any testimony, under God’s great moral government, on the subject of the sinfulness of racism and slavery.” The following words of this article were originally spoken by the abolitionist pastor of Brooklyn, Henry Ward Beecher. They were delivered in one of his weekly sermons at Plymouth Church, this one called “National Injustice and Penalty.” I have lightly adapted the text in order to modernize the victorian style language. This was no ordinary Sunday in our nation’s history. There was a high level of intensity in the air. Possibly thicker than that of 1960 and 2020. This one God given Sunday took place during May of 1861. The American Civil War had broken out one month earlier on April 12th, 1861. Let's take a look at how Mr. Beecher lays out six examples of how racism and slavery in America violates ...

Orated by the famous, abolitionist preacher, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher on October 29th, 1865 in Brooklyn, NY. Sermon given during the early stages of the debates over the restoration or reconstruction of the Southern States that were in rebellion at the time. Six months after Andrew Johnson had been appointed to the presidential chair as the successor of the murdered Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln, 16th US President Healing with a Mission [No Plan] It is a remarkable fact that at no period until now has any statesman or leader appeared among us who, in view of coming dangers, has been able to lay down a plan, or a course of action. Our whole horizon stands darkened by thick troubles. Question upon question, like ranks of trees in the forest, rising beyond each other.  [Goodwill Towards the Wrong] For despondency is ingratitude, and hope in God is worship. I am impressed not only with the duty of hope and trust in God for the future, but with the duty of good-will toward men. Now that war h...