The Freedom Ring

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when we shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifiers himself, even as he is pure." -- I John III : 2, 3. Preached by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher Sunday Morning, October 5th, 1863 Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, NY If we trace our relationship, through moral experience and equality, to the Lord Jesus Christ, our Elder Brother, and if through him the children of God can say, in sincerity and in truth, “Our Father," then everyone in that line should have a sense of personal worth that will be of incalculable value to them. The want of suitable pride is one of our biggest curses. The race suffers for the want of that sense of character, that sense of dignity, which alone can hold men back from things little and low, and keep them always in the line of things worthy. This is inspired by a sense of our ...

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher in his 50's When Henry Ward Beecher passed away (1813-1887), t here was a universal expression of esteem, love, and affection, that sprang forth from every part of the country, every class in society, and every religious denomination. This is an indication of how wide and deep a hold he had upon the American people during the 19th Century. No other man has exerted such a wide and profound influence on the progress of thought — moral, political and religious—in this country during the 1800's, as has Mr. Beecher. It may be claimed that other reformers have done more to change the political constitution from a pseudo-democracy governed by a slavocracy to a genuine democracy governed by its free industrial classes. Or, that other teachers have done more to promote that political enthusiasm out of which new parties are born (Republican Party) and by which they must be inspired-or die. Or, that other theological thinkers have exerted a more permanent influenc...

Puck Magazine Passage from "Evolution & Religion"  By Rev. Henry Ward Beecher,  -Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, NY, Sunday Morning, May 17, 1885- “When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning. It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. Oye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?"   — Matthew xvi : 2 , 3 . This could mean nothing unless it meant that, as the weather changes, God's miraculous developments are presenting a diversified appearance throughout time. He was in the world and the world did not recognize him. He was among the then most religiously cultivated people, and he was developing a higher conception of morality and spiritual religion than theirs, and they could not understand it.  They looked upon all the miracles that he brought, the transcendent works of goodwill and of grace, as if they were in a circus, watching the athletic fea...

"Love, The Fulfilling of the Law" Preached by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, 1869, Brooklyn, NY. “But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” —Matt., xxii., 34-40. In this brief word Christ has drawn away the veil from the heart of God, and let us see its very central secret. It is love. And since the days of Christ, the divine Helmsman has been steering the ship of human affairs right toward this light-house of the universe—Love; All that was recorded in the past or foreseen in the future pivoted...

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...