The Freedom Ring

Reverse Slave Auctions of Brooklyn:  The Story of Henry Ward Beecher Auctioning Slaves into Freedom Adapted Passages from “Life and Work of Henry Ward Beecher” published in 1887 The popularity of Plymouth church during the 1860’s in America was so well established throughout the land that crowds crossed the ferry from New York to attend Henry Ward Beecher ’s church. The usual answer given to strangers in New York, inquiring the way to Beecher’s church on Sunday morning, was : “ Cross Fulton Ferry and follow the crowd.” Standing room was always at a premium, and scarcely a Sabbath passed when hundreds were not turned away for want of even standing room. Henry Ward Beecher Reverse Slave Auction Rev. Bishop Faulkner invoked Mr. Beecher’s aid in raising the sum of $900 to purchase an intelligent-looking mulatto girl, about ten years of age, whom he brought from Washington, D. C., with him, with the owner’s permission to make the sale. On Sunday, February 5, 1860, she accompanied Mr. B...