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...

Two Ships, One Lie — 1619 & US History The Story of 1619, the Birth of Slavery in America, as told in 1861 (US Civil War) Introduction by Michael Soussan , (Author, Journalist, and former UN Humanitarian Worker) who unearths and presents to us a speech given months before the Civil War broke out, given by the Abolitionist Pastor from Brooklyn, Henry Ward Beecher. This took place at Plymouth Church on Jan. 4th, 1861. The Speech is Titled — “Our Blameworthiness” The year 1619 has recently become the subject of a series of articles called “The 1619 Project” published by The New York Times because it narrates the origins of America’s enduring race problem. It can be said that the early American Puritans traded in slavery from day one. On the same day that the Puritans arrived in the North , another ship with African bonded slaves reached the American coast in the South . The Puritans — whose religion preached a purist adherence to biblical values, were not “pure” when it came to slav...

Liberty Under Laws Preached by the Abolitionist Pastor from Brooklyn, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, during Christmas of 1862. Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, NY Adapted and Intro by Matthew Hernandez Matthew is a Mexican American who was born in LA, served 15 months in Iraq as a US Soldier, and is now an independent street-journalist living in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, NY. Liberty is defined as, the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views. In this powerful message from Reverend Henry Ward Beecher, he describes the same power struggle of corrupt men who aim to dampen the liberty of our collective society. Beecher warns of how those in power will always aim to subdue free thinking in hopes of leaving people helpless against tyranny. He however fills us with great hope, in the face of these ongoing threats.  - Matt Hernandez The only liberty that a man has, is the liberty to use himself, in all his powers,...

The Reward of Loving The following passage is adapted from a sermon given in 1871 in Brooklyn, NY, called "The Reward of Loving." Henry Ward Beecher was the most famous preacher in America and throughout Europe at this point in time. Adapted and Edited by  Matthew Hernandez, Independent Journalist History is never done depicting those men who could live in deprivation- who could live hungry, thirsty, and needy. Men who could live persecuted and outcast. Men who were greater than the age in which they lived. We need such men now. Men strong enough to make necessary sacrifices now, even though that effort may not deliver benefits for a decade. In this sacrifice and fortitude, we have raised our conception of manhood upon the very possibility of patient struggle, and finding a positive frame of mind in the midst of suffering.  We do not bring up our children to the idea that a truly happy life is a life in which they are not obliged to learn anything. What do you think of childr...