Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-06-21
From the New York Tribune, June ID.
A SLAVE PURCHASED IN PLYMOUTH
CHURCH. BROOKLYN.

At the conclusion of the sermon Sunday morn
ing, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher announced to
his congregation that he was about to perform
an action of a most extraordinary nature, which
he would preface by reading portion of the 18th
chapter of Mathew. He accordingly read the
10th, 18th and 18th verses of that chapter. after
which he proceeded to give sketch of the later
history Of a slave girl, Sarah by name, an APP
peal in whose behalf he had lately received She
was he said the daughter of Southern planter,
ack lodged by himself as his own offspring,
and reared in his own family until his other
daughters growing up had treated her SO cruelty
that she attempted to escape. She was captured
and taken back to her paternal master, who
made immediate preparations to sell her to the
extreme South, refusing to sell her to any one
who would permit her to remain in the neigh
borhood. Many persons in the vicinity knowing
her to be most faithful, efficient, and therefore
valuable piece of property, were anxious to pur-
chase her. but her owner utterly refused to sell her
to them, his object being to have her removed to
so great distance that her near relation to the
others of his children could occasion them no
further modification. She was accordingly sold
to Southern man who held her at 81 ,500-but
who finally consented to part with her for ST.
200. A STAKEHOLDER in Washington pitying the
girl, bought her for the latter sum, Immediately,
however, setting on foot q subscription to enable
her to purchase her freedom, and he himself con-
tributed $500, another man also STAKEHOLDER,
gave 800, and 500 were finally obtained. "At
this iuncture," said Mr.. Beecher, 81 received a
letter asking if zoe could do anything towards
making up the rest Of the money!" to which
replied, that would promise nothing unless we
could see her here.
The reverend gentleman here stepped from
his desk, and with encouraging ''Come up,
Sarah," he led upon the platform young intel
ligent looking mulattO girl, whom he presented
to the crowded audience the slave girl in ques-
ton.
She is apparently twenty three years old, prob
ably three quarters white, of very pleasing and
modest appearance. Mr.. Beecher seated her in
chair by his side, while he continued his re-
marks. She was here, he said, on her parole Of
honor, she had promised to go back. and she
must return, either with or without the five hun
dred dollars which were yet necessary to make
her free woman. A collection would be taken
M and the result would show their verdict.
By this time there was hardly dry eye in the
whole immense congregation of nearly three
thousand people. Men wert, and women sobbet
| not shamefully, but openly and without any
attempt at cOncealment. All seemed to be
touched to the very heart. The like scene ha:
| never been witnessed in the world. In Christ
| ian land, on Christian Sabbath, in the pulpit
of Christian church, by the lips of Christian
minister, a trembling shrinking woman begged
from Christian people, money to save herself
| ton.
One gentleman here rose and announced thai
the money should be forthcoming to make he
free, and that if necessary he would be personally
responsible for the entire amount. This an
nouncement was received with hearty and lon;
continued applause the audience being no longe
able to restrain their feelings, and MIR. Beechel
expressing his approval of the jubilant demon
stration. Sarah, the slave girl, had up to Thu
time, preserved IA tolerable composure, but wher
the certainty was declared that she should not g
back to life of Slavery, she buried her face II
her handkerchief AMI wept aloud. As the col
lectors passed among the audience, the plate,
were actually heaped up with the tokens of sub
stantal sympathy, one lady even took the jew
elry from her person apd cast into the fund
The amount collected u the spot was S7S4, which
| besides completing the sum necessary for the rur
chase of Sarah, will also rescue her child, Il boy
Of four years, who is now in bondage.
! The scene one of the most remarkable ant
exciting ever enacted in this country before a re
lig;ous congregation and the instantaneous an,
most satisfactory pecuniary response to the pie.
OF liberty, shows that the Anti-Slayery senti
ment is ready when occasion requires, to ndi
cate its sincerity by arguments more tangible an
substantial than mere words.