Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-06-14
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From the Na,o York Tine
r FOM NC 1Y6lo TOTE Times.
An Affecting fnsidcnt Mt Mr.. Eeecher's
Church-A Slave Upon the Platform,
peS3 Contributed GU the Spot sor Her


An Affecting fneidcnt Mt Mr.. Eeecher's
Church-A Slave Upon the Platform,
--|8e3 Contributed GU the Spot Tor Her
Redemption.
Que Of those remarkable occurrences took
place at Mr. BsecheI's Church, on SABBATH morn
ing, those spontaneous outburss of sympalhies
and fallow feelings OF humanity, hch rejoice
the heart whenever they occur, and give it re.
newed hope and cheer.
| MIR. Beecher closed an excellent sermon.
by reference TO the great contes; it'll Slavery
| upon which we are entering, and by urging the
| absolute necessity that all should go into il With
hearts balhed and sw INNING in loUe--love for
God and love for man. He then alter announc
ing the hymn, stepped 10 the edge OF the pit
| forna, and sald 10 his congregation Il am about
to do something which have never done since
| have been connected with This Church
have never been woned to bring up such mat.
tiers upon the Sabbath, but that you may know
the feelings OF Christ as 10 whether il is right
70 DO 50, am going 10 read you a passage from
his word'' He then read from The 9Th chup-
'ef OF Nslhew,..as follows: "And when he
! was departed thence, he went into their sine.
gogne, end behold there was man which had
his hand wlfhetsd land they ssked him saf na,
10 II lawful 10 lrea oa the Sabbath days? that
they might accuse him ind be sa id unto them.
what man shal there be among you that shall
have one she p, and if it fall into pit on the
Sabbath day, will he not lay held on it and lift
it oul1 How much then is man better than
sheep2 Wherefore is it lawful to do well OH
the Sabbath day. Then saith he 20 she man.
"StIelch forth thine hand" and he stretched j.
forth and it was restored whole like as The
othef.'
MIR. Bsecher then said "Abou, too weeks
sgu letters come to me from Washington, tell
rU maj Ms, upta ,Sb i.k I et,.u,
A father had sold his daughter, ut Baltimore,
into Slavery. Sad that such Thugs should ever
be, but his WIS no ordinary case. 'Fhe daugh-
ter was oil such character that it touched The
heart OF a saye-tIader, who had know her PFC
vlouSlyy to think that such an one as she should
be sold 10 the FAR S, nth, for purposes such as
you may imagine " hen you see he,; and he
Dough, her himself, for $1,000, to give her a
chance 10 save herself BY purchasing her free.
dJm. Nay. muie, he gave himself Sfeo to.
wards her prize, and went to another slave ira-
der, who also gave him 500 towards it. All
there ~ still lett something of good IN the hearts
even OF he lowest by his permission also, she
went with letters 10 friends in Washington, and
there aud IN Baltimore she raised S50c more,
and then the limit OF her power was reached.
was then written 10 know if we could do any
Thing TO help her raise HE $500 which we're
necessary. answered them, saying that We
could do nothing unless the woman herself were
here, and 30 after much Hesitation on her mas.
ter's part, relying Oh her premise 10 return II
the money was hot raised, be gave her leave 10
come, and she is here among US, free by The law
but bound by that which was stronger than law
her promise. | could not spend time to 90
round among you Individuals, to state the case
ard there was ueed of haste Tor the time was
limited, and so thought il bes, she should coms
b,orn i, \
could lend her helping hand. And 60 she
is here,-Come, SARlH,n said he, address
ing the girl who sat near him, Come up upon
The platform The slave rose in herseat 4 Hall,
flne looking woman, With barely enough OF
llhge N her com plectionssnd wave in her hair
to betray her eolored blood, and barely an eve in
me Immense audience but vas Hel with Gyul.
pathetic tears, as she, trembling, and onpeiely
overcome with emston, stumbled U? he pulpit
stairs. Mr.. Beecher assisted her 10 seat on ile
platform When at last she raised her face, o
look upon the great concourse of people around
her, larger than she probably ever saw beioIe,
she burst into tears, buried her face again in hsr
handkerchief and sobbedialoud, as did also many
oil The congregation. The most stocal and mos,
refined shed tears Ike rain Men wept who had
not wept Tor years. Ladies cried alond. The
hearts os'three thousand people were ue-ar so
moved before. gentleman from South CaIoli.ta
sal IN one oil the pews, TO whom slave was
no unusual sight: for he said aiierwards,h u oNIz
81 fifty OF Ihem himself; but the scene was toe
mach Tor him, and the big Tears Came dropping
over his cheeks.
Mr.. Eoecher then said to tie an,iience, ~
wish you all 10 see her, tina! yop nay know
who they are that are sold as slsves-thal
sfe put IN The scales and silver reaped Mp as
an equivalent for them. cannot say 10 lyer
tph Inrfh IL t,,, - L.
say "Stretch forth your hands and make
her free" With that he began tho eon,fl-.
button BY placing his own contribution upon
The plates which were now passed through the
house. The desire among all 10 contribute some.
.hng Tor the freedom Of the woman wsa most
lnlense They gave and then returned and gave
again. Lat.ies took rings from their ingef.Y snss
cast them into the Treasury A gentleman
from Missouri slave-owner, who happened to
be present, gave twenty dollars. A prominent
Wall-street OPERATOR who also happened 10 be-
present, gave fifty dollar bill. Que lidy look
a diamond cross from her dress, and put in Into
the money box. And as The bills were piled upon
the plates "Ah !" said Mr.. B Il see the rlatss
are hsaping up Remember that every dollar you
lay on is one step more of weary pilgrim to
wards freedom. And there are but lew more
for you now,o said he TO the sirl. Then NlR.
LEWIS TApMAN rose in his seat and said some
thing not loud enough TO b. beard over the
whole church Mr. Beecher announced that soa.e
gentlemen had agreed To make Up any defcien.
cy, II there were any, SO that she should not have
to go back, and then the wroughi.up ceilings
OF the multitude could be restrained noalonser
but broke out into loud and long continued ap- /
plause. When il had died away, Mr. Beecher
said: "When the Jews went ny 10 their !easls. |
their relig lons exercises were mingled with
shouts; at which the mountains echoed. am
opposed 10 nngody clippings in the house Of
God, but when applause IS but giving vent, as
nov, to Joy al good deed well done believe
!. Is heard with joy by God in Heaven" When
the offerings were all gathered in, he said
"And now Is, US sing this hymn; | think we
shall sing II as We newer sang before. And she
shall sing with US her fist by mn vi fIeedom.'-
The whole assembly sang the following hymn,
from the Plymoaih Collection
Do not love thee, o my Lord ?
Behold my heart and see;
And turn the dearest idol out
That does not rival thee.
u not thy name melodious still
10 mine attentive ear
Doth not each pulse with pleasure bound
My Saviour's voice to hear
Hast thou lamb in all thy flock
would disdain to feed
Hast thou a foe before whose face
fear thy cause to plead
N,,,lI L.. r