The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-29
CHARLES BEECHER'S ZEAL
A NOTABLE ANTI.SLAvERY SERMON
PREACHED Ar NEWARK.
In Il Henry Ward Bsschers Yoanssst Rrsth~r
Urged His Hearers to Break the Aaii-
slavery LAVA Bold Act That Left Hin
Isolated Curious d beginning Of His Chsrch.

was for about four years pastor Of a little church
at swArk y. j., and during that period was
go outspoken against slavery that he was prao-
ticaHy shut OF from all intercours, with his
brother clergymen in the city That wa- half
a century ago. in the early '5ls. Mr.. Beecher
was ~ ardent a supporter ~ the anti-slaverv
movement a. his older brother. Henry Ward
Beecher and his sister. Harriet Beacher Slows.
lie was absolutely fearless and since his dea.1
among hs books N Georgetown. at the ripe
old ns, Of ~. some Of the brave battles no
fought while In Newark for the striking %
Of the slaves shackles are being recalled.
The Fugitive Slave law was passed about
the middle OF September, 1850, and exactly
two months later Mr. Be~char was called upon
to preach in the Free Presbyterian Church
on Clinton street, Newark. His sermon was Q
vigorous arragnment u the law, and the most
remarkable. feature u II was that at its close
he called in clarion tones for all within hearing
OF his voice TO dlsobey the law. He did not
mlnce words. but said exactly what he meant.
that MI should refuse 10 obey the law and should
90 what they could TO hinder the officers Of tho
law from enforcing II. IL was a daring stand
10 take ~nvwhere. but there we're few Northern
cites AT that time where such a sermon would
have been more unfavorably received.
Newark was decidedly southern n "a sym
pathies The greater part Of the city's manu-.
features we're disposed of in the South. The
planters bought by far the greater proper.
ton OF all Newark's leather, lis hats and its
carriages. Much u the plantation machinery
was made in Newark, and the city vehemently
opposed all efforts 10 interfere with slavery.
for II was felt that Nevnrxs business interests
would be affected by such action. Even when
the Civil War began many Of the so-called Lead
ing citizens did not hesitate 10 denounce IL:
In fact comparatively few members OF the
most prominent families in Newark entered
the ranks. just before the var the Offices Of
one OF the city's newspapers was mobbed and
the editor was threatened with violence by
the abolItonst element Of the town. The
newspaper was the most influential in the
community but II stood stanchly for the
South until the war was actually under way.
Mr.. Beecher, therefore, launched his bolts
against slavery In L district that was little short
Of hostile from one end 10 the other. As a
result 81 that sermon the congregation OF the
Free Presbyterian Church whore he preached
II, called him He accepted the cal, but II Is
act down in the records OF the city that never
during his four years stay was he asked 10
exchange puIplts with any other Newark cler-
gyman. This meant much more then than
| N" clargymen were a more or less harmonious
band ana their congregations expected that
| their pastors would let them hear the other
ministers some time during the year. But those
who liked DR. Beecher and approved OF his
preaching were his warm supporters, and soon
after his celebrated Fugitive Slave law SER
for the manuscript. They mad it printed in
samphlet form and sent boys around the city
10 seI IL. But the boys were attacked by the
people. and scared for their lives, they returned
10 he committee with the pamphlets and the
edition was never disposed Of A copy of the
sermon Is on t1l- in the rooms Of the New Jersey
Historical society, and II is rather remarkable
that the preacher was not arrested FOR his Ut
terlnces. which were little short Of reasonable.
as viii appear from the following paragraphs:
In conclusion. therefore. my Application OF
the subject s-Disobey this law. II you have
ever dreamed Of obeying i. repent before God
and ask his forgiveness, counseI no violence.
| lnClta no man 10 deeds OF blood | speak
a. the minister OF the Prince Of Peace. To
the fugitive. touching the question Of self
defence, | offer no advice, as none can be nee.
ssslry. The right of seif-defence Is as unoues-
tionabla as ever.
Blu II a fugitive calm your help on his Jour.
ney. break the lav and give IL him, The law
is broken ~ thoroughly nv indirectly aiding
his ascap. "a directly for both ara penal. There
fore break the law and help him on his way
directly II YOU can, indirectly II you must
Feed him, cloths him hnrbor him BY day and
b. night, and conceal him from his. pursuers
and from the officers ~ the law II you are
summoned 10 AID In his capture, refuse TO obey
Il you are commanded bv the officer OF the
law 10 Iay hands on the Fugitive, decline 70 com.
plv rather. II possible. detain the officer IL
You conveniently can. without iajury 70 his
person, untu the victim IL clean gone. II for
these things you are accused and brought to
trial appear and defend yourself. II asked
how you dared diaobay the Jaws OF this realm
answer with Bunyan'- Pilgrim in Vanity Fair; tell
the court that YOU obey Christ, not BeiaI. II
they fine Won. or lmprison you. take ioyfully
the spoltng Of your goods. wear gladly your
chains, and in the last day YOU shall be re-
earded for Your fidelity 10 God Do not think
that any disgrace can attach 10 such penalties.
II = the dew and the devils people only who
enact and enforce or respect such penalties.
II YOU are disgracrd. II Is the disgrace that WASH
.a- - -. V.ta- ha -ar ala n D A~L -
i Inflicted on vo4 for me support OF . cause
and principles as holy as his
The Frcr PreshY terrain church Of Newark
wa. founded m 1888, and il had for that day Q
unique beginning Newark was, as now. q
bU>y manufacturing town and scores ~ young
me- and womtn came there 10 work
Ia the factories from the smaller Owns and
tho farms NsCy 81 them were little rore
than boys and urls, and 50 me " the leading
citizens ;,t together and talked over various
plans for keeping this rapidly growing popu-
l1'lpn from The country under IrOrer restraint.
Il was tnally suggested that a Iresby terrain
church Tor strangers be started. one whore
CHURCHES In the city charged rev rent. The
Methodist among MI the Protestant denomi-
'iiting~ Tero TO- be rad Most ~ the strangers
vpre too poor 10 Iar rout. ard so this Free
rr-sDy terrain church Sas 'oInded an n rlace
where The Strangers might go ana feel them
It was n few ~ the mon conceded with the
First Presby terrain thurch who started this
now congregation, Nhd ol'-ll' oI ms group
the movcment MAS not lccS"d upon with favor.
II was asserted hat Their" wore churches
enough In III" city and that instead NJ improve
Ing the morals OF the CITY were getting worse.
rh" other churches announced that theirs
wa. JIenty of room for all who would come
in heir house nj worship, but hey did not
seem 70 roc Inlae what he rionsers OF tho
Fro chu- b SlR that Tho strangers did rot
md the ItinOcVhsre OF the Other chuChe> con-
genial. The regular ckurchgocrs did not
treat ~" tirnnc'rs AZ al cordially here was
n chill n 'la cid and established places Of wor-
shin and tho regular co~rS did not srrm 70
feel y m" FIRST minister 81 The n'w church
va, a blRCk,W.th who had left his forge to
study fer the ministry. From the very be.
ginning No church vas abolit!on;st and Is
n 9rnr church one Of It's members used
~ make a yrnCrc' % having colored visitors
Al he oh!-ch Shuvn 70 his family rev. to sic
tcsitr hs w,'r ard children.
When n" civil War came II found The mem
berS ~ this congregation verv ready 70 fight
for the Carlso OV' of a total membership Of
about 25g men, women and children. df'v went
to Tho from. BIZ ha' 81 'h"s' cane back.
ono ~ those who volunteered was the son OK
tho pastor When ;he var closed The congrr-
churches which had been denied u throuxhout
he ten wears preceding he great struggle
was TOW % bc resumed and J. becnme manl-
POST. 100. 4vsu IN the early year ~ the war has
wearing n. and tha' he ,.ople Of the city
were oec.nring % rsa.izr that the FREE or First
Congregational Church. as u Is now called.
Ind been IN he RICH, s,dr after all
T. was N" nronourcrd stand taken by the
late "harlse hs"'ter that established beyond
the possihh'v OF charging he attitude Of the
church toward ''avprv. The congregation,
onca hlrirC i-6ored thai sermon, could
no. tag" any other than The most advanced
ground On The sub ecr and 'hnre Is nothing
T. thu -~pr@s "a. skn1 fhar o y avpr had fHA