New Britain herald., 1926-03-18
BEECHER'S HISTORIC PLYMOUTH
 CHURCH RETAINS OLD ATMOSPHERE

Long Island and upstate New York Most Of the older members who knew the church in tho days when ultra fashionable men wore silk ton pers and went about in rigs drawn hy enappy spans of bays, continue 10 make 1t their place of worship. Some Of the younger goneration have elected to attend smart new churches In other sections ot the city, but this dGnectIon has been off, set by youth Of another ideal.
 Plymouth sent A call 10 tho Rev. Dr, James Stanley purkee, presi- dent Of Howard University, Wash tngten, T, c. It became apparent that tho Rev. pr. Hills, who suffer- ed breakdown in health. would be unable 10 resume his pulpit
 Many Famous Speeches Under the Plymouth roof have been heard speeches that shaped the destiny of the nation and under its shelter presidents have worshippcd, Abraham Lincoln attended divine service tho day he gave at Cooper Union the speech on What tho Fathers Thought About Slavery" On that occasion the tall statesman shared his book with q short usher and with the book tilted between them the two joined in singing The Shining shore"
 It was from the church platform on Sunday in February 1860, that Rev pr. Beccher sold at auction tc his congregation. tho nine year old mulatto slave girl Sally Maria piggs His hearers were told that the littl, girl had been brought from Wash ington with the understanding tha' fl the church failed to pay her pur chase price 0! $500 she was to bt returned to her owner In that city When he finished his appeal for th; congregation to buy the girls free dom, the 5000 persons presen showered the church baskets witt contributions. Women pulled ring from their fingers to aid in thu cause. When the collection of mor' than $o,000 in money was counted the jewclry was returned to the per sons giving 1t.
 In another effort by the churcl 10 win liberty for two other yeunt negro women. Jenny Lind the con cert star contributed s25,
 His Famous Speech
 In April, 1881, a few days afte the siege of Fort Sumpter, Dr Beecher preached the sermon tha perhaps was most widely quoted 0 the Civil War period. In that ad dress he said that there wera evil greater than war and that tn yielding of the one right after an other by an individual or natio! was more 10 be condemned thal the taking up of arms. Later th , people of Plymouth helped to equi, the Beechor Rifles, a Union regimen that fought In the war.
 The church annals include event of peace as well as war. In 1904 the late Senator Jonathan P, Dolli yer of Iowa made an address in th church. In 1907 the late Senate Robert La Toilette spoke for thre and one half hours on one of hi favorite topics, "Representativ Government" Roman Catholi priests and Jewish rabbis and min isters from many Protestant dc nominations joined in 1914 in th dedication of the Arbucklo memoria building. an educational structur adjoining the church,
 In 1920, Plymouth suffered a, irreparable loss when fire destroye many of its historical treasures Among the objects lost or damage were Dr. Beecher's sword and uni form. part Of the original manu script Of Uncle Toms Cabin," writ ten by Harriet Bencher Stowe, tn pastors sister. and the pulpit use by Lymann Beecher, father Of tn founding minister during his pastor ate at Litchft!d, Conn, in l750.
 The remains of the historical col lection have since been restored q nearly as possible 10 it's originG condition,