Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Henry was a prominent liberal U.S. Congregational minister whose oratorical skills and social concern made him one of the most influential Protestant speakers of the mid to late 19th century…

Though never distinguished as a scholar he became a superior speaker and popular leader. He came to believe that a sermon succeeds by focusing on the single objective of effecting a moral change in the change of the hearer.

In 1847 he accepted a call to Plymouth Church (Congregational), Brooklyn. N.Y., where he drew a weekly crowds of 2,500 by the early 1850s.

Abraham Lincoln said no one in history had so productive a mind was in the audience at one point.

Mark Twain said, sawing his arms in the air, howling sarcasms this way and that, discharging rockets of poetry and exploding mines of eloquence, halting now and then to stamp his foot three times in succession to emphasize a point

Henry’s fiery preaching style led to his becoming editor of several religious magazines including * Christian Union * Among his many books is Evolution and Religion.

He became one of the most influential figures of his time. He supported the Free Soil political candidates and later the Republicans. On the out break of of the Civil war his church raised and equipped a volunteer regiment.

In a highly publicized scandal he was accused of committing adultery with a friend’s wife. His wife supported him throughout the ordeal.The board of inquiry exonerated him twice but the debacle split his family.

Henry died of a cerebral hemorrhage in March 1887.