This book is a fascinating memoir by Stephen Morrell Griswold, who served as the clerk of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn for sixty years. The book provides a unique perspective on the life of the church and the famous preacher Henry Ward Beecher, who was a key figure in the abolitionist movement. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of the church and the abolitionist movement. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

For some years past I have been repeatedly urged to record my recollections of Plymouth Church and Henry Ward Beecher. One after another the original members of the church have passed away until now I am almost alone, so far as the early church connection is concerned, and I have been told that there is really no one left who could give the personal value to such a record. At first, as I thought of the task, it appeared too great. Business duties pressed and left little time for such a work. Then out of the flood of recollections, which should I select? Recently a period of convalescence, following a somewhat serious illness, during which work was forbidden, gave me leisure which I occupied in recording such incidents as I thought might be of interest and value.

The name of Plymouth Church has been for many years a household word in countless communities at home and abroad, and yet little was known of its definite history. To be sure, everybody knew that Henry Ward Beecher preached from its pulpit, but, prior to the late Silver Wedding, few people could have answered correctly as to the number of years of his ministry in Brooklyn. Mr. Harvey S. Weld supplied the writer with the facts and data which have been the foundation of this work. The Manuals -- embracing the religious and historic annals of Plymouth Church -- and various other works relevant to the subject, have been carefully explored and annotated, and their documents and treasures have been profusely spread before our readers in the following pages. Many things are hereafter spoken of which, perhaps, relate more properly to the life of the pastor than to the history of the church, for, although the effort has been made to speak only of that which related properly to the church, the life of the one and the history of the other are so closely interwoven, that it has been impossible to untwine the cord that binds them together. - Preface.

Excerpt from The History of Plymouth Church (Henry Ward Beecher) 1847 to 1872: Inclusive of Historical Sketches of the Bethel and the Navy Mission, and the Silver Wedding; Also, Henry Ward Beecher's First Sermon in Plymouth Church, and an Alphabetical List of the Names of All Persons Who Have Ever Been Members of Plymouth Church The name of Plymouth Church has been for many. Years a household word in countless com munities at home and abroad, and yet little was known Of its definite history. TO be sure, every body knew that Henry Ward Beecher preached from its pulpit, but, prior to the late Silver Wed ding, few people could have answered correctly as to the number of years Of his ministry in Brook lyn. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.