[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 56 (Monday, May 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF THE HISTORIC PLYMOUTH CHURCH OF THE PILGRIMS

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 1997

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today, it gives me great pleasure to 
participate in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding 
of Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims which will begin this weekend, May 2 
to 4, 1997.
  Known as the ``Grand Central Depot'' of the Underground Railroad, the 
Plymouth Church was founded in 1847. Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was the 
first minister of the historic Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims and was 
considered to have been America's foremost clergyman of the 19th 
century. Beecher understood the value of using the church as an 
instrument for social reform and he took his influence beyond the 
pulpit and built Plymouth Church into a national institution. As in 
1849, major political and social issues were challenged, especially 
equal rights for all America. Plymouth Church is in fact famous for 
having bought the freedom of a young slave girl, ``Pinky,'' who once 
freed, became highly educated and returned to the church as an adult to 
thank them for her freedom. In keeping with the long tradition of the 
church, Plymouth continues to provide a wide array of services to the 
needy and less fortunate.
  The landmark 1849 church building, which was designed to seat 2,050, 
was built to accommodate the overflow crowds who came to hear Beecher's 
legendary sermons. Other noted leaders who spoke from the pulpit 
include, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mark Twain. 
It is the only church ever visited by President Abraham Lincoln in New 
York City.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that you join me and our colleagues in recognizing 
the historic contributions of the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims for 
the last 150 years.

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