Letter from Charles Beecher, Georgetown, [Massachusetts], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1860 Sept[ember] 3

Item Information

Title:
Letter from Charles Beecher, Georgetown, [Massachusetts], to William Lloyd Garrison, 1860 Sept[ember] 3
Description:
Charles Beecher writes to William Lloyd Garrison asking him "to have the statements you made here [Garrison spoke in Georgetown on September 1, see the Liberator of August 31, 1860 (Vol. XXX, no. 35) for notice], in written force ... especially on two points - 1. That the Bible does not claim to be written by Inspiration - 2. That we have no certainty of the authorship of any of the books of [the] O[ld] or N[ew] T[estament]." Beecher states that "your distinction between Mr. Garrison the abolitionist and Mr. Garrison the religious teacher .... amounts to little," and he asserts that all of Garrison's views are mixed together in the minds of his audience. He asks, "how can you fail to perceive with what sensations I hear you one hour proclaim sentiments which I profoundly sympathize in, & the next, sentiments which I as profoundly deprecate?" He asks Garrison to focus on "defending pure Abolitionism" and to stop sharing his religious views. Beecher insists that such a visit as Garrison made to Georgetown, where he spoke about his religious views as well as abolition, "does more harm to the slave than a years labor could do good, because, while your argument against plenary inspiration may seem strong to you, it seems unspeakably weak to others."
Author:
Beecher, Charles, 1815-1900
Addressee:
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Date:
September 3, 1860
Format:
Letters/Correspondence
Manuscripts
Location:
Boston Public Library
Rare Books Department
Collection (local):
Anti-Slavery Collection
Subjects:
Abolitionists--United States--19th century--Correspondence
Antislavery movements--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--Religious aspects--Christianity--United States--History--19th century
Christianity--United States--19th century
Social reformers--United States--History--19th century
Abolitionists--United States--History--19th century
Antislavery movements--United States
Christianity
Christianity--United States
Social reformers--United States
Beecher, Charles, 1815-1900
Garrison, William Lloyd, 1805-1879
Extent:
2 leaves (4 p.) ; 20 cm.
Permalink:
https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/2z1108393
Terms of Use:
No known copyright restrictions.
No known restrictions on use.
Place of origin:
Georgetown, [Massachusetts]
Language:
English
Notes:
Holograph, signed.
Title devised by cataloger.
Recipient inferred by cataloger based on letters contents.
Identifier:
5862317
Call #:
MS A.1.2 v.30, p.106-107
Barcode:
39999085840260