Our monument that my group observed was the Henry Ward Beecher statue, which is located in Columbus Circle. Our first article was taken from Biography.com. The statue was sculpted by John Quincy Adams Ward, in 1891. John created a good representation for portraying the statue the way he did by showing the love people had for Henry. Henry is standing on a platform and to his right is a young African- American woman placing a branch at his foot, to shows the abolitionist affect and to his left are two children placing a wreath on the pedestal to show his love of children and their honor. Henry made an impact in the life of many which allowed him to be someone people truly listened to. He was an advocate of women’s suffrage, an agitator for the abolitionist movement, staunch supporter of the union, and senior minister of Brooklyn’s Plymouth Church for forty years. Beecher had the love of many due to him speaking out on situations and becoming the voice for the people. While preaching in his church, more than three thousand people travelled from all over just to hear what he had to say. One of his practices was called ‘Gospel of Love’ which said “God believes in forgiveness” and portrayed a more caring aspect in comparison to other traditions such as calvinism which is what his father taught the people and deals with a more punishing aspect for sins. In order to deserve a monument there would have to be a significant action taken that has impacted individuals everyday life. Henry deserved a monument because he has made many differences in people’s lives especially those who were slaves. He taught his followers a new way of seeing the church by preaching about God’s forgiveness and held a slave auction to get the people to buy the freedom for slaves. These things he did that should not go unnoticed which gives him the right to be remembered as an important momument. 

Group members: Jade, Akeira, Janin, Joseph