On October 30, 1859, Henry Ward Beecher preached a message at Plymouth Church titled, “The Nation’s Duty to Slavery”.  I will review this speech and attempt to draw some conclusions in reference to the question- “Is membership in Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) a type of slavery?” My resource text for this speech is from “Classic Speeches” (Copyright 1965, Philosophical Library Inc.) “Henry Ward Beecher was born in 1813…the son of the famous Calvinistic minister, Lyman Beecher. His sisters, Catherine and Harriet, were successful writers, the latter the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” (page 2) He attended seminary and was the pastor for a time of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. “John Hay called him “the greatest preacher the world has seen since Saint Paul preached on Mars Hill.” (page 2)

     Without surprise, there will be those who are upset with even posing the question about membership at WOFF. However, I will attempt to make a case for the question. First, let us recognize some obvious differences between the slavery of years past the WOFF-life. Slavery in this country during the time of Mr. Beecher was not optional for the slaves involved, practically speaking. There were options to end one’s involvement in slavery but, to take them could cost your life. Some took those options and made the flight to freedom. Those who escaped left familiar surroundings and some even left their families behind to take the chance at freedom. The torment of not knowing if you would make it to freedom must have been small compared to the hope of a better life.

    For those at WOFF, the membership could be classified as optional. However, I would say that the full requirements made of each member were/are not disclosed at the time of joining WOFF. That point has been made before on this blog. There are many feel good promises and hopes and dreams of “making it with God” and “fulfilling your call” and “taking your place” that cloud what is truly being required to become one of the WOFF faithful. When on the inside, the requirements for regular members to “stay submitted to authority” (Jane) and conform to the MANY rules that govern make it a type of slavery, in my opinion. A faithful WOFF member agrees to abstain from free access to many forms of communication whether written, audio or over the Internet. A faithful WOFF member agrees to submit every decision of any consequence to the counsel of Jane Whaley. Those decisions would include employment, relationships – including those that may lead to marriage, place of residence as well as what to wear, facial hair for men and how to be a parent. So, if full disclosure were made, I believe many would not join WOFF.    

   The main reason that warrants the slavery question is the undisputable fact that members are intimidated on the subject of leaving WOFF. Present members are warned repeatedly about the dangers of leaving WOFF. Those who have left are chided as Judases, God-haters, traitors, backslidden and on the way to hell. Pictures of former members are circulated and their appearance or condition is mocked and used as a stern warning to keep present members from event the thought of leaving WOFF. Jane Whaley and her leadership have to take credit for spawning the question about slavery at WOFF. Free entrance AND EXIT of a religious group seems only normal and expected in the United States of America. When something different is known, questions will naturally arise. I am not the first or the last person to ask the question.

    Beecher begins his speech by citing Jeremiah 6:16-19. This passage mentions the watchmen and what happens to those who will not listen. This was shared many times at WOFF. He admits that the passage was pertinent to his time. Beecher mentions having a certain view of slavery, slave and master, does not permit the Christian to discount the law of love when speaking of either. He warns, “..we have no right to treat the citizens of the South with acrimony and bitterness because they are involved in a system of wrong-doing.” (page 5)   Some say I error on this point. I will let others talk about it, while I keep seeking answers to my questions. I do not claim perfection in my methods, but in my search, I hope for answers to come. After 16 years of indirect and direct influence under the teachings of Jane Whaley, the quest for answers and understanding is intense.

    During this sermon, Beecher admonishes that in order for the slave to be free there will need to be changes in all parts of society. He advocates “…Christian quietness and patient waiting… But, I believe that moral goodness in the slave is the harbinger of liberty!(page 6) Of slaves, he writes, “In this way they must come to restless yearnings.” (page 6) He felt like the hearts of slaves would seek freedom as they yearned for it. Of the slave owners, “The time is rapidly coming when the Southern Christian will feel a new inspiration…We must work on the master. Make him discontented with slavery, and he will speedily take care of the rest.” (page 6) These are very noble words. But, it just did not play out that way. Though later in this speech, Beecher speaks against violence and insurrection, as we know, a short 15 months after this speech the Civil War began.

    In this part of his sermon he does tell of his desire to help the runway slave. On the subject of escape, “It will be their right; it will be their practice… If, therefore, an enslaved man, acting from the yearnings of his own heart, desires to run away, WHO SHALL FORBID HIM?… In all the earth, wherever a human being is held in bondage, he has the right to slough his burden and break his yoke if he can. If he wishes liberty, and is willing to dare and suffer for it, let him!” (page7 emphasis added) These thoughts voiced so many years ago contain the condemnation of WOFF and other groups like them, as slavery. These groups like WOFF do not allow free exit, but treat their members as having to break his yoke if he can! Is this clear to others besides me?

   In contrast, I disagree with Beecher, in part, with his next few statements. “…yet I would never incite slaves to run away, or send another man to do it.” (page 7) When he spoke those words, John Brown was sitting in prison after the Harper’s Ferry incident. This may be his reference. I agree that forceful interventions in the cases like WOFF may not prove beneficial in the short run, but, to cower and say “never incite slaves to run away “ seems contradicting his love for the flight of the free man. In this way, the analogy may breakdown a little. Certainly, Jane Whaley and WOFF leadership do not threaten to kill those who leave; they just insinuate that God will do it for them. The very real fear for many of leaving WOFF serves as an emotional fence to keep folks from taking a step towards their own freedom. This fence is strengthened almost daily by the warnings against leaving. If WOFF was so truly attractive, why do members have to be constantly told that leaving is “leaving God’s will” or worse, the way to hell?   

   Let me make my opinion very clear. There is help for any WOFF members reading this — RUN AWAY from WOFF! The flight of the slave away from slavery is BEAUTIFUL to BEHOLD! As Beecher promised that any slave “..running for his life, shall have help from me.” (page 7) There are those who have and will help any members of a controlling religious group who desires to leave that group.

     We go back to the text at hand. Beecher lays out a plan for helping the South and freedom for the slaves. He said that first things must get better in the North. “Freedom in the North is stronger than slavery in the South.” (page 13) He put forth the idea of schools and churches for the free former slaves. He also said the attitude of Northerners must change, this would affect the South. Much of what he suggested took place after Emancipation.

    This speech had much in it that I do not have space to cover here. But, there are two more points that need to be brought out. Beecher writes that changes in the home need to be made. “The air must be vital with the love of liberty. Liberty with us must be raised by religion from the selfishness of an instinct to the sanctity of moral principle!  .. the whole of life must be woven to the heavenly pattern of Liberty!” (page 12 emphasis added) Sadly, this is not done at WOFF. Any teachings of liberty are subject in practice to the higher principles of submission to Jane. True personal liberty does not exist at WOFF.

    Lastly, “I declare there must be a Christian public sentiment which shall make the family inviolate. Men sometimes say, (of slavery) “It is rarely the case that families are separated.” It is false! It is false!” (page 15) Beecher recognized that slavery of his day separated families. Well? Is this another reason that WOFF and groups like WOFF are counted as a form of slavery? Are not families separated? Not as slaves to the white owners, but as slaves to the leaders of those groups. How many are caught in the slavery of WOFF run by Jane Whaley?

    These are all thoughts to ponder. There were many points to the sermon delivered by Beecher that I could not review here. It must be remembered that Beecher was never a slave and never lived in the South. His intentions are well spoken, but his understanding of the menace of slavery was limited. In an upcoming post, we will review a speech given by Frederick Douglass, a man who escaped slavery and shared his struggles with many. In a previous post, I reviewed a book about Douglass. You can find it here.. https://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=558. 

  Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog.  Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

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      (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 206.