“It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries in life.”

American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker

Henry Ward Beecher was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and public speaker. He became known for his support of abolition, his emphasis on God's love, and the notoriety of his 1875 adultery trial. Beecher's preaching focused strongly on the love of Christ, and that emphasis helped shape mainstream Christianity well beyond his own time. His work combined religious teaching with reform-minded public speech, and his influence has continued into the 21st century.