Join local author D. Laurence (Dave) Rogers as he discusses the fascinating content of his recently published book Apostles of Equity: The Birneys, the Republicans and the Civil War. He will describe the largely unrecognized importance of James Gillespie Birney, a former southern slaveholder who became the first anti-slavery Presidential candidate, and his role as the ideological prophet of Abraham Lincoln. He will also look at the political, social, and philosophical aspects of Birney’s contributions to the history of the abolition movement leading to the Civil War and discuss how several other military Birneys (his sons and grandson) were involved as they recruited black troops in Maryland and led them to several key battles.