Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Abraham Lincoln, Universalist?
Recently over at Boys In the Band, Abraham Lincoln and his religious views came up.
Lincoln never claimed an affiliation, and everybody from Roman Catholics to Presbyterian to atheists claim him as their own. So do Universalists...
Here are some notes I made a few years back
Manford's New Monthly Magazine - January 1877 (cover misdated 1876)
- quoted from the original
" The Faith of Abraham Lincoln" by Rev. L. C. Marvin.
excerpts
"In the Winter of 1857, I held a four day's debate in Springfield with
Rev. Mr. Johnson of the Christian Church, and Mr. Lincoln heard a
part, at least, of that debate. It fell to my lot, one evening to
make the closing speech. It was the conclusion of the first
proposition, and I summed up the arguments which I had advanced in
favor of the reconciliation of all things to God. Mr Lincoln was
pleased, and gave his undivided attention to what was spoken. At the
close he turned to the friend at the side, and in a very emphatic
manner said, "There sir, that speech will do." Now does anyone
supposed that he had come to that debate simply to find out which
disputant was the better speaker?"
and discussing another earlier incident from 1853....
"As soon as Elder C. (Rev Peter Cartwright of the Methodist Church)
had taken his seat, he turned to Mr. (Eli) Thornburg and made this
characteristic speech: "Thornburg, I thought you were too sensible a
man to believe such stuff as Marvin preaches." Mr. Lincoln, without
waiting for Mr. T. to reply, immediately took up the gauntlet himself.
"Elder Cartwright," said he, "I used to think that it took the
smartest kind of man to preach and defend Universalism; I now think
entirely different. It is the easiest faith to preach that I have ever
heard. There is more proof in its favor, than in any other doctrine I
have ever heard. I have a suit in court here to-morrow and if I had
as much proof in its favor as there is in Universalism, I would go
home, and leave my student to take charge of it, and I should feel
perfectly certain that he would gain it." Such were his words. "
now, in 1832 Cartwright had defeated Lincoln for public office, and in
1846 Cartwright had called Lincoln an infidel. Lincoln stated he had never denied
the truth of the Scriptures and defeated Cartwright in that election. Cartwright
wrote his autobiography in 1857, and doesn't mention this discussion with Lincoln
or Marvin. He doesn't mention Lincoln at all. He also doesn't seem to mention
Marvin. (He has an unnamed Illinois Universalist minister he accuses of adultery.
So no confirming source of this quote.
Erasmus Manford - Twenty Five Years in the West (1875 revised edition)
p 225/6 "I had been invited to visit that region and hold a
discussion in Springfield with a Methodist clergyman. ... We debated
four days in the Representatives' Hall of the capitol, in the
presence of large assemblies. The discussion caused much excitement
in Springfield, and all parties attended. I remember seeing Mr.
Lincoln there punctually every day and every night. He often nodded
assent when I made a strong point. Little did I think, or he, what
was to be his future position in the world."
Hard to know if Lincoln nodded because he liked the doctrine or if he liked
the debate.
Having read alot of Manford 's Magazine; I feel sure If Manford had
had any reason to think Lincoln was an Universalist, he would have
said so....
Lincoln never claimed an affiliation, and everybody from Roman Catholics to Presbyterian to atheists claim him as their own. So do Universalists...
Here are some notes I made a few years back
Manford's New Monthly Magazine - January 1877 (cover misdated 1876)
- quoted from the original
" The Faith of Abraham Lincoln" by Rev. L. C. Marvin.
excerpts
"In the Winter of 1857, I held a four day's debate in Springfield with
Rev. Mr. Johnson of the Christian Church, and Mr. Lincoln heard a
part, at least, of that debate. It fell to my lot, one evening to
make the closing speech. It was the conclusion of the first
proposition, and I summed up the arguments which I had advanced in
favor of the reconciliation of all things to God. Mr Lincoln was
pleased, and gave his undivided attention to what was spoken. At the
close he turned to the friend at the side, and in a very emphatic
manner said, "There sir, that speech will do." Now does anyone
supposed that he had come to that debate simply to find out which
disputant was the better speaker?"
and discussing another earlier incident from 1853....
"As soon as Elder C. (Rev Peter Cartwright of the Methodist Church)
had taken his seat, he turned to Mr. (Eli) Thornburg and made this
characteristic speech: "Thornburg, I thought you were too sensible a
man to believe such stuff as Marvin preaches." Mr. Lincoln, without
waiting for Mr. T. to reply, immediately took up the gauntlet himself.
"Elder Cartwright," said he, "I used to think that it took the
smartest kind of man to preach and defend Universalism; I now think
entirely different. It is the easiest faith to preach that I have ever
heard. There is more proof in its favor, than in any other doctrine I
have ever heard. I have a suit in court here to-morrow and if I had
as much proof in its favor as there is in Universalism, I would go
home, and leave my student to take charge of it, and I should feel
perfectly certain that he would gain it." Such were his words. "
now, in 1832 Cartwright had defeated Lincoln for public office, and in
1846 Cartwright had called Lincoln an infidel. Lincoln stated he had never denied
the truth of the Scriptures and defeated Cartwright in that election. Cartwright
wrote his autobiography in 1857, and doesn't mention this discussion with Lincoln
or Marvin. He doesn't mention Lincoln at all. He also doesn't seem to mention
Marvin. (He has an unnamed Illinois Universalist minister he accuses of adultery.
So no confirming source of this quote.
Erasmus Manford - Twenty Five Years in the West (1875 revised edition)
p 225/6 "I had been invited to visit that region and hold a
discussion in Springfield with a Methodist clergyman. ... We debated
four days in the Representatives' Hall of the capitol, in the
presence of large assemblies. The discussion caused much excitement
in Springfield, and all parties attended. I remember seeing Mr.
Lincoln there punctually every day and every night. He often nodded
assent when I made a strong point. Little did I think, or he, what
was to be his future position in the world."
Hard to know if Lincoln nodded because he liked the doctrine or if he liked
the debate.
Having read alot of Manford 's Magazine; I feel sure If Manford had
had any reason to think Lincoln was an Universalist, he would have
said so....
Saturday, January 10, 2009
1897 Georgia State Universalist Convention
The Annual Convention of Georgia Universalists was held in Walesca, beginning Thursday, the 2nd of September, and closing Monday night, the 6th.
The first day was devoted to the Young People's Christian Union and was helpful and encouraging. New unions have been formed and those already existing have been strengthened. The new officers are: President, R. U. Wright of Winder; secretary, Elijah Love of Atlanta; treasurer Fredonia Rhyne, Walesca.
Reports on the "state of the Church" given Friday, showed that three new Church edifices have been erected in the past year and fully paid for, and twice as many new organizations perfected.
Rev. Thomas Chapman of Winder, state missionary, rendered encouraging accounts, and $260 was raised to assist his endeavor.
On Saturday the new church recently built in Walesca was formally dedicated. W. H. McGlauflin, D.D. of Atlanta, preaching the sermon. After the dedication, all services were held in the chapel of Reinhardt College, an auditoriam seating a thousand people, and kindly offered by the Methodists.
Sunday, Rev. D. B. Clayton D.D., of Columbia SC offered the occasional sermon to a great audience.
The convention closed Monday night with a sermon by Rev. Thomas Chapman. There was a deep religious interest all through, and nineteen new members were added to the Church.
The new officers are Thomas Weaver, of Lithonia, president; Ella House of Winder, secretary;
M.C. House, treasurer; committee on fellowship, ordination, and discipline, W. H. McGlauflin, D.D., Atlanta, J. H. Parks, Gratis; Thomas Chapman, Winder. The next convention will be held in Lithonia.
- Atlanta Constitution; September 12, 1897
2009 Notes:
Reinhardt Academy was founded in 1884 as a post-primary Methodist school in Waleska Georgia. At some point, it begain offering college level courses, and was accredited as a Junior College in 1953. Accredited as a 4 years school in 1994. I see no reason to doubt the AC of 1897 that it was a college in 1897.
Waleska Georgia. It is located in Cherokee County, settled by the Reinhardt, Sharp, Rhyne, and Heard families; and a town by 1856. The spelling was changed from Walesca to Waleska to avoid confusion with another town with that name. Incorporated in 1889 - it is today a college town. It is located in the center of the top 1/4 of Georgia.
Lithonia, Georgia is located in Dekalb County Georgia, near Stone Mountain Georgia in what is now the metro Atlanta area.
Lodusca Fredonia Rhyne (October 1873-January 1968) daughter of Hosea B. and Maggie Rhyne. I would suspect his middle name is probably Ballou. Both were born in Georgia, his parents were from Lincoln County, North Carolina. Like many southerners, she went by her middle name. Married a Smith, died in Birmingham, Alabama, might have lived in Atlanta in the 1930s.
Elijah Love (July 1876 -1901+ ) born in Nebraska, cigar maker and secretary of the local Cigar makers union in Atlanta. In Atlanta.
R.N. Wright is the correct name for the article's R.U. Wright.
-
The first day was devoted to the Young People's Christian Union and was helpful and encouraging. New unions have been formed and those already existing have been strengthened. The new officers are: President, R. U. Wright of Winder; secretary, Elijah Love of Atlanta; treasurer Fredonia Rhyne, Walesca.
Reports on the "state of the Church" given Friday, showed that three new Church edifices have been erected in the past year and fully paid for, and twice as many new organizations perfected.
Rev. Thomas Chapman of Winder, state missionary, rendered encouraging accounts, and $260 was raised to assist his endeavor.
On Saturday the new church recently built in Walesca was formally dedicated. W. H. McGlauflin, D.D. of Atlanta, preaching the sermon. After the dedication, all services were held in the chapel of Reinhardt College, an auditoriam seating a thousand people, and kindly offered by the Methodists.
Sunday, Rev. D. B. Clayton D.D., of Columbia SC offered the occasional sermon to a great audience.
The convention closed Monday night with a sermon by Rev. Thomas Chapman. There was a deep religious interest all through, and nineteen new members were added to the Church.
The new officers are Thomas Weaver, of Lithonia, president; Ella House of Winder, secretary;
M.C. House, treasurer; committee on fellowship, ordination, and discipline, W. H. McGlauflin, D.D., Atlanta, J. H. Parks, Gratis; Thomas Chapman, Winder. The next convention will be held in Lithonia.
- Atlanta Constitution; September 12, 1897
2009 Notes:
Reinhardt Academy was founded in 1884 as a post-primary Methodist school in Waleska Georgia. At some point, it begain offering college level courses, and was accredited as a Junior College in 1953. Accredited as a 4 years school in 1994. I see no reason to doubt the AC of 1897 that it was a college in 1897.
Waleska Georgia. It is located in Cherokee County, settled by the Reinhardt, Sharp, Rhyne, and Heard families; and a town by 1856. The spelling was changed from Walesca to Waleska to avoid confusion with another town with that name. Incorporated in 1889 - it is today a college town. It is located in the center of the top 1/4 of Georgia.
Lithonia, Georgia is located in Dekalb County Georgia, near Stone Mountain Georgia in what is now the metro Atlanta area.
Lodusca Fredonia Rhyne (October 1873-January 1968) daughter of Hosea B. and Maggie Rhyne. I would suspect his middle name is probably Ballou. Both were born in Georgia, his parents were from Lincoln County, North Carolina. Like many southerners, she went by her middle name. Married a Smith, died in Birmingham, Alabama, might have lived in Atlanta in the 1930s.
Elijah Love (July 1876 -1901+ ) born in Nebraska, cigar maker and secretary of the local Cigar makers union in Atlanta. In Atlanta.
R.N. Wright is the correct name for the article's R.U. Wright.
-
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Google Maps street views - a tool for history
Google Maps street views are now spreading throughout the rural south - SC has been hit
my yard is pictured with spouse opening up the car door to get in - which we found interesting; it might be disturbing if the address was correctly listed - it isnt. This also means that it wont be perfect for finding locations.
Clayton Memorial in Newberry
as you can see by the deadlink above, its not too useful for linking yet either.
I have used it to look at the old Shinn Memorial in Tennessee - the Baptist Church now there has apparently taken good care of the old building.
Neither Red Hill nor Outlaw's Bridge have been googlemaped yet - Mountville cemetary is a block or so away from the one road with a streetview. Bethel is far far from a streetview.
Looking at the old Universalist Church site near the intersection of Harris and Peachtree in Atlanta, we see that it's now the height of Atlanta downtown.
this tool will be more useful as more roads are traveled....,
my yard is pictured with spouse opening up the car door to get in - which we found interesting; it might be disturbing if the address was correctly listed - it isnt. This also means that it wont be perfect for finding locations.
Clayton Memorial in Newberry
as you can see by the deadlink above, its not too useful for linking yet either.
I have used it to look at the old Shinn Memorial in Tennessee - the Baptist Church now there has apparently taken good care of the old building.
Neither Red Hill nor Outlaw's Bridge have been googlemaped yet - Mountville cemetary is a block or so away from the one road with a streetview. Bethel is far far from a streetview.
Looking at the old Universalist Church site near the intersection of Harris and Peachtree in Atlanta, we see that it's now the height of Atlanta downtown.
this tool will be more useful as more roads are traveled....,
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Books I got from Wilmington
During the Thanksgiving holidays, we went east to Wilmington (and New Bern) did a fair amount of touristy things, I hadnt plan to do any Universalist history research (Congregation there in the 1840s). Nor even to look at some of the Unitarian educational missions that were there during the 1870s-1890s. We did go to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday morning however....
And there in the bulletin was an annocements to "all Universalists" that they had some old books and magazines to get rid of, and that today was the last day and that they would be removed from the Church -- I waited for a half hour to make sure that no one else wanted them - and I checked with a trustee to make 100% sure that it was OK, and picked up some material...
2003 UU woman's Heritage Society calendar - I picked this up for the picture of my distant relative, Julia Elizabeth Kent Outlaw, who helped found Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church.
(I should point out, she's my relative by marriage - her husband was blood kin)
EXCLUDED (1966) Robert Cummins - a booklet about the attempt and denial of the Universalist Church of America to join the Federal Council of Churches in 1944 -1946. This booklet was online at the UUA website - so I had read it before..
Proceedings of the Unitarian Universalist Historical Society (volume 23 1995) , (volume 22 part 2- 1992-4) (volume 19-2, 1982/3)
The Icleandic Unitarian Connection (1984) V. Emil Gudmundson -
Our Liberal Heritage (1951) Alfred S. Cole - this is the 2nd printing for the "Council of Liberal Churches (Universalist-Unitarian), Inc. in 1957.
Universalist Church Cumulative Plan Book Fourth Section February 1947 written by Robert Cummings. items from the 40s and 50s from the UCA are scarce - so nice to have -- it lists what other tracts the UCA was offering in 1947.
I was tempted to pick up Clinton Lee Scott's autobiogrpahy - but I have a copy... I just hope that it will find a good home.....
thanks Wilmington UUs! (and it was a good service too)
And there in the bulletin was an annocements to "all Universalists" that they had some old books and magazines to get rid of, and that today was the last day and that they would be removed from the Church -- I waited for a half hour to make sure that no one else wanted them - and I checked with a trustee to make 100% sure that it was OK, and picked up some material...
2003 UU woman's Heritage Society calendar - I picked this up for the picture of my distant relative, Julia Elizabeth Kent Outlaw, who helped found Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church.
(I should point out, she's my relative by marriage - her husband was blood kin)
EXCLUDED (1966) Robert Cummins - a booklet about the attempt and denial of the Universalist Church of America to join the Federal Council of Churches in 1944 -1946. This booklet was online at the UUA website - so I had read it before..
Proceedings of the Unitarian Universalist Historical Society (volume 23 1995) , (volume 22 part 2- 1992-4) (volume 19-2, 1982/3)
The Icleandic Unitarian Connection (1984) V. Emil Gudmundson -
Our Liberal Heritage (1951) Alfred S. Cole - this is the 2nd printing for the "Council of Liberal Churches (Universalist-Unitarian), Inc. in 1957.
Universalist Church Cumulative Plan Book Fourth Section February 1947 written by Robert Cummings. items from the 40s and 50s from the UCA are scarce - so nice to have -- it lists what other tracts the UCA was offering in 1947.
I was tempted to pick up Clinton Lee Scott's autobiogrpahy - but I have a copy... I just hope that it will find a good home.....
thanks Wilmington UUs! (and it was a good service too)
Monday, December 08, 2008
Railroad Bill - Part 2: Stars Fell on Alabama
In 1934 "Stars Fell on Alabama", written by Carl Carmer was published by Farrar and Rinehart.
It was a big success, selling three printings, with major reviews being featured in the New York Times,and the new York Herald Tribune.
This book is the source of our modern Railroad Bill legend and the role of Leonard McGowin in it.
A short summary of the 4 pages is that Morris Slater killed a police officer in 1893, escaped via train; and then as Railroad Bill begain breaking into boxcars. On July 3, 1895, he killed sheriff E.S. McMillan near Bluff Springs, Alabama. He was shot in March 1896 at Tidmore's store by R.C. John and Leonard McGowin. John and MCGowin shared the $1250 reward (equivalent to about $31,000 now). McGowin also got a lifetime pass on the L&N railroad. Railroad Bill's ability to take animal shapes was also briefly discussed.
My copy of "Stars Fell on Alabama" contains an introduction by Howell Raines
states that among Carmer's informants : "Earl McGowin, scion of a wealthy lumber family and later director of the Alabama State Docks exposed Carmer to the wiregrass country and to the life and manners of wealthy white Alabama."
Earl McGowin's parents and his grandparents (James Greeley & Ellie McGowin and Alexander McGowin) were Universalists. J. Leonard and James Greely were only two years apart in age - and from the same general area - however I'm unable to tell their connection, it does not seem like they were brothers - and unable to determine if cousins.
It was a big success, selling three printings, with major reviews being featured in the New York Times,and the new York Herald Tribune.
This book is the source of our modern Railroad Bill legend and the role of Leonard McGowin in it.
A short summary of the 4 pages is that Morris Slater killed a police officer in 1893, escaped via train; and then as Railroad Bill begain breaking into boxcars. On July 3, 1895, he killed sheriff E.S. McMillan near Bluff Springs, Alabama. He was shot in March 1896 at Tidmore's store by R.C. John and Leonard McGowin. John and MCGowin shared the $1250 reward (equivalent to about $31,000 now). McGowin also got a lifetime pass on the L&N railroad. Railroad Bill's ability to take animal shapes was also briefly discussed.
My copy of "Stars Fell on Alabama" contains an introduction by Howell Raines
states that among Carmer's informants : "Earl McGowin, scion of a wealthy lumber family and later director of the Alabama State Docks exposed Carmer to the wiregrass country and to the life and manners of wealthy white Alabama."
Earl McGowin's parents and his grandparents (James Greeley & Ellie McGowin and Alexander McGowin) were Universalists. J. Leonard and James Greely were only two years apart in age - and from the same general area - however I'm unable to tell their connection, it does not seem like they were brothers - and unable to determine if cousins.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
What kind of work does amateur historians do to find information?
i've been doing a little work on Georgia Universalist congregations,.
What this generally means is
(1) finding mentions of Parishes
(2) finding out what city and town were nearby
(3) finding out what years those Parishes existed
(4) finding out who attended
Let me give some examples of what I do --
I found a mention that Rev Lake officiated at a funeral in Edgefield, SC pre-Civil War.
There is no record of any actual Parishes in Edgefield, although several Universalists are known - Tillman and Teague. The deceased is not in the 1850 census under her married or maiden name. Later, i find her listed in the cemetary listings for Edgefield Village Cemetary (which is behing the Edgefield Baptist Chruch) - her tombstone mentions the name of her husband. she is burried near a known Universalist. this found information tells us a couple of things - There is no Universalist cemetary prior to the Civil War in Edgefield. We do not know if she or her husband were Universalists or just picked a traveling minister (we assumed one of the former, but we dont know).
I've know that an "Alford Chapel" existed in Meriweather County, Georgia - but I didnt have a
town nearby. I knew who the church was founded by, and when - but not where or who was there. I then found mention of an Alford who was an officer of the Georgia Universalist Convention just prior to the founding of the Church. I find that he lived in Meriweather County and burried in the "Alford Cemetary" and find the location of the cemetary. We take this as a tentative location of the church.
I get an email from someone asking about membership of a Universalist Church in Rome Georgia, which their family had attended, until they moved west. The information I find is scant - but it does confirm a Church in that location - about the time that that family was there. We now have a tentative family to have attended that Church.
Then I find webpapges to search for more info -- I just found these and have done no research on the information
Elbert County Georgia Universalist Cemetary
about here
not that incredibly far from Canon -no doubt a church that ended in the 1920s farmers depression. Hard to say if folks burried here are Universalists or family members.
Macon County Georgia "Mt. Zion"
while not giving us a location other than Macon County, these incorporation notes do give us names of the Board. Macon County was formed two years earlier in 1837. County seat in 1839 was Lanier. Parts of what was Macon County in 1839 are now in Peach and Taylor counties.
I (or someone) will have to research these trustees. Obviously they would be Universalists in 1839.
What this generally means is
(1) finding mentions of Parishes
(2) finding out what city and town were nearby
(3) finding out what years those Parishes existed
(4) finding out who attended
Let me give some examples of what I do --
I found a mention that Rev Lake officiated at a funeral in Edgefield, SC pre-Civil War.
There is no record of any actual Parishes in Edgefield, although several Universalists are known - Tillman and Teague. The deceased is not in the 1850 census under her married or maiden name. Later, i find her listed in the cemetary listings for Edgefield Village Cemetary (which is behing the Edgefield Baptist Chruch) - her tombstone mentions the name of her husband. she is burried near a known Universalist. this found information tells us a couple of things - There is no Universalist cemetary prior to the Civil War in Edgefield. We do not know if she or her husband were Universalists or just picked a traveling minister (we assumed one of the former, but we dont know).
I've know that an "Alford Chapel" existed in Meriweather County, Georgia - but I didnt have a
town nearby. I knew who the church was founded by, and when - but not where or who was there. I then found mention of an Alford who was an officer of the Georgia Universalist Convention just prior to the founding of the Church. I find that he lived in Meriweather County and burried in the "Alford Cemetary" and find the location of the cemetary. We take this as a tentative location of the church.
I get an email from someone asking about membership of a Universalist Church in Rome Georgia, which their family had attended, until they moved west. The information I find is scant - but it does confirm a Church in that location - about the time that that family was there. We now have a tentative family to have attended that Church.
Then I find webpapges to search for more info -- I just found these and have done no research on the information
Elbert County Georgia Universalist Cemetary
about here
not that incredibly far from Canon -no doubt a church that ended in the 1920s farmers depression. Hard to say if folks burried here are Universalists or family members.
Macon County Georgia "Mt. Zion"
while not giving us a location other than Macon County, these incorporation notes do give us names of the Board. Macon County was formed two years earlier in 1837. County seat in 1839 was Lanier. Parts of what was Macon County in 1839 are now in Peach and Taylor counties.
I (or someone) will have to research these trustees. Obviously they would be Universalists in 1839.
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