Period religions

[Upstate]

Given the season, this might be of some interest. It was on an advertisement page of the 1854, Farmer’s Barn Book-Diseases of Horse, Cattle Sheep & Swine. Not being particularly studied in religion, I found the list to be pretty diverse & provide a rather good outline of period faiths.

“Burder’s History of All Religions” Rev Joel Parker, D.D. – Greatly improved as a book of reference by the insertion of full account, historical doctrinal & statistical of the religious denominations in the United States. Designed especially for the use of families.

The religious customs & ceremonies of the:
Jews
Mohammedans
Greek Church
Roman Church
Protestant Communites including;
Lutherans
Episcopalians
Kirk of Scotland
English & American Presbyterians
Baptists
Methodists
Quakers
Associate Reformed Church
Reformed Dutch Church
Congregationalists
Free Will Baptists
Campbellite Baptists
Moravians
Swedenborgians
Unitarians
Universalists
Shakers
Mormons
& c. & c.

Any takers on defining the differences of the period? Which ones were lightening rods of “anti” sentiments (i.e. Papists) ?

[Radar]

Several, including the Methodists (and Methodist Episcopal) and Baptists broke into Northern and Southern factions. Growing up in the Ohio Methodist church, still remember references to the M.E. church North back in the 1950s. There is still, today, the Southern Baptist church. The main break was over slavery.

[sbl]

A period cartoon.

http://mac110.assumption.edu/aas/graphics/southernclergy.jpg

[sbl]

..had these churches predating the CW/WBTS Congregationalists 1754, Baptist 1805, Catholic 1856, Methodist Episcopal 1831, Universalist Society 1821, and First Universalist Society 1845 in a town of no more than 2000 people that sent a total of 358 men to the army and navy.
On Sunday Nov. 1, 1861 a bomb was thrown into the Universalist church during a lecture on slavery. No one was hurt as it just produced smoke and the lecture went on after the smoke cleared.

[sigsaye]

..had these churches predating the CW/WBTS Congregationalists 1754, Baptist 1805, Catholic 1856, Methodist Episcopal 1831, Universalist Society 1821, and First Universalist Society 1845 in a town of no more than 2000 people that sent a total of 358 men to the army and navy.
On Sunday Nov. 1, 1861 a bomb was thrown into the Universalist church during a lecture on slavery. No one was hurt as it just produced smoke and the lecture went on after the smoke cleared.So, was the lecture for or against slavery?

Steve Hesson

[sbl]

From what I can see, very much against it. More Christian than Biblical.

[brown30741]

Scott
Where'd you get that cartoon? Is there a citation(s) to go with it? I know a lot of stuff got a lot of coverage, but wonder who would have seen it.
Thanks for posting it.

[CameronsHighlander]

Presbtyrians were numerous Jefferson Davis was one. At the break through in Petersburg he was in Church got up and walked out after a letter was delivered to him.

[sbl]

Scott
Where'd you get that cartoon? Is there a citation(s) to go with it? I know a lot of stuff got a lot of coverage, but wonder who would have seen it.
Thanks for posting it.

Somewhere on this site.

http://mac110.assumption.edu/aas/

[ElizabethClark]

Catholics and Mormons will be up near the top of the list for drawing "anti" ire...

Mormon troubles started from before the establishment of the church in the 1830s, and continued fiercely, following the church as they left the States, and headed for their own territory of "Deseret" in the inter-mountain West. The "Utah War" of the late 1850s was widely reported in the newspapers, so most would be familiar with their being "a problem with Mormons", as well as some pretty creative rumors about Mormons (such as Brigham Young had a tunnel tug under the Atlantic to Utah, to better smuggle in young girls for polygamous marriages to crabbed old Mormon men, and also the one about Mormons having horns and tails), regardless of what level of accurate information a general person might have regarding the church's beliefs and practices.

I'd be Very Interested to read this book's mentions of the Mormons, actually! They play a pivotal role in the settling of the West, and even in the funding of the Civil War--it was Mormon Battalion men who discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in California and sparked the mineral booms that poured so much wealth into the nation's coffers.

[sbl]

Boston Corbett...gives me the "Willies!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Corbett

[Upstate]

Catholics and Mormons will be up near the top of the list for drawing "anti" ire...

Mormon troubles started from before the establishment of the church in the 1830s, and continued fiercely, following the church as they left the States.....I'd be Very Interested to read this book's mentions of the Mormons, actually! .

It's amazing how much CW history lies in our own backyards until niggled by comments like yours. Mention the word Mormon & my mind automatically thinks Utah BUT....guess where I live? NYS, about 2 hours from Palmyra & never give much thought to Mormon history.

I too would like to read this book but so far have only found the advertisement.

[Upstate]

Here's an 1840's local story about a church split in upstate NY over the slavery issue, that ultimately includes a Beecher in the story

“....As a part of all this foment over slavery certain members of the First Presbyterian Church in Elmira wished to have the church on record as an antislavery church. They presented a petition which, if honored, would have had the desired result. The petition was tabled. To an ardent abolitionist this was no better than an open statement in favor of slavery. A contemporary record says that the minister of the First Church preached "certain sermons upon slavery which resulted in alienation of feeling."
Those whose sense of justice and humanity were offended by these things began to think of breaking away and founding a new church — secondary accounts say "an anti-slavery" church, but the official records are less specific......
....Deacon Robinson talked with Mr. Beecher about coming to Elmira. Behind that simple statement lies a dramatic story. When Deacon Robinson met Thomas K. Beecher, the young minister was walking out of a board meeting in his church in Williamsburg (now a part of Brooklyn, N. Y.) to avoid being 'fired.' An impasse with his board had arisen because he knew that certain members of the board were guilty of unethical business practices, and had rebuked them.
A short time after Deacon Robinson had talked with Mr. Beecher, the following letter was received in Elmira —
Mr. Jervis Langdon and Dear Brethren:
I promised you a final response on Thursday of this week. Until that day I cannot force matters elsewhere to a conclus¬ion; or can I at that day make a final answer unless I hear yes or no from you to the following questions:

1. — Although I owe nothing and can borrow unlimitedly yet I HAVE no money. Nor will I ever run in debt, God helping me. Hence, you see, that ere I can live upon your gifts, they must be GIVEN. I ask, therefore, can you and will you pay at the rate of $1,500 per annum, monthly and in advance?
Yes or no.

2. — Can you and will you make me a gift of $40 to pay ex¬penses of moving self, library and furniture? Yes or no.

3. — Do you fully understand that you make me no pro¬mises (I cannot allow you to) so I make you none, except to keep busy and preach for you as truly as I can. You are free —I am free. We must owe nothing but to love one another. In brief do you fully understand that at the end of any month you may request me to leave without hurting my feelings, or I may leave you (of course, giving you my reason) without forfeiting your confidence?
Do you understand this, yes or no?

4. — Do you fully remember that I do not think that good can be done by a preacher’s preaching? It must be by Christians working that good is done, if at all. Do you remember that MY choice is to work with my hands and do good on a small scale; and I come to you full of doubt as to whether it is possible for any church to be benefited by any services of mine as preacher and teacher?
Do you remember this, yes or no?

a. — Do you remember that while in good faith I profess to you that I am sound and evangelic in doctrine, yet I have no ambition to found, or foster or preserve a church as such? My exclusive aim is to help men as individuals to be Christians. No church prosperity dazzles; no church poverty or adversity troubles me.
Do you remember this, yes or no?

You can answer these questions by telegraph, by number, yes or no, and as I keep a copy of the substance of this letter I shall understand. If you can answer all of them Yes I think the way is clear. I am not absolutely positive in the matter, but shall know everything except your reply tomorrow, and if I am not disappointed by you will preach for you on Sunday next.

Pardon my plain speech. Truth is at the bottom of all en¬during love, and if it should prove that God intends to be more gracious to me than I dare expect in these matters of prosperity and give me a home in your hearts and homes for all my life I shall be more thankful than you. For though I speak bold words, yet my heart is very tender and very tired and would fain find rest in just some such place as Elmira.

I ask these questions not through suspicion — not from cautious bargain-driving, but because in my heart I am aching with the sight of the irregularity, superficiality and easy dis¬content which marks so many churches.

As a CHURCH, I can do nothing for you; as individuals I can love and work for you as long as you will let me, and I am not without hope that SOME how, good may be done in Elmira, even though my work in the pulpit soon wearies you and comes to an end.

I have mislaid the letter you sent me and cannot recall the address of the chairman of your committee, but Christians never stand upon ceremony and you will pardon that I send to J. M. Robinson, whose ‘miltonian’ name holds fast in my memory while others fade. Address your dispatch T. K. B., Independent Office, No. 22 Beekman Street, New York and inclose the $40 above mentioned so that I can send it back to New York the moment I reach Elmira.

Yours truly, Thomas K. Beecher. New York, Sept. 18, 1854.”

Read more: http://www.theparkchurch.org/history/