Unitarianism in America: A History of its Origin and DevelopmentCooke, George Willis
History
Unitarianism in America: A History of its Origin and Development
Cooke, George Willis
Unitarianism -- United States
training on the part of those who could not accept the liberal attitude of
Harvard.
Most of the liberal men of this time refused to bring their beliefs to the
test of exact definition. It was their opinion that no theological
statement can have high value in relation to Christian attainments. Under
these conditions were trained the men who became the leaders in the early
Unitarian movement. William Ellery Channing, who was settled over the
Federal Street Church in June, 1803, was distinctly evangelical, and of a
profound and earnest piety. Slowly he grew to accept the liberal attitude,
as the result of his love of freedom, his lofty spirituality of nature, and
his tolerant and generous cast of mind. He gave spiritual and intellectual
direction to the new movement, guided its philanthropic efforts, and
brought to noble issue its spiritual philosophy. Early in the year 1804,
Joseph Stevens Buckminster was settled over the Brattle Street Church; and,
though he preached but a little over six years before a blighting disease
took him away, yet he left behind a tradition of great pulpit gifts and a
wonderfully attractive personality. Another to die in early manhood was
Samuel Cooper Thacher, who was settled at the New South in 1811, and who
was long remembered for his scholarship and his zeal in the work which he
had undertaken. Charles Lowell went to the West Church in 1806, and he
nobly sustained the traditions for liberality and spiritual freedom that
had gathered about that place of worship. In 1814 appeared Edward Everett,
at the age of twenty (which had been that of Buckminster when he entered
the pulpit), as the minister of the Brattle Street Church, to charm with
his eloquence, learning, grace, and power. Francis Parkman began his career
at the New North in 1812,--"a man of various information, a kind spirit,
singular benevolence, polished yet simple manners, fine literary
taste."[5] A few years later John Gorham Palfrey became the minister of
the Brattle Street Church, and James Walker was settled over the Harvard
Church in Charlestown. Among the laymen in the churches to which these men
preached were many persons of distinction. The liberal fellowship,
therefore, was of the highest social and intellectual standing. The piety
of the churches was serious, if not profound; and the religion presented
was simple, sincere, intellectual, and earnestly spiritual.
[Sidenote: The Monthly Anthology.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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