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Matthew Simpson and the Mission of America

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

James E. Kirby
James E. Kirby
Affiliation:
Professor of Religion, Oklahoma State University
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Extract

In the American self-consciousness from its beginning to the present there has existed a firm conviction that this nation is destined, either by divine decree or circumstances, for a unique place among the peoples of the earth. One form of this is the assumption that the United States will provide the great example which others will want to follow. The classic expression of this was given by John Winthrop aboard the Arbella, but equally valid ones can be found in the words of modern Americans. Winthrop said:

We shall find that the God of Israel is among us, when ten of us shall be able to resist a thousand of our enemies, when he shall make us a praise and glory, that men shall say of succeeding plantations ‘The Lord make it like that of New England.’ For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 36 , Issue 3 , September 1967 , pp. 299 - 307
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1967

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References

1. Winthrop, John, “A Model of Christian Charity,” Miller, Perry (ed.), The American Puritans (Garden City, New York: Doubleday Anchor, 1956), p. 83.Google Scholar

2. John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, November 13, 1813, Cappon, Lester J. (ed.), The Adams-Jefferson Letters (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press for the Institute of Early American History and Culture at Williamsburg, Virginia, 1959), II, p. 400.Google Scholar

3. Cigrand, Bernard J., “Great Seal of the United States,” Encyclopedia Americana, 1949, XIII, p. 362.Google Scholar

4. T. A. Morris to Matthew Simpson, August 16, 1848, ALS, Matthew Simpson Papers, The Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.

5. The speech had various titles including “Our National Conflict,” “Future of the Country,” and “The Providence of God As Seen in Our War.”

6. Clark, Robert D., The Pulpit and Platform Career and the Rhetorical Theory of Bishop Matthew Simpson (unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, The University of Southern California, March, 1946), p. 374.Google Scholar Clark has reconstructed the address from newspaper reports.

7. Sandburg, Carl, Abraham Lincoln the War Years (New York: Harcourt Brace and Co., 1939), III, p. 302.Google Scholar

8. Simpson, Matthew, “The Inheritance of the Christian,” The Methodist, III (July 19, 1862), p. 218.Google Scholar

9. Ibid.

10. Ibid.

11. Simpson, Matthew, “Christian Activity,” The Methodist, XII (June 17, 1871), p. 186.Google Scholar

12. Simpson, Matthew, “Sermon on I Corinthians 13:12,” Scrapbook, Matthew Simpson Papers, The Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.Google Scholar

13. Simpson, Matthew, “The Inheritance of the Christian,” op. cit.Google Scholar

14. Northwestern. Christian Advocate, “Bishop Simpson's Address,” IX (November 6, 1861). p. 356.Google Scholar

15. “Address to the British Conference,” (August 25, 1870) Scrapbook, Matthew Simpson Papers, The Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.Google Scholar

16. “Missionary Sermon,” Scrapbook, Matthew Simpson Papers, The Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.Google Scholar

17. Simpson, Matthew, “Early Settlements,” Western Christian Advocate, XVI (July 11, 1849), p. 109.Google Scholar

18. Ibid. Modern historians would seriously question Bishop Simpson's interpretation of what motivated the New England settlements.

19. Simpson, Matthew, “Sabbath Schools—Fourth of July,” Western Christian Advocate, XVI (June 27, 1849), p. 101.Google Scholar

20. Simpson, Matthew, “Liberia Mission,” Western Christian Advocate, XVII (February 6, 1850), p. 21.Google Scholar

21. Thomson, Edward. “The Past and Present Century,” The Methodist, VIII (February 9, 1867), p. 42.Google Scholar Thomson was elected to the episcopacy from his post as editor of the New York Christian Advocate and Joitrnal. He had previously been editor of the Ladies Repository and President of Ohio Wesleyan University.

22. Simpson, Matthew, “The Political World,” Western Christian Advocate, XVI (July 25, 1849), p. 117.Google Scholar

23. Simpson, Matthew, “Sermon on Exodus XV—1,” Scrapbook, Matthew Simpson Papers, The Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.Google Scholar

24. Simpson, Matthew, “The Cause of Missions,” Western Christian Advocate, XVI (May 16, 1849), p. 77.Google Scholar

25. Simpson, Matthew, “The Missionary Cause,” The Methodist, II (November 23, 1861), p. 362.Google Scholar

26. Ibid.

27. The Methodist, “Indiana Conference,” II (October 12, 1861), p. 313.Google Scholar

28. “Address to the British Conference,” op. cit.Google Scholar

29. Simpson, Matthew, “Mission in Germany,” Western Christian Advocate, XVII (February 20, 1850), p. 29.Google Scholar

30. Simpson, Matthew, “California Mission,” Western Christian Advocate, XV (September 13, 1848), p. 90.Google Scholar

31. The Methodist, “Indiana Conference,” op. cit.

32. Simpson, Matthew, “The Flag,” Scrapbook, Matthew Simpson Papers, The Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.Google Scholar

33. Simpson, Matthew, [newspaper clipping undesignated] Scrapbook, Matthew Simpson Papers, The Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.Google Scholar

34. Quoted in Mead, Sidney E., “American Protestantism Since the Civil War—From Denominationalism to Americanism,” The Journal of Religion, XXXVI (January, 1956), pp. 1–2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

35. Simpson, Matthew “The Empire of Christ,” The Methodist, IV (September 26, 1863), p. 306.Google Scholar

36. Clark, , op. cit. p. 433.Google Scholar Substantial parts of this dissertation are included in Clark, Life of Matthew Simpson (New York: The Macmillan Co., 1956).Google Scholar

37. Herberg, Will, Protestant-Catholic-Jew (Garden City: Doubleday Anchor, 1960), p. 264.Google Scholar

38. Ibid.

39. Mead, op. cit.Google Scholar