No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Public Orders into Moral Communities: Eighteenth-Century Fast and Thanksgiving Day Sermons in the Dutch Republic and New England
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2016
Extract
In the eighteenth century, both in the Dutch Republic and in the colonies of New England, collective repentance and social reconciliation with God were institutionalized in great common rituals. In both polities, Fast and Thanksgiving Days were proclaimed by civil authority, and these occasions brought people together into churches to hear ministers interpret their common situation. These rituals were the main way in which the New England colonies and the Dutch Republic expressed their unity as political communities. It was this aspect of these sermons that made them of interest to nineteenth-century American and Dutch historians. In the nineteenth-century Kingdom of the Netherlands, N. C. Kist, the first holder of the newly instituted chair of Church History at Leiden University, finished his career with his two-volume Neêrlands Bededagen en Biddagsbrieven, offering both an interpretation and an antiquarian overview of all the Fast Days proclaimed in the Netherlands. In the United States, William de Loss Love published his exquisite The Fast and Thanksgiving Days of New England in 1895, similarly offering both an antiquarian list of all Fast and Thanksgiving Days and an analysis. Kist was deeply involved with the nation-building project of the early nineteenth-century Kingdom of the Netherlands. De Loss Love, the first chaplain of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, was as inspired by modern nationalism as Kist was. Both scholars interpreted the Fast-day ritual as an indication of the high moral purpose and commitment to the nation of their ancestors.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Studies in Church History , Volume 40: Retribution, Repentance, and Reconciliation , 2004 , pp. 218 - 239
- Copyright
- Copyright © Ecclesiastical History Society 2004
References
1 Kist, N. C., Neêrland’s Bededagen en Biddagsbrieven, 2 vols (Leiden, 1848–9)Google Scholar.
2 Love, William de Loss Jr., The Fast and Thanks giving Days of New England (Boston, MA, 1895)Google Scholar.
3 Gellner, Ernest, Nations and Nationalism (Oxford, 1983)Google Scholar; Anderson, Benedict, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism (revised edn, London, 1991)Google Scholar.
4 Veer, Peter van der, Religious Nationalism: Hindus and Muslims in India (Berkeley, CA, 1994 Google Scholar.
5 I used the Early American Imprints, 1630–1800 [microform], ed. Clifford K. Shipton, American Antiquarian Society (New York, 1962–74). A description of these 22,000 microfiches is to be found in: Jenkins, John H., Early American Imprints: a Collection of Works Printed in America between 1669 and 1800 (Austin, TX 1977)Google Scholar.
6 I have read all printed Dutch Fast-day sermons preserved in the Royal Library of The Hague, and the University Libraries of Amsterdam and Leiden. These three libraries possess most of the Dutch printed sermons, if the period 1750–1800, for which a bibliography of sermons exists, is any indication: Bosma, Jelle, Woorden van eengezond verstand: de invloed van de Verlichting op de in het Nederlands uitgegeven preken van 1750 tot 1800 (Kampen, 1997)Google Scholar.
7 Kerkelijk Placaatboek, 5 vols (’s-Gravenhage, 1722–1807), III: 26.
8 Muncipal Archive of Utrecht: Stadsarchief, Vroedschapsresoluties, 6 November 1676.
9 Municipal Archive of Haarlem: Stadsarchief, Burgemeestersresoluties, 9 February 1742.
10 Municipal Archive of Amsterdam: Archief van de Portugees-Israelitische Gemeente, no. 66.
11 Schutte, G. J., Een Hollandse dorpssamenleving in de late achttiende eeuw: de banne Graft 1770–1810 (Franeker, 1989), 116 Google Scholar. On the other hand, even in 1771 some Catholics of Zevenbergen, south of the great rivers, were fined because they refused to close their doors and windows on the day of prayer National Archive, Oud-Synodaal Archief, Acta Particulière Synode van Zu id-Holland 1771, a. 10.
12 All proclamations are published in Kist, Neêrland’s Bededagen.
13 Kist, Neêrland’s Bededagen, II: 259–60.
14 Peter van Rooden, ‘Godsdienst en nationalisme in de vroeg-moderne tijd. Het voorbeeld van de Republiek’, in N. C. F. van Sas, ed., Vaderland: eengeschiedenis van de vijfiiende eeuw tot 1940 (Amsterdam, 1999), 201–36.
15 Kist, Neêrland’s Bededagen, II: 366–7.
16 Ibid., II: 382.
17 Ibid., II: 373. My translation.
18 Ibid., II: 394.
19 Ibid., II: 402.
20 Ibid., II: 403.
21 Brake, Wayne Ph. te, ‘Provincial Histories and National Revolution in the Dutch Republic’, in Jacob, Margaret C. and Mijnliardt, Wijnand W., eds, The Dutch Republic in the Eighteenth Century: Decline, Enlightenment and Revolution (Ithaca, N.Y., and London, 1992), 60–90 Google Scholar; Grijzenhout, F. et al., eds, Voor Vaderland en Vrijheid. De revolutie van de patriotten (Amsterdam, 1987)Google Scholar; van Sas, N. C. F., ‘De Nederlandse revolutie van de achttiende eeuw’, BMGN 100 (1985), 636–46 Google Scholar; idem, The Patriot Revolution: New Perspectives’, in Jacob and Mijnhardt, eds, The Dutch Republic in the Eighteenth Century, 91–122.
22 Rooden, Van, ‘Godsdienst en nationalisme’, 215–17 Google Scholar.
23 Smytegelt, Bernardus, Keurstoffen of verzameling van vyftig uitmuntende predicatien (Middelburg en Den Haag, 1765), 429 Google Scholar.
24 Episcopius, Simon, XVII Predicatien (…) by verscheide gelegentheden, en inzonderheit op Feestdagen (Amsterdam, 1693), 245–65 Google Scholar.
25 Rooden, Van, ‘Godsdienst en nationalisme’, 218 Google Scholar.
26 Hinlopen, Jacobus, Leerredenen (Utrecht, 1781)Google Scholar.
27 Ibid., 128.
28 Ysbrandi, S., Vaderhndsche Dank- en Biddagsrede over Jozua vii 12b (Amsterdam, 1782)Google Scholar; Kemp, F. A. van der, Hetgedrag van Israel en Rehabeam, ten spiegel van Volk en Vorst. Leerrede over I Kor xii: 3h-20a (Leiden, 1782)Google Scholar; Hovens, D., Onze tegemvoordige toestand vergeleken by dien onzer voorouders, (…)op den bedestond, den lden, en op dengedenkdag van Leydens ontzet, den zden October 1782 (Leiden, 1782)Google Scholar; Hoekstra, J. A. S., Leerredenen en bedestonden (Utrecht, 1787)Google Scholar.
29 Schama, Simon, Patriots and Liberators: Revolution in the Netherlands, 1780–1813 (London, 1977)Google Scholar.
30 Cumings, Henry, A sermon, preached in Billerica, on the 23d of November, 1775: Being the day appointed by civil authority, for a public thanksgiving throughout the province of Massachusetts-Bay, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 14723: 28Google Scholar.
31 Thomas Coombe, A sermon, preached before the congregations of Christ Church and St. Peter’s, Philadelphia, on Thursday, July 20, 1775: Being the day recommended by the Honorable Continental Congress for a general fast throughout the twelve United Colonies of North-America, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 42801: 26.
32 Jacob Duché, The American vine: a sermon, preached in Christ-Church, Philadelphia, before the Honourable Continental Congress, July 20th, 1775. Being the day recommended by them for a general fast throughout the united English colonies of America, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 14012: 29.
33 John Witherspoon, The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men: A Sermon Preached at Princeton, on the 17th of May, 1776. Being the General Fast Appointed by the Congress through the United Colonies: To which is added, an address to the natives of Scotland residing in America, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 15224.
34 Ibid., 30.
35 Ibid., 51.
36 Ibid.
37 Ibid.
38 David Osgood, Reflections on the Goodness of God in Supporting the People of the United States through the Late War, and Giving Them so Advantageous and Honourable a Peace: A Sermon Preached on the Day of Annual and National Thanksgiving December 11, 1783, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 18670: 33.
39 Sassi, Jonathan D., A Republic of Righteousness: The Public Christianity of the Post-Revolutionary New England Clergy (Oxford, 2000)Google Scholar.
40 Nathan Bucknam, The Just Expectations of God, from a People, when his Judgments are upon Them for Their Sins: Shewn, in Two Sermons, on Deut. XHI. 11. Preach’d at Medway, on a day of publickfasting and prayer, April 23,1741, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 4682.
41 Ibid.
42 Ibid., 68–9.
43 Ibid., 76.
44 Stout, Harry S., The New England Soul: Preaching and Religious Culture in Colonial New England (Oxford, 1986)Google Scholar.
45 Samuel Chandler, Ezekiel’s parable of the boiling pot.: Considered in a Discourse Preached at Glocester, on the Provincial Anniversary Fast, Thursday, March 20.1755, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 40743: 22–3; Aaron Burr, A discourse Delivered at New-Ark, in New-Jersey. January 1, 1755, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 7373: 32–5; N. Appleton, The Right Method of Addressing the Divine Majesty in Prayer; so as to support and strengthen our faith in dark and troublesome times: Set forth in two discourses on April 1, 1770. Being the day of general fasting and prayer through the province: and in the time of the session of the General Court at Cambridge, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 11554: 30ff.
46 Perry Miller, the dean of Puritan studies, noticed die change I am trying to describe as well: see his article ‘From the Covenant to the Revival’, in Nelson R Burr, ed., Religion in American Life 1 : The Shaping of American Religion (Princeton, 1961), 322–68, arguing that until the revolution, ministers had supposed that men would persistently sin, and so would have to be recurrently summoned to communal repentance. With the revolution, political action had succeeded, and they inferred that Americans were virtuous and could look to the future. The evangelical scholar Mark Noll describes the same changes in his article, The American Revolution and Protestant Evangelicalism’, Journal of Interdisciplinary History 23 (1993), 615–38, without the benefits of the concepts ‘moral community’ or ‘nationalism’.
47 Joseph Belcher, Two Sermons Preached in Dedham, N.E.: The first on a day set apart for prayer with fasting, to implore spiritual blessings on the rising generation. The other (some time after) in private, to a considerable number of young persons in the aforesaid town, Early American imprints. First series, no. 1443.
48 Increase Mather, The Duty of Parents to Pray for their Children: opened & applyed in a sermon, preached May 19, 1703, Early American imprints. First series, no. 1132; 1133: 39.
49 Bercovitch, Sacvan, The American Jeremiad (Madison, 1978)Google Scholar; Hatch, Nathan O., The Sacred Cause of Liberty: Republican Thought and the Millennium in Revolutionary New England (New Haven, 1977)Google Scholar; Bloch, Ruth, Visionary Republic: Millennial Themes in American Thought, 1756–1800 (Cambridge 1985)CrossRefGoogle Scholar.
50 Rooden, Peter van, ‘Dutch Protestantism and its Pasts’, in Swanson, R. N., ed., The Church Retrospective, SCH 33 (Woodbridge, 1997), 254–63 Google Scholar.
51 See, for example, Timothy Hilliard, The Duty of a People under the Oppression of Man, to seek Deliverance from God. The substance of two sermons, delivered at Barnstable, July 14th, 1774. A day set apart for humiliation and prayer on account of the present dark and melancholy aspect of our public affairs, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 13329; and Thomas Coombe, A Sermon, Preached before the Congregations of Christ Church and St. Peter’s, Philadelphia, on Thursdayjuly 20, 1775, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 42801: 20.
52 John Mellen, A Sermon Preached at the West Parish in Lancaster, October 9, 1760: On the general thanksgiving for the reduction of Montreal and total conquest of Canada: Containing a brief account of the war, from the year 1755; and a review of the first settlement and several expeditions against (with some of the reasons for holding) Canada, Early American Imprints. First series, no. 8669: 36–7.
53 Hartog, J., De Spectatoriale Geschriften van 1741–1800. Bijdrage tot de kennisvan het huiselijk, maatschappelijk en kerkelijk leven onder ons volk in de tweede helft der 1 Se eeuw (Utrecht, 1872)Google Scholar; Buijnsters, P. J., De Nederlandse literatuur van de achttiende eeuw (Utrecht, 1984)Google Scholar.
54 Cotton Mather, The Wonderful Works of Cod Commemorated: Praises bespoke for the God in Heaven in a thanksgiving sermon; delivered on Decemb. 1 a. 1689. Containing just reflections upon the excellent things done by the great God, more generally in creation and redemption, and in the government of the world; but more particularly in the remarkable revolutions of providence which are every where the matter of present observation. With a postscript giving an account of some very stupendous accidents, which have lately happened in France, Early American imprints. First series, no. 540.
55 Isaac du Puy, Leerrede over Ps V:ij op den algemeenen dank- vast- en bededag den 14 February 1781, uit het Fransch vertaald door Johan Derk Baron van der Capellen (Zwolle, 1781).
56 Heimert, Alan, Religion and the American Mind:from the Great Awakening to the Revolution (Cambridge, MA, 1966)Google Scholar.
57 Goff, Philip, ‘Revivals and Revolution: Historiographic Turns since Alan Heimert’s Religion and the American Mind ’, Church History 67 (1998), 695–721 Google Scholar.
58 Jon Butler, ‘Enthusiasm Described and Decried: the Great Awakening as Interpretative Fiction’, The Journal of American History 69 (1982), 305–25. He emphasizes, for instance, that even the Calvinist revivalists of the 1740s continued to draw sharp distinctions between the rights of ministers and the duties of the laity (314). He also makes clear that not the revivals, but the eighteenth-century colonial wars raised intercolonial unity.
59 Butler, Jon, ‘Coercion, Miracle, Reason: Rethinking the American Religious Experience in the Revolutionary Age’, in Hoffman, Ronald and Albert, Peter J., eds, Religion in a Revolutionary Age (Charlottesville, VA, 1994), 1–29 Google Scholar.
60 Hatch, The Sacred Cause of Liberty, Bloch, Visionary Republic; Edmund. S. Morgan, The Puritan Ethic and the American Revolution’, William and Mary Quarterly 24 (1967), 3–43; Bailyn, Bernard, The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution (Cambridge, MA, 1967)Google Scholar.
61 Ward, W. R., Religion and Society in England, 1790–1850 (London, 1972), 1 Google Scholar.
62 Peter van Rooden, ‘Friedrich Schleiermachers Reden über die Religion en de historische bestudering van godsdienst’, Theoretische Geschiedenis 23 (1996), 419–38.
63 Rooden, Peter van, ‘Secularization and the Trajectory of Religion in the West’, in Krop, Henri, Molendijk, Arie and Vries, Hent de, eds, Post-Theistn: Reframing the Judeo-Christian Tradition (Leuven, 2000), 169–88 Google Scholar.