Ramona Nicholson

Social History of Antebellum America

Michael Gagnon

7-25-05

The Growth and Changes in Denominations throughout Georgia History

In the Antebellum period what religious denominations were apparent and how did they change? This question is important because it some how effects everyone, the rich, poor, middle class, blacks, yeomans and also the north. The information that my research shares is, how it affects everyone. One example is that certain religions play a pivotal role for the blacks. Some religions encouraged the freedom of the blacks. If the blacks are freed then Georgia plantation owners are affected which then effects movement into the mid-west and also the northerners that come to the mid-west. My research will also share personal thoughts about religion in Georgia.

1) Batten J. Minton. “Henry M. Turner, Negro Bishop Extraordinary”. Church History,

Vol. 7 no. 3 (September 1938): 231-246. Database on-line. Jstor; accessed June 27, 2005.

This article has information on the oldest and largest independent Negro Methodist church. It has records regarding the status changes of the Negro-American. I would be able to use this to answer some questions about how the church helped the blacks in their learning experiences. This article is obtainable on-line.

2) Black, Daryl. “The Excitement of High and Holy Affections” Baptist Revival and

Cultural Creation in the Upper-Piedmont Georgia Cotton Belt,1800-1828. Georgia Historical Quarterly; Vol.87 Issue ¾ (Fall/Winter 2003):329,30p,

3bw. Database on-line. Academic Search Premier; Accessed June 28, 2005.

This is an examination of the excitement regarding religion by the Baptists in Piedmont Georgia. There is a look at revivals, camp meetings, conversions and the increases in memberships. It looks at the church as a social arena, women’s involvement and the authority of a devine hierarchy. Available on-line.

3) Daniel, Marjorie. “Anglicans and Dissenters in Georgia, 1758-1777”. Church History,

Vol. 7 no. 3 (September 1938): 247-262. Database on-line. Jstor; accessed June 27, 2005.

Information included is the many people who came to Georgia for religious freedom, the Anglicans, Presbyterians, Salzburgers, Moravians, Baptists, Quakers, Jews and Huguenots. This would help understand why some moved up north rather than staying in Georgia. Information is obtainable on-line.

4) Fisher, Miles Mark. “Friends of Humanity: A Quaker Anti-Slavery Influence”.

Church History,Vol. 4 no. 3 (September 1935): 187-202. Database on-line. Jstor; accessed June 27, 2005.

The information contained in this article would be helpful in understanding the Quakers point of view on the issue of slavery. It also has information about Oglethorpe who was opposed to slavery when setting up the Georgia colony. Available on-line

5) Goen, C.C. “Broken Churches, Broken Nation: Regional Religion and North-South.

Alienation in Antebellum America”. Church History,Vol.52 no. 1 (September

1983): 21-35. Database on-line. Jstor; accessed June 27, 2005.

This article digs deep into the denominational splits, mainly Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians. It also covers the brake in the unity of these denominations over slavery. How the north and the south was effected. This article is obtainable on-line.

6) Mathews, Donald G. “The Methodist Mission to the Slaves 1829-1844”. The Journal

of American History, Vol. 51 no.4 (Mar. 1965): 615-631. Database on-line. Jstor;

Accessed June 29, 2005.

This article is about the Methodists being against slavery but how they continue to keep Negroes separate from the whites. And how because of this the blacks started leaving the Methodist Episcopal Church after 1816. I could use this to learn a lot about the Methodist and the blacks. Information is obtainable on-line.

7) Mathews, Donald G. “The Second Great Awakening as an Organizing Process, 1780-

1830: An Hypothesis. American Quarterly Vol. 21 no. 1 (Spring 1969): 23-43.

Database on-line. Jstor; Accessed June 29, 2005. Available on-line.

This article has information regarding the people involved in the Second Great Awakening, and the problems that they were trying to dispel. It also covers revivals and the extending of the Methodists and the Baptists. This article is obtainable on-line.

8) Pennington, Degar Legare. “John Wesley’s Georgia Ministry”. Church History,Vol.8

no.3 (September 1939): 231-254. Database on-line. Jstor; accessed June 27, 2005.

The information included in this article would give an understanding about how Georgia first came about. There were Anglican clergymen, and this may give an insight on what their views were regarding religion, and if, when and why they went north. Information is obtainable on-line.

9) Perkins, Haven P. “Religion for Slaves: Difficulties and Methods”. Church

History,Vol.10 no.3 (September 1941): 228-245. Database on-line. Jstor; accessed

June 27, 2005.

In this article is the information regarding slaves and the religion that they received. This is mainly the years 1830-1850. This is how the slaves started getting more religious opportunities, and who had to work with them. Available on-line.

10) Shanks, Henry T. “The Reunion of the Episcopal Church, 1865”. Church

History,Vol.9 no.2 (June1940): 120-140. Database on-line. Jstor; accessed

June 27, 2005.

When the civil war began the churches started to split up. This story tells of the reunion of the church. This would be helpful in understanding the Methodist religion. This article is obtainable on-line.

11) Smith, John Q. “Occupational Groups Among the Early Methodists of the Keighley

Circuit”. Christian History, Vol. 57 no. 2 (June 1988): 187-196. Database on-line. Jstor; accessed June 27, 2005.

Information contained in this article would help understand the kinds of people that joined the Methodist church. There is an in depth look at the circuit riders. Available on-line.

12) Swanson, Merwin. “The “Country Life Movement” and the American Churches”.

Church History,Vol.9 no.2 (June1940): 120-140. Database on-line. Jstor; accessed June 27, 2005.

This article is about a Country life movement and the Social Gospel of the Protestant Churches. There are not many Protestants so this is a good view of that particular group.

This article is obtainable on-line.

Books

Andrews, Dee E. The Methodists and Revolutionary America, 1760-1800: The Shaping of

Evangelical Culture. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2000.

This book is the beginning of Methodism in America. It would give an insight on rules that there might have been. It deals with the missionaries, revivals, men and women.

Mark A. Noll, Reviews in American History says, “At very long last the Methodists of the early United States are receiving the serious historical attention they have always deserved… The Methodists and Revolutionary America is the latest and in some ways the best of…recent efforts to take the measure of the movement that in the two generations after the War for Independence transformed the face of American religion… The product of nearly two decades of intensive research.”

Susan Juster, Journal of American History says, “Among the best treatments we have of the intertwined influence of class, political economy, and religious belief in the formative era of American evangelicalism. The Methodists and Revolutionary America is a formidable achievement.”

Burch, Jarrett. Adiel Sherwood: Baptist Antebellum Pioneer in Georgia. Macon, Georgia

Mercer University, 2003.

This traces Adiel Sherwood’s life from New York where he was born to the south, north, Midwest and back to Georgia. Its main focus is in Georgia where he helped shape the Georgia Baptist Convention

Bruce Gourley, Online Editor of Baptists Today says, “In short, although the blending of chronological and thematic history is awkward in places, Adiel Sherwood is otherwise well-written, and is a very important contribution to the historiography of early Georgia Baptist life and recognizes an important Georgia Baptist.”

Heyrman, Christine Leigh. Southern Cross: The Beginnings of the Bible Belt. North

Carolina: The University of North Carolina Press, 1997.

This book mainly covers the Baptists and the Methodists. Each chapter starts out with scripture and the chapter incorporates the scripture with the subjects that it deals with. Canaan’s Language the word of salvation getting out to the people and them wanting to understand it. The young preachers, family values, women involved in spiritual speakings, and what the men thought.

Randy Sparks says, “Her unique perspective, her compelling arguments and sparkling prose make this one of the most important and enjoyable monographs on southern religion to appear in a decade.”

Mark Noll says, “Superb in describing the expansion of the Baptists and Methodists in the early national period. The book does not attempt to explain the inner motivations that drew growing numbers of Southerners into Methodists and Baptist churches in the generations after the American Revolution.”

Owen, Christopher, H. The Sacred Flame of Love: Methodism and Society in Nineteenth

Century Georgia. Athens and London: University of Georgia Press, 1998.

This book is mainly about the Methodists about the move into Georgia, revivals in northern Georgia with whites and a few blacks. It shares the early 1800’s but also covers before during and after the civil war. And the changes that the Black Methodists went through.

Thomas a Scott, Department of History and Philosophy, Kennesaw State University says, “Christopher Owen’s new book is a well-documented case study of the rise of Methodism in nineteenth-century Georgia. Regarding slavery, the author deserves credit for taking seriously what Methodist spokesman actually said. Even a long review cannot adequately cover all the wee-reasoned points of this fine study. This reviewer strongly commends the book to anyone interested in Georgia or southern religious history.

Paul Harvey, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs says, “Christopher Owen’s work adds to the rapidly expanding body of volumes that attempt to address “southern religion” in its white and black manifestations. The work is really about white Methodism, with the stories of black Methodism sprinkled in for Purposes of comparison and contrast. This is the major weakness of the work.

Primary Sources

Elliott, Charles. 1792 –1869. Sinfulness of American Society; ed. By Rev. B.F. Teft.

(1850): 347. Making of America Books – Michigan

This is a look at the Christian church in response to slavery. How Negroes grew from just slaves to understanding Christianity. It also includes a look at the Methodists missionaries. This article is available on-line.

Hillyer, George (1835-1917). “Papers”(1848-1933). Atlanta History Center, Atlanta,

Georgia. LC Ref. 92798120. Database on-line: Archives USA.

Papers from the Hillyer family contain charters and rules from the Southern Baptist convention and also eulogies and memorials. These papers could help understand specifics about who could and could not join the church, or about where a particular group would sit in the church.

These papers can be seen at the Atlanta History Center Tuesday – Saturday 10 am to 4 pm.

Jones, John (1815-1893). “Papers”(1775-1928). University of Georgia, Libraries,

Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Athens, Georgia. MS 84-2314. Database on-line: Archives USA.

These papers are from a Georgia plantation owner who was also a Presbyterian clergyman. Included are sermons, other correspondence, photos and other papers. The sermons might contain information important to the blacks or the social standing of members. The photos might also give clues about the members.

These papers may be seen at the University of Georgia, Libraries, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Hours of operation are M-F 8-5 and Saturday 9-5. Before seeing the materials a signed research application form must be on file with identification. No personal belongings may be taken into the room while viewing the material. Requests for reproduction will be considered depending on if the duplication can be done without injury to the material. Photocopies can be picked up 24 hours after the request Mon.–Fri. To Publish or quote from the collection, written permission must be obtained from the director of the Hargrett Library.

Mell, Patrick Hues (1814-1888). “Papers”(1829-1888).University of Georgia, Libraries,

Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Athens, Georgia. MS 64-229.

These papers are from a Baptist clergyman who was also chancellor of the University of Georgia. Papers include sermons other correspondence, person papers and other items. The sermons may help in understanding who was a part of the Baptist community and the personal papers may give Patrick Mell’s view on the Baptist denomination.

These papers may be seen at the University of Georgia, Libraries, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Hours of operation are M-F 8-5 and Saturday 9-5. Before seeing the materials a signed research application form must be on file with identification. No personal belongings may be taken into the room while viewing the material. Requests for reproduction will be considered depending on if the duplication can be done without injury to the material. Photocopies can be picked up 24 hours after the request Mon.–Fri. To Publish or quote from the collection, written permission must be obtained from the director of the Hargrett Library.

Sanders, Edward Lloyd (1829-1902). “Papers”(1787-1905). Emory University, Robert

W. Woodruff Library, Special Collections, Department, Atlanta, Georgia.

MS 61-3236. Database on-line: Archives USA.

This includes minutes from a Georgia Baptist church, during 1888. Although this is after the Antebellum period it may have useful information.

These papers can be seen at the Emory University, Robert W. Woodruff Library, Special Collections, Department M-F 8:30-5:30, Sat. 9-5:30.

Stewart, Clark Berry (1813-1890.) “Papers” (1836-1885). University of Georgia,

Libraries, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Athens, Georgia.

MS 84-2384. Database on-line: Archives USA.

Included in this collection are diaries, correspondence and other papers from a Presbyterian clergyman. His diaries might give information not fond elsewhere.

These papers may be seen at the University of Georgia, Libraries, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Hours of operation are M-F 8-5 and Saturday 9-5. Before seeing the materials a signed research application form must be on file with identification. No personal belongings may be taken into the room while viewing the material. Requests for reproduction will be considered depending on if the duplication can be done without injury to the material. Photocopies can be picked up 24 hours after the request Mon.–Fri. To Publish or quote from the collection, written permission must be obtained from the director of the Hargrett Library.

“The State of Georgia (concluded).” Debow’s review, Agricultural, commercial,

Industrial progress and resources, Vol. 10 issue 4 (April, 1851): 383-384.

Making of America Journal Articles – Michigan.

This article is important because it gives statistics about the different denominations.

This is available on-line.

White, George, Rev. 1802-1887. Historical collections of Georgia. (1854): 370 &637

Making of America Books – Michigan.

This is an article about the life and times of Rev. George White, 1802-1887. It is his views on the Baptists in regard to slavery and the Baptist being a strong denomination.

This article is obtainable on-line.