Hosea Ballou
Encyclopedia
Hosea Ballou was an American
Universalist clergyman and theological writer
.
, to a family of Huguenot
origin. The family was disputed to be of Anglo-Norman heritage but this has no foundation, and due to his ancestor being named Mathurin (Maturin) Ballou (Bellou), a French given name not found anywhere in England or any such English versions of the name this is highly unlikely. The son of Maturin Ballou, a Baptist
minister, he was self-educated, and devoted himself early on to the ministry. In 1789 he converted to Universalism
, and in 1794 became a pastor of a congregation in Dana, Massachusetts
. Ballou was also a high-ranking freemason
, and he attained the position of Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire in 1811.
He preached at Barnard, Vermont
and surrounding towns in 1801—1807; at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
in 1807—1815; at Salem, Massachusetts
in 1815—1817; and as pastor of the Second Universalist Church in Boston from December 1817 until his death there.
He founded and edited The Universalist Magazine (1819—later called The Trumpet), and The Universalist Expositor (1831—later The Universalist Quarterly Review), and wrote about 10,000 sermons as well as many hymn
s, essays and polemic theological works. He is best known for Notes on the Parables (1804), A Treatise on Atonement (1805) and Examination of the Doctrine of a Future Retribution (1834). These works mark him as the principal American expositor of Universalism.
Ballou married Ruth Washburn; children included Maturin Murray Ballou
.
, who founded the first Universalist church in America. Ballou, sometimes called an "Ultra Universalist," differed from Murray in that he divested Universalism of every trace of Calvinism
, and opposed legalism
and trinitarian views. As he wrote, "Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit."
Ballou also preached that those forms of Chistianity that emphasized God as wrathful in turn hardened the hearts of their believers:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Universalist clergyman and theological writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Biography
Hosea Ballou was born in Richmond, New HampshireRichmond, New Hampshire
Richmond is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,155 at the 2010 census.-History:The town was first chartered in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts...
, to a family of Huguenot
Huguenot
The Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Since the 17th century, people who formerly would have been called Huguenots have instead simply been called French Protestants, a title suggested by their German co-religionists, the...
origin. The family was disputed to be of Anglo-Norman heritage but this has no foundation, and due to his ancestor being named Mathurin (Maturin) Ballou (Bellou), a French given name not found anywhere in England or any such English versions of the name this is highly unlikely. The son of Maturin Ballou, a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister, he was self-educated, and devoted himself early on to the ministry. In 1789 he converted to Universalism
Universalism
Universalism in its primary meaning refers to religious, theological, and philosophical concepts with universal application or applicability...
, and in 1794 became a pastor of a congregation in Dana, Massachusetts
Dana, Massachusetts
Dana is a former town located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Formed from parts of Petersham, Greenwich, and Hardwick, it was incorporated in 1801, and was disincorporated on April 28, 1938, as part of the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir. Upon disincorporation, most of the town was returned...
. Ballou was also a high-ranking freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, and he attained the position of Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire in 1811.
He preached at Barnard, Vermont
Barnard, Vermont
Barnard is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 958 at the 2000 census.- History :The town was chartered on July 17, 1761 by a New Hampshire Grant and named after the second-listed grantee of the town Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Baronet and since 1760 Governor of the...
and surrounding towns in 1801—1807; at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
in 1807—1815; at Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
in 1815—1817; and as pastor of the Second Universalist Church in Boston from December 1817 until his death there.
He founded and edited The Universalist Magazine (1819—later called The Trumpet), and The Universalist Expositor (1831—later The Universalist Quarterly Review), and wrote about 10,000 sermons as well as many hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s, essays and polemic theological works. He is best known for Notes on the Parables (1804), A Treatise on Atonement (1805) and Examination of the Doctrine of a Future Retribution (1834). These works mark him as the principal American expositor of Universalism.
Ballou married Ruth Washburn; children included Maturin Murray Ballou
Maturin Murray Ballou
Maturin Murray Ballou was a writer and publisher in 19th-century Boston, Massachusetts. He co-founded Gleason's Pictorial; was the first editor of the Boston Daily Globe; and wrote numerous travel books and works of popular fiction.-1820s - 1840s:Ballou was born in Boston in 1820, to parents Hosea...
.
Beliefs
Ballou has been called the "father of American Universalism," along with John MurrayJohn Murray (minister)
John Murray though sometimes recalled as founder of the Universalist denomination in the United States, might more fairly be described as a pioneer minister and an inspirational figure, as his theological legacy to the later Universalist denomination was minimal.-Early life:He was born in Alton,...
, who founded the first Universalist church in America. Ballou, sometimes called an "Ultra Universalist," differed from Murray in that he divested Universalism of every trace of Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
, and opposed legalism
Legalism (theology)
Legalism, in Christian theology, is a sometimes-pejorative term referring to an over-emphasis on discipline of conduct, or legal ideas, usually implying an allegation of misguided rigour, pride, superficiality, the neglect of mercy, and ignorance of the grace of God or emphasizing the letter of...
and trinitarian views. As he wrote, "Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit."
Ballou also preached that those forms of Chistianity that emphasized God as wrathful in turn hardened the hearts of their believers:
Further reading
- Universalist Magazine. v.9 (Boston: Henry Bowen, Province House Row, 1827)
- M.M. Ballou. Biography of Rev. Hosea Ballou. Boston : A. Tompkins, 1852. Google books
- M.M. Ballou. Life story of Hosea Ballou: for the young. Boston: A. Tompkins, 1854. Illustrations by BillingsHammatt BillingsCharles Howland Hammatt Billings was an artist and architect from Boston, Massachusetts.Among his works are the original illustrations for Uncle Tom's Cabin ,...
. Google books - Oscar F. Safford. Hosea Ballou: a marvellous life-story, 4th ed. Boston: Universalist Pub. House, 1890. Google books