Lyman Abbott
Encyclopedia
Lyman Abbott was an American
Congregationalist theologian, editor
, and author
.
on December 18, 1835, the son of the prolific author, educator and historian Jacob Abbott
. Lyman Abbott grew up in Farmington, Maine and later in New York City
.
He graduated from the New York University
in 1853, where he was a member of the Eucleian Society
, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
in 1856. Abbott soon abandoned the legal profession, however, and after studying theology with his uncle, John Stevens Cabot Abbott
, was ordained a minister of the Congregational Church
in 1860.
from 1860 to 1865 and of the New England
Church in New York City in 1865-1869. From 1865 to 1868 he was secretary of the American Union Commission (later called the American Freedmen's Bureau). In 1869 he resigned his pastorate to devote himself to literature.
Abbot worked variously in the publishing profession as an associate editor of Harper's Magazine
, and was the founder of a publication called the Illustrated Christian Weekly, which he edited for six years. He was also the co-editor of The Christian Union with Henry Ward Beecher
from 1876 to 1881. Abbott later succeeded Beecher in 1888 as pastor of Plymouth Church
, Brooklyn.
From 1881 Abbott was editor-in-chief of The Christian Union, renamed The Outlook
in 1893; this periodical reflected his efforts toward social reform, and, in theology, a liberality, humanitarian and nearly unitarian. The latter characteristics marked his published works also.
Abbott's opinions differed from those of Beecher. Abbott was a constant advocate of social reform, and was an advocate of Theodore Roosevelt
's progressivism
for almost 20 years. He would later adopt a pronouncedly liberal theology. He was also a pronounced Christian
Evolution
ist. In two of his books, The Evolution of Christianity and The Theology of an Evolutionist, Abbott applied the concept of evolution
in a Christian theological perspective. Although he himself objected to being called an advocate of Darwinism
, he was an optimistic advocate of evolution who thought that "what Jesus saw, humanity is becoming."
Abbott was a religious figure of some public note and was called upon on October 30, 1897, to deliver an address in New York at the funeral of economist, Henry George
. He ultimately resigned his pastorate in November 1898.
His son, Lawrence Fraser Abbott
, accompanied President Roosevelt
on a tour of Europe
and Africa
(1909-10). In 1913 Lyman Abbott was expelled from the American Peace Society
because military preparedness was vigorously advocated in the Outlook, which he edited, and because he was a member of the Army and Navy League. During the World War I
he was a strong supporter of the government's war policies.
in the New Windsor Cemetery in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Congregationalist theologian, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Early years
Lyman Abbott was born at Roxbury, MassachusettsRoxbury, Massachusetts
Roxbury is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, and became a city in 1846 until annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868...
on December 18, 1835, the son of the prolific author, educator and historian Jacob Abbott
Jacob Abbott
Jacob Abbott was an American writer of children's books.-Biography:Abbott was born at Hallowell, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott...
. Lyman Abbott grew up in Farmington, Maine and later in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He graduated from the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1853, where he was a member of the Eucleian Society
Eucleian Society
The Eucleian Society is a student society begun at New York University in 1832. - Origins :In 1832 sixteen students began the Eucleian Society at New York University, originally under the name “Adelphic Society”...
, studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1856. Abbott soon abandoned the legal profession, however, and after studying theology with his uncle, John Stevens Cabot Abbott
John Stevens Cabot Abbott
John Stevens Cabot Abbott , an American historian, pastor, and pedagogical writer, was born in Brunswick, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott.-Early life:...
, was ordained a minister of the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
in 1860.
Career
He was pastor of the Congregational Church in Terre Haute, IndianaTerre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
from 1860 to 1865 and of the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
Church in New York City in 1865-1869. From 1865 to 1868 he was secretary of the American Union Commission (later called the American Freedmen's Bureau). In 1869 he resigned his pastorate to devote himself to literature.
Abbot worked variously in the publishing profession as an associate editor of Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
, and was the founder of a publication called the Illustrated Christian Weekly, which he edited for six years. He was also the co-editor of The Christian Union with Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century...
from 1876 to 1881. Abbott later succeeded Beecher in 1888 as pastor of Plymouth Church
Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims
Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims is a church in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City. It was a station of the Underground Railroad, and the pulpit of Henry Ward Beecher, its first pastor...
, Brooklyn.
From 1881 Abbott was editor-in-chief of The Christian Union, renamed The Outlook
The Outlook (New York)
The Outlook was a weekly magazine, published in New York City.-History:In 1900, the ranking weekly journals of news and opinion were The Independent , The Nation , the Outlook , and in a different class or with a different emphasis, The Literary Digest .-Notable contributors:*Theodore Roosevelt...
in 1893; this periodical reflected his efforts toward social reform, and, in theology, a liberality, humanitarian and nearly unitarian. The latter characteristics marked his published works also.
Abbott's opinions differed from those of Beecher. Abbott was a constant advocate of social reform, and was an advocate of Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
's progressivism
Progressivism in the United States
Progressivism in the United States is a broadly based reform movement that reached its height early in the 20th century and is generally considered to be middle class and reformist in nature. It arose as a response to the vast changes brought by modernization, such as the growth of large...
for almost 20 years. He would later adopt a pronouncedly liberal theology. He was also a pronounced Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
ist. In two of his books, The Evolution of Christianity and The Theology of an Evolutionist, Abbott applied the concept of evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
in a Christian theological perspective. Although he himself objected to being called an advocate of Darwinism
Darwinism
Darwinism is a set of movements and concepts related to ideas of transmutation of species or of evolution, including some ideas with no connection to the work of Charles Darwin....
, he was an optimistic advocate of evolution who thought that "what Jesus saw, humanity is becoming."
Abbott was a religious figure of some public note and was called upon on October 30, 1897, to deliver an address in New York at the funeral of economist, Henry George
Henry George
Henry George was an American writer, politician and political economist, who was the most influential proponent of the land value tax, also known as the "single tax" on land...
. He ultimately resigned his pastorate in November 1898.
His son, Lawrence Fraser Abbott
Lawrence Fraser Abbott
Lawrence Fraser Abbott was an American editor and writer, son of Lyman Abbott.-Biography:He was born in Brooklyn, New York to Lyman Abbott. He graduated from Amherst College in 1881. In 1891 he became president of the Outlook Company...
, accompanied President Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
on a tour of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
(1909-10). In 1913 Lyman Abbott was expelled from the American Peace Society
American Peace Society
The American Peace Society is a pacifist group founded upon the initiative of William Ladd, in New York City, May 8, 1828. It was formed by the merging of many state and local societies, from New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, of which the oldest, the New York Peace Society, dated...
because military preparedness was vigorously advocated in the Outlook, which he edited, and because he was a member of the Army and Navy League. During the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was a strong supporter of the government's war policies.
Death and legacy
Lyman Abbott died on October 22, 1922 and was buriedBurial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
in the New Windsor Cemetery in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York.
Works
- Sermons of Henry Ward Beecher (Editor). (2 vols., 1868)
- Jesus of Nazareth (1869)
- Illustrated Commentary on the New Testament (4 vols., 1875)
- A Study in Human Nature (1885)
- Life of Christ (1894)
- The Evolution of Christianity (Lowell Lectures (1896, reissued by Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, 2009, ISBN 9781108000192) - The Theology of an Evolutionist (1897)
- Christianity and Social Problems (1897)
- Life and Letters of Paul, (1898)
- The Life that Really is (1899)
- Problems of Life (1900)
- The Rights of Man (1901)
- Henry Ward Beecher (1903)
- "The Other Room" (1903)
- The Great Companion(1904; new edition published September 1906)
- The Christian Ministry (1905)
- The Personality of God (1905)
- Industrial Problems (1905)
- "Impressions of a Careless Traveler" (1907)
- Christ's Secret of Happiness (1907)
- The Home Builder (1908)
- The Temple (1909)
- The Spirit of Democracy (1910)
- America in the Making (Yale lectures on the responsibility of citizenship, 1911)
- Letters to Unknown Friends (1913)
- Reminiscences (1915)
- The Twentieth Century Crusade (1918)
- What Christianity Means to Me (1921)
Further reading
- Reid, Daniel G., et al. Dictionary of Christianity in America. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1990.