Mark A. Matthews
Encyclopedia
Mark A. Matthews was a Presbyterian minister in Seattle, Washington from 1902 until his death; Dale Soden characterizes him as "without question… the most influential Protestant clergyman in the Pacific Northwest
in the first half of the twentieth century." He was an enigmatic figure, holding views in common with both Christian fundamentalists and liberals
, especially the Social Gospel
movement. He was very active in Seattle city politics, battling corruption (especially in the person of Seattle mayor Hiram Gill
) and encouraging social services. There is a statue of him in Seattle's Denny Park
.
In line with his Progressive
leanings, Matthews was an advocate of the Temperance movement
. In his writings, he extended the Temperance platform of abstinence from alcohol to include other vices and associated institutions. He is quoted as saying, "The saloon is the most fiendish, corrupt, hell-soaked institution that ever crawled out of the slime of the eternal pit. ... It takes your sweet innocent daughter, robs her of her virtue, and transforms her into a brazen, wanton harlot.... It is the open sore of this land". Unusually for a prohibitionist, Matthews opposed women's suffrage
. He also supported limitations on the immigration of Asians.
Born in Calhoun, Georgia
in a family beset by post Civil War
poverty, Matthews grew up in the environment of Southern revivalism and, later, post-Reconstruction radical agrarian
politics. His religious education was largely informal, but by 1886, at the age of 19, he was a preacher, first in Georgia and later in Tennessee. In 1902, he moved to Seattle to become pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. He married Grace Jones in 1904; they were to have two children, Gwladys and Mark Jr. As pastor from 1902 to 1940, Matthews built his church into the country's largest Presbyterian church; at its height, it had 10,000 members. He helped create such institutions as Harborview Medical Center
and the organization hat began as the Seattle Day Nursery and is now Childhaven
, an institution to treat child abuse. He established KTW Radio in 1922, the first church-owned radio station in the U.S. First Presbyterian also spun out branch churches, including University Presbyterian Church, which continues to be a major institution to this day.
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
in the first half of the twentieth century." He was an enigmatic figure, holding views in common with both Christian fundamentalists and liberals
Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
, especially the Social Gospel
Social Gospel
The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
movement. He was very active in Seattle city politics, battling corruption (especially in the person of Seattle mayor Hiram Gill
Hiram Gill
Hiram C. Gill was an American lawyer and two-time Seattle mayor, identified with the "open city" politics that advocated toleration of prostitution, alcohol, and gambling.-Rise:...
) and encouraging social services. There is a statue of him in Seattle's Denny Park
Denny Park (Seattle)
Denny Park is a park located in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It occupies the block bounded by John Street and Denny Way on the north and south and Dexter and 9th Avenues N. on the west and east.- History :...
.
In line with his Progressive
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...
leanings, Matthews was an advocate of the Temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
. In his writings, he extended the Temperance platform of abstinence from alcohol to include other vices and associated institutions. He is quoted as saying, "The saloon is the most fiendish, corrupt, hell-soaked institution that ever crawled out of the slime of the eternal pit. ... It takes your sweet innocent daughter, robs her of her virtue, and transforms her into a brazen, wanton harlot.... It is the open sore of this land". Unusually for a prohibitionist, Matthews opposed women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
. He also supported limitations on the immigration of Asians.
Born in Calhoun, Georgia
Calhoun, Georgia
Calhoun is a city in Gordon County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,650. The city is the county seat of Gordon County.-Geography:Calhoun is located at , along the Oostanaula River....
in a family beset by post Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
poverty, Matthews grew up in the environment of Southern revivalism and, later, post-Reconstruction radical agrarian
Agrarianism
Agrarianism has two common meanings. The first meaning refers to a social philosophy or political philosophy which values rural society as superior to urban society, the independent farmer as superior to the paid worker, and sees farming as a way of life that can shape the ideal social values...
politics. His religious education was largely informal, but by 1886, at the age of 19, he was a preacher, first in Georgia and later in Tennessee. In 1902, he moved to Seattle to become pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. He married Grace Jones in 1904; they were to have two children, Gwladys and Mark Jr. As pastor from 1902 to 1940, Matthews built his church into the country's largest Presbyterian church; at its height, it had 10,000 members. He helped create such institutions as Harborview Medical Center
Harborview Medical Center
Harborview Medical Center, located on Seattle's First Hill, is a public hospital in King County, Washington and is managed by UW Medicine.-Overview:...
and the organization hat began as the Seattle Day Nursery and is now Childhaven
Childhaven
Childhaven is a King County nonprofit organization that serves children between the ages of one month and five years who have been abused or neglected, or are at risk...
, an institution to treat child abuse. He established KTW Radio in 1922, the first church-owned radio station in the U.S. First Presbyterian also spun out branch churches, including University Presbyterian Church, which continues to be a major institution to this day.
External links
- Pistol-Packing Parson: Mark Matthews and Protestant Culture in the Pacific Northwest
- Photographs including Mark A. Matthews from University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections
Further reading
- Norman H. Clark, The Dry Years: Prohibition & Social Change in Washington, Revised Edition, University of Washington, 1988. ISBN 0295964669.
- Ezra P. Giboney and Agnes M. Potter. The Life of Mark A. Matthews. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1948.
- Dale E. Soden. The Reverend Mark Matthews: An Activist in the Progressive Era. Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 2001. ISBN 0-295-98021-4.