I think Glenn makes a very important point here. YEC ideas were held by only a
minority of evangelical leaders in the 19th and early 20th century. Indeed, the
were prominent only in the Missouri Synod Lutherans and SDAs. However there is
the grass roots support, which has so far been poorly documented. One of the
paradoxes of popular opinion in the 19th and early 20th century is that ordinary
mainstream evangelicals did not listen to their theologians and scientists in
this area. I think what needs to be done is to explore the sources of
information at the popular level. Popular Christian magazines, Sunday School
materials, etc. will provide a rich lode to mine. Michael has done some of this
for Anglicans in the UK in the 1st half of the 18th century, but we need more of
this across the denominational spectrum in in more counties, and for more eras.
Glenn Morton wrote:
> Hi George,
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
> >Behalf Of george murphy
> >Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2002 4:54 AM
> .
> >
> > Whether or not Christian fundamentalism will eventually die is to
> >large a topic to be taken on here.
>
> This is one reason I have been collecting and reading creationist books from
> the 19th century. Contrary to claims often made that the YEC's disappeared
> in the 19th century, they didn't, either in England or in the US. They may
> not have held leadership positions in the church (or at least high
> leadership positions) but the laity was buying lots of books with
> young-earth leanings and teachings. Currently I have in my personal library
> books from the following 19th century young-earth/global flood advocates:
>
> Granville Penn, Mineral and Mosaic Geologies, 1825
> Granville Penn, Conversations on Geology, 1840
> John Murray, Truth of Revelation, 1840
> James Monroe, Evidences and Facts of the Scriptural Deluge, 1843
> Rev. Alexander Strachan, The Antiquity, Literal Meaning and Authenticity of
> the Mosaic Narrative, c. 1852
> Anonymous, The Creation and the Deluge, 1854
> Herbert W. Morris, Science and the Bible, 1871
> Louis Figuier, The World Before the Deluge, 1872 [published from 1863 to
> 1891]
> Abraham Mills, The Ancient Hebrews, 1874
> Thomas Cooper, Evolution, The Stone Book and the Mosaic Record of Creation,
> 1884
> Isaac Newton Vail, The Earth's Annular System [published 1884-1912]
>
> I can name lots more that I don't have.
>
> I also have an 1859 Boston-published college history book which begins with
> the Biblical creation and includes the Noachian Flood. It is George Weber,
> Outlines of Universal History from the Creation of the World to the Present
> Time. This was originally a German book translated into English.
>
> My contention is that the YECs didn't disappear and my evidence is that
> somebody was buying those books throughout the 19th century.
>
> Because of this, I can easily conclude, that like the poor, the YEC will
> always be with us.
>
> glenn
>
> see http://www.glenn.morton.btinternet.co.uk/dmd.htm
> for lots of creation/evolution information
> anthropology/geology/paleontology/theology\
> personal stories of struggle
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