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A New Note In Fiction, Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts, 1933-1953

This writing is an analysis of fiction's role in showing the human struggle with the changing forces of history, particularly the move away from authoritarianism. Authors mentioned include, Hervey Allen's Anthony Adverse, Honoré de Balzac, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Leo Tolstoy, Knut Hamsun's Growth of the Soil, John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga, Mazo de la Roche's Jalna series, and Sinclair Lewis' Main Street and Babbitt.

While this manuscript does not have a date, the fact that it mentions Hervey Allen’s novel Anthony Adverse, published in 1933, and does not mention the award-winning movie of Anthony Adverse that premiered in 1936, …

The Next Step For Our Unitarian Churches, Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts, 1933-1953

This was a talk that Earl Davis gave at a conference. We have yet to identify the conference or its exact date, but internal evidence – referencing the past “Hoover Administration” and the Roosevelt Administration “brain trust” -- suggests this was presented in 1934 or shortly thereafter.

This writing is a good representation of Davis' core views, drawing from the history of Congregationalism into a discussion of new problems. He ends with a a poem by Jean Untermeyer.

Date refers to Date Given

The primary downloadable document contains the original document followed by the transcription. The bottom of each item …

Letter By Jose Chapiro To Earl Clement Davis, Jose Chapiro

Manuscripts, 1933-1953

There is a substantial expression of gratitude for Earl Davis in the Acknowledgments section of José Chapiro's 1947 book Thoughts for Each Day selected from the writings of William Ellery Channing:

“Finally, I am particularly gratified to inscribe here the name of Earl C. Davis, the sage of Petersham, Massachusetts, and a distinguished citizen of the Free State of William Ellery Channing. A tireless reader, he is also a perpetual student of that ‘gay science’—the word is Nietzsche’s—in which scholarship and life complement and fertilize each other. Earl C. Davis cultivates it with the same joy and earnestness of purpose …

Modern Christianity At Work In The Country, Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts, 1933-1953

This is an earlier and more comprehensive treatment of the article "The Village Church", featured in the March 1944 issue of The Christian Register. It is a rather full discussion of the many roles that the church -- particularly the First Congregational Church (Unitarian) in Petersham -- plays in its community, with regards to families, individuals, the community, worship and religious practice. Davis references Carl Jung and Lewis Mumford.

Democracy Versus Authority In Church (And State), Earl Clement Davis, Carl Heath Kopf

Manuscripts, 1933-1953

This address, written with Carl Heath Kopf, minister of the Mt. Vernon Church of Boston, was delivered at the Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers in King’s Chapel, Boston. They argue that the direction of history is from Authority, Revelation, and Obedience to Freedom, Discovery, and Consent. They discuss early efforts of the Pilgrims in the creation of a congregational focused church.

Date refers to Date Given.

The primary downloadable document contains the original document followed by the transcription. The bottom of each item page also features the primary document as an embedded pdf for browsing.

Transcription by Davis Baird. Item …

The Congregational Genius Of Our Churches, Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts, 1933-1953

An opening presentation Earl Davis gave to an Institute for Ministers that he co-organized in Petersham, MA. We have yet to confirm the date of the Institute or its other components.

This work is Davis's most comprehensive statement of the Congregational Polity's history of development, whereby each individual church congregation has the authority to establish religious practice as their congregation sees fit, including electing their minister. His history starts with the Pilgrims and Puritans, continues through the conflicts of the late 1600s, and into the early 19th century with the appointment of Henry Ware, Professor of Divinity at Harvard, and …

Centralization Of Denominational Government: Do We Need More Or Less?, Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts, 1933-1953

In November of 1935, Earl Davis led a round table discussion on the topic of Denominational Government at a conference in Cincinnati. This incomplete introduction to the round table covers material more concisely the material in his "The Congregational Genius of Our Churches" (1936).

Date refers to Date Given.

The primary downloadable document contains the original document followed by the transcription. The bottom of each item page also features the primary document as an embedded pdf for browsing.

Transcription by Davis Baird. Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.