Digital Commons Network^™

The Joy Of A Pagan Christmas, Earl Clement Davis

Sermons, 1905-1919

This is from the bound collection—“bundle #5”—that includes sermons from January 2, 1910 to January 15, 1911.

This sermon briefly details two origins of Christmas as a "winter solstice" celebration. The first from Rome celebrating the return of light -- with summer and its bounty -- and a focus on gift giving and the erasure of human distinctions in favor of common humanity. The second is about Teutonic ancestors with the Christmas Tree, its evergreen life promising future return to warmth and growth.

Date refers to Date Given.

The primary downloadable document contains the original document followed by the transcription. …

Some Questions Of Municipal Housekeeping, Earl Clement Davis

Sermons, 1905-1919

This is from the bound collection—“bundle #5”—that includes sermons from January 2, 1910 to January 15, 1911.

A sermon given ahead of city elections. Starts at a general "philosophical" level comparing more-or-less civilized life in Pittsfield with that of a "barbarous and ill-organized" community or "mining camp" where law and order is carried in a man's pocket. The civilization of Pittsfield reduces certain freedoms with the benefit of new freedoms being opened up. As to specifics for Pittsfield in 1910, there is a concern about the city charter that gives all power to the state and the state's political machine. …

The Democracy Of The Bible, Earl Clement Davis

Sermons, 1905-1919

This is from the bound collection—“bundle #5”—that includes sermons from January 2, 1910 to January 15, 1911. This sermon is a follow-up to the previous week's sermon, "The Democracy of God." In both cases, each age, each generation, makes their God -- as an expression of their ideals -- and their Bible, as an expression of their human history. Davis laments the consequences of loading the Bible with a supernatural reading.

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 …

The Democracy Of God, Earl Clement Davis

Sermons, 1905-1919

This is from the bound collection—“bundle #5”—that includes sermons from January 2, 1910 to January 15, 1911.

This sermon discusses the ways in which each age has made God in the image of its age and concludes with Davis' view on the image of God in his day: "No, I do not believe in a far-off God who rules the world of men, as a king rules his empire. No, I do not believe in a God who has made us ignorant without the capacity of learning, or evil without the power of God. No, I do not believe in …

A More Abundant Life, Earl Clement Davis

Sermons, 1905-1919

An abundant life is what we all aim for. But what is an abundant life? Davis suggests it is a life committed heart and soul to realizing the ideals of man -- truth, beauty and justice for all. Sermon is constructed around the June emergence of plant life and the myth of the Vision of Sir Launfal and his search for the Holy Grail. We are in a better position now to find--to make--the Holy Grail.

Date refers to Date Given

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

Theodore Parker, The Man Of Conviction, Earl Clement Davis

Sermons, 1905-1919

This is from the bound collection —“bundle #5”— that includes sermons from January 2, 1910 to January 15, 1911. Also included in the supplementary files are notes that Earl Davis wrote for this sermon. There are separate files for the original document scan and its transcription.

A brief discussion of Theodore Parker, ardent 19th century liberal Unitarian and abolitionist: an intellectually learned and brave man who was ahead of his times -- and suffered for it. Davis says:

"He is tremendously interesting for the romance of his own life, but he is not less so for the work that he …

Socialism: A Reply To The Common Assertion That The Socialist Movement Is Atheistic, Irreligious, And A Menace To The Family, Earl Clement Davis, Pittsfield Socialist Local

Manuscripts

This 16-page pamphlet, published by the Pittsfield Socialist Local, lays out Earl Davis's case for the socialism, rebutting the common myths and fears surrounding its supposed threat to religion. Davis's interest in and support of socialism makes its way into his sermons, his writing, and his involvement with workers rights during his time in Pittsfield, MA.

Is There Any Sense In Praying?, Earl Clement Davis

Sermons, 1905-1919

This is from the bound collection—“bundle #5”—that includes sermons from January 2, 1910 to January 15, 1911.

In this sermon, Davis says that if one thinks of God as a "big man," then prayer makes sense -- one is asking something in the same way that subjects might ask something of their king. But if God is immanent in everything in the universe, then such prayer makes no sense. And yet prayer does make sense as the recognition of the finite in the infinite. Davis write that "The moment of prayer is the moment we feel ourselves a part of …

An Appeal For Self-Assertion, Earl Clement Davis

Sermons, 1905-1919

Davis describes humanity as directed by two impulses: "In the first place, by the impulse to live a full, rich, abundant life, and in the second place, to assure to our children all that we have had and more." Davis believes the second to be more powerful.

This is from the bound collection—“bundle #5”—that includes sermons from January 2, 1910 to January 15, 1911.

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 …

Marriage And Divorce [Twine Bound Bundle], Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts

This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound collection. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911. The United States went through a recession in 1908, and there was increasing labor unrest, including a general strike in Philadelphia in 1910. These difficulties provide some of the backdrop to these manuscripts.

One of the manuscripts, “What About City Government,” has a clear notation that it was written for the “Pipe and Pen Club,” presumably some periodic gathering to discuss issues of the day. It is possible that all – or …

The Churches And Socialism [Twine Bound Bundle], Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts

This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound collection. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911.

This is a long piece (and one of the essential ones in this collection), covering a lot of ground with fairly "sharp edges." There are three major sections, (1) on churches as institutions, (2) on the role of churches with current social problems, (3) the relation of churches to socialism. Earl Davis finds himself on the "revolutionary" end of this spectrum. He writes, "it is a fight between those, who by means …

Churches For Truth And Justice [Twine Bound Bundle], Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts

This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound collection. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911. The United States went through a recession in 1908, and there was increasing labor unrest, including a general strike in Philadelphia in 1910. These difficulties provide some of the backdrop to these manuscripts.

One of the manuscripts, “What about City Government,” has a clear notation that it was written for the “Pipe and Pen Club,” presumably some periodic gathering to discuss issues of the day. It is possible that all – or …

The Work Of A Church Today [Twine Bound Bundle], Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts

This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound bundle. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911. The United States went through a recession in 1908, and there was increasing labor unrest, including a general strike in Philadelphia in 1910. These difficulties provide some of the backdrop to these manuscripts.

One of the manuscripts, “What about City Government,” has a clear notation that it was written for the “Pipe and Pen Club,” presumably some periodic gathering to discuss issues of the day. It is possible that all – or …

The Class Struggle [Twine Bound Bundle), Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts

This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound bundle. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911. The United States went through a recession in 1908, and there was increasing labor unrest, including a general strike in Philadelphia in 1910. These difficulties provide some of the backdrop to these manuscripts, including this one here.

One of the manuscripts, “What about City Government,” has a clear notation that it was written for the “Pipe and Pen Club,” presumably some periodic gathering to discuss issues of the day. It is possible …

Social Ideal Of The Modern World, Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts

This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound collection. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911. The United States went through a recession in 1908, and there was increasing labor unrest, including a general strike in Philadelphia in 1910. These difficulties provide some of the backdrop to these manuscripts.

One of the manuscripts, “What about City Government,” has a clear notation that it was written for the “Pipe and Pen Club,” presumably some periodic gathering to discuss issues of the day. It is possible that all – or …

Socialism, Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts

These notes were found in Earl Davis' writing desk in a folder titled "Agitator". The Agitator was a short-lived radical, socialist leaning newspaper published between 1910 and 1912. These are mostly likely notes that Davis took from one of their articles. The notes lay out the specific program of Socialism and its accomplishments to date (1910). A lot of the early text is identical to the The Constructive Program of Socialism (1908) by Carl D. Thompson, then city clerk in Milwaukee's Socialist administration.

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

What About City Government, Pipe And Pen Club [Twine Bound Bundle], Earl Clement Davis

Manuscripts

This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound bundle. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911. The United States went through a recession in 1908, and there was increasing labor unrest, including a general strike in Philadelphia in 1910. These difficulties provide some of the backdrop to these manuscripts.

This particular manuscript has a clear notation that it was written for the “Pipe and Pen Club,” presumably some periodic gathering to discuss issues of the day. It is possible that all – or nearly all – of these …