Seven Wise Men of Colonial America

Richard M. Gummere

Published by Harvard University Press 1967

Seven Wise Men of Colonial America

Richard M. Gummere

https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674284500

Overview
Contents

About this book

Richard M. Gummere, writing with characteristic warmth and humor, explores the attitudes toward the classics of seven prominent colonial Americans--Hugh Jones, Robert Calef, Michael Wigglesworth, Samuel Davies, Henry Melhior Muhlenberg, Benjamin Rush, and Thomas Paine.

A companion volume to the author's The American Colonial Mind and the Classical Tradition, this book provides separate, absorbing biographies of these "seven wise men." Each of them was essentially pragmatic and judged the value of the classics not only on the basis of their intrinsic worth but also for their relevance to contemporary problems.

Hugh Jones--who advocated a practical training for the youth of Colonial Virginia--and Benjamin Rush questioned particularly the value of the classics as a requisite part of the school curriculum, although granting their importance for college admission and professional careers. Thomas Paine, openly skeptical about the wisdom of studying Greek and Latin in the original, scattered references in translation throughout his writings, so that he often seems to be "a classicist malgré lui."

Higglesworth, Davies, and Muhlenberg regarded the ancient languages as aids to the understanding of Christian theology and as basic preparation for both the minister and the layman. Wigglesworth, at home in both ancient and modern literature, peppered his sermons with Latin quotations, but took care to keep his interpolations strictly subservient to the Gospel.

Some academicians and religious leaders adapted or even misinterpreted the classics in order to find in them support for various moralistic positions. Robert Calef opposed this disingenuousness and debated vigorously with Cotton Mather the evils of the Salem witch trial convictions, whose virtue Mather sought to prove by citing classical myths and legends. Calef raised a seemingly lone voice in his plea for a Christian policy of forbearance and understanding.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
PREFACE Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	xi
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	xiii
The Reverend Hugh Jones A Spiritual Pragmatist Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Robert Calef Critic of Witchcraft Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	12
Michael Wigglesworth From Kill-joy to Comforter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	25
Sam Davies A Voice for Religious Freedom Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	41
Henry Melchior Muhlenberg A Spiritual Trouble-shooter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	50
Benjamin Rush A Classical Doctor's Dilemma Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	64
Thomas Paine Was He Really Anti-classical? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	81
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	97
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Copyright year: 1967
Edition: Reprint 2014
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Front matter: 11
- Main content: 114
Keywords: PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical; HISTORY / United States / Colonial Period (1600-1775); HISTORY / United States / General; United States -- History -- Colonial period, approximately 1600-1775 -- Biography.

eBook

Published: October 1, 2013
ISBN: 9780674284500

Hardcover

Published: February 5, 1967
ISBN: 9780674284494