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Early American Places is a collaborative project of the University of Georgia Press, New York University Press, Northern Illinois University Press, and the University of Nebraska Press. The series is supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. For more information, please visit www.earlyamericanplaces.org.
ADVISORY BOARD
Vincent Brown, Duke University
Stephanie M. H. Camp, University of Washington
Andrew Cayton, Miami University
Cornelia Hughes Dayton, University of Connecticut
Nicole Eustace, New York University
Amy S. Greenberg, Pennsylvania State University
Ramón A. Gutiérrez, University of Chicago
Peter Charles Hoffer, University of Georgia
Karen Ordahl Kupperman, New York University
Joshua Piker, University of Oklahoma
Mark M. Smith, University of South Carolina
Rosemarie Zagarri, George Mason University
Four Steeples over the City Streets
Religion and Society in New York’s Early Republic Congregations
Kyle T. Bulthuis
New York University Press
New York and London
New York University Press
New York and London
© 2014 by New York University
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-In-Publication Data
Bulthuis, Kyle T.
Four steeples over the city streets : religion and society in New York’s early republic congregations / Kyle T. Bulthuis.
pages cm. — (Early American places)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4798-1427-5 (cl : alk. paper)
1. New York (N.Y.)—Church history—19th century. 2. New York (N.Y.)—Church history—18th century. I. Title.
BR560.N4B85 2014
277.47’1081—dc23
2014015104
References to Internet Web sites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author nor New York University Press is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared.
Chapter 6 appeared in slightly different form as “Preacher Politics and People Power: Congregational Conflicts in New York City, 1810–1830,” by Kyle T. Bulthuis, Church History, Volume 78, Issue 02 (2009), pp. 261–82. Copyright © 2009 American Society of Church History. Reprinted with the permission of Cambridge University Press.
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability. We strive to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the greatest extent possible in publishing our books.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: The Pursuit of Religious, Racial, and Social Unity in an Early Republic Metropolis
1. The Foundations of Religious Establishment: The Colonial Era
2. Religious Establishment Challenged, Destroyed, and Re-formed: The Revolutionary Era
3. Creating Merchant Churches: The 1790s
4. Stepping Up and Out: White Women in the Church, 1800–1820
5. Gendering Race in the Church: Black Male Benevolence, 1800–1820
6. Preacher Power: Congregational Political Struggles as Social Conflicts, 1810–1830
7. Neighborly Refinement and Withdrawal: 1820–1840
8. Reaping the Whirlwind: Immigration and Riot, 1830–1850
Conclusion. Elusive Unity: City Churches in a Romantic Age, after 1840
Notes
Bibliography
About the Author
Acknowledgments
My wise advisor once remarked that academic research is a communal undertaking that masquerades as individual effort. This work is no exception, although any faults that remain are my own, including if I have overlooked any individuals here.
Graduate study is an apprenticeship, and often the graduate apprentice’s work depends upon the skills of the master. There is perhaps no better master in the field of the early Republic than Alan Taylor. Alan wore many hats: a financier in keeping me funded through graduate school, a pathfinder through the thickets of early Republic historiography, a militia drillmaster in the mechanics of efficient prose, and Federalist father of the Davis chapter of townball players. I am grateful for his guidance. As for my other committee members, Steve Deyle ran wonderful graduate seminars, and introduced me to NYU Press and Debbie Gershenowitz. A patient reader of multiple drafts, Clarence Walker regularly displayed his unique blend of erudition, iconoclasm, and kindness. The transformation of this work from dissertation to book was extensive. Many archivists provided important aid in this project, especially Gwynydd Cannan at Trinity Church Archives and Kristin Miller of the American Bible Society. For help with images, thanks especially to Chris Anderson of Drew University, Joellen Elbashir of Howard University, and Maryellen Blumlein of the Sisters of Charity. I am indebted to the institutions that helped fund my research, particularly the Gilder-Lehrman Institute in this project’s earliest phase, and the Office of the Vice-President for Research at Utah State University in the final stages. I am grateful for my editors, Debbie Gershenowitz, who shepherded this manuscript in its early form, and Clara Platter, who helpfully brought this book to completion. Thanks also to Constance Grady, my anonymous reviewers, and NYU Press. Alanna Beason’s work on the maps was invaluable.
I am indebted to those history department administrators who helped in numerous ways, large and small, including Debbie Lyon, Gloria Kennison, Sharon Roehling, Sara Brown, Sharon Lee, Diane Buist, and Monica Ingold. Tammy Proctor has proven a wise leader and good friend as history department chair at Utah State University. Among the many friends and colleagues who have provided support in good times and bad, thanks are especially due to Eric Bryden, Robert Chester, Annika Frieberg, Steve Fountain,
