A Prophet of Democracy (Commencement Address)

Earl Davis\u27 commencement address in the 1904 Harvard Commencement program on his thesis A Prophet of Democracy . The subject of his thesis was John Wise (1652-1725), a minister in Ipswich who fought for the principle of no taxation without representation. This speaks to Davis\u27 early interest in government and the role of the people\u27s voice in being governed.https://commons.clarku.edu/education/1001/thumbnail.jp

Fall 1908 Sermons [List and Announcements]

Here is a list of all the sermons for Fall, 1908 made from the subsequent document a series of notices of sermons for September through December 1908. These included several paragraph pulpits, which gave a kind of one-paragraph abstract of a sermon. It seems almost certain that these sheets were used for announcements made in the local newspaper about upcoming services. Sermon topics included several on labor problems, problems with wealth accumulation and disparity, discussions of the nature of religion and the place of the church in religious observation (aimed at non-attenders) among others. Only a few of these sheets have dates on them. But the titles of the sermons coordinate with sermon manuscripts that are dated. In a few cases, dates have been extrapolated. In mid-October Earl Davis made a decision to offer a Sunday evening service in addition to the Sunday morning service. The announcement sheets include a short explanation for what he hoped to accomplish with the evening services. 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.https://commons.clarku.edu/pittsfield_sermons/1028/thumbnail.jp

Why Cardinal O\u27Connell is Wrong! [Three Bound Bundle]

A long essay responding to a talk by Cardinal O\u27Connell of Boston. Unfortunately, we are unable to identify which talk Earl Davis is responding to. The piece is Davis\u27 most complete argument against authority religion and in favor of democracy and freedom in religious considerations. He discusses previous failures in infallible religion, including Coperincus/Galileo, Darwin, and the morality of earning interest. He states that we will never outgrow religion, but we will outgrow certain religious institutions -- including, in Davis\u27 view, all authority religions. 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.https://commons.clarku.edu/pittsfield_manuscripts/1037/thumbnail.jp

Final Report of the Commission on Free Publications of the American Unitarian Association

Earl Davis chaired this Commission that made recommendations concerning materials that the American Unitarian Association made available free of charge to various audiences. Also included here is a letter from Elizabeth Spalding who provided administrative assistance to the Commission. 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.https://commons.clarku.edu/concord_manuscripts/1003/thumbnail.jp

The Village Church

Davis, Earl Clement. The Village Church . The Christian Register, Unitarian, March 1944, vol. 123, no. 3, pp. 92-93. A meditation on the role of the village church and its prospects for the future. Davis is mindful of the ongoing war, the wrecked harvest of a tragic era , and attentive to the fact that the young men going to war continue to want to be recognized in the church: They should contain the seeds of a better harvest. 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.https://commons.clarku.edu/petersham_publications/1004/thumbnail.jp

A Sermon on Patriotism

This is from the bound collection—“bundle #6”—that is labeled “Sermons During the War.” In this collection were two sermons that noted in their first paragraph a request to ministers to preach a patriotic sermon, this one, and “The Spirit of ‘76.” Both appear to be incomplete given their abrupt endings. Thus, our best guess is that these are two different attempts to draft “a patriotic sermon.” Neither has an explicit date. But internal evidence in “A Sermon on Patriotism” clearly dates them to April 15, 1917, very shortly after the United States entered “the Great War,” April 6, 1917. Davis\u27 view of the war is that it started as the old authoritarian order of empire was crumbling, and will emerge as a victory for democracy. 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.https://commons.clarku.edu/pittsfield_sermons/1042/thumbnail.jp

Why the Birth of Jesus is Celebrated?

In Earl Davis\u27s later years, he used shorthand for his sermons. Here, Davis states that we celebrate the birth of Jesus because of the faith he had -- his consecration to a great and generous purpose -- and the fact that he made good when tested, even unto death. Date refers to Date Given and 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.https://commons.clarku.edu/petersham_sermons/1004/thumbnail.jp

Report to the Parish

This is from the third bound collection that includes sermons from 1908, along with a couple of reports, such as this one. So, while not explicitly dated, it is very likely from 1908. A report to the members of the Unity Church that includes the good news that the church will receive support from four of the largest and most efficient Unitarian churches to help continue the idealistic work of the Unity church. Davis talks about the responsibility and aims of this work. 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.https://commons.clarku.edu/pittsfield_manuscripts/1039/thumbnail.jp

Report to the Unity Workers

This is from the third bound collection that includes sermons from 1908, along with a couple of reports, such as this one. So, while not explicitly dated, it is very likely from 1908. A report to the people who work at the Unity Church and/or volunteer to support Church operations. Opens by thanking them for stopping certain work, almost certainly referencing Earl Davis putting a stop to the running of church fairs and suppers as a means to support the church and its minister. Tells the workers of support provided by outside (see Report to the Parish for 1908). Davis also makes specific suggestions to work in the coming year, including occasional parish suppers and socials (with the social goal taking priority over revenue), sewing activities, support for church members, and outreach efforts. 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.https://commons.clarku.edu/pittsfield_manuscripts/1040/thumbnail.jp

The Open Way and the Life of Man

This sermon concerns the relationship between humans and the Unseen, referring to God and/or the underlying principles of order and morality of the universe. This sermon is from the bound collection that includes sermons from May 24, 1908 to August 9, 1908. This document is incomplete and only contains the first two of five sections of the sermon. The outline, included in the supplemental materials, gives an overview of the sermon\u27s entirety. 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. Also included in the supplemental files are Davis\u27 original outline for this sermon as well as Davis Baird\u27s transcription. Transcription by Davis Baird. Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.https://commons.clarku.edu/pittsfield_sermons/1067/thumbnail.jp