religion and society in america week 6 – lecture 1 america’s missionary zeal: the paradox of...

Religion and Society Religion and Society in Americain AmericaWeek 6 – Lecture 1Week 6 – Lecture 1

America’s Missionary Zeal:America’s Missionary Zeal:The Paradox of Native American The Paradox of Native American

MissionsMissions

America’s Missionary Zeal: The America’s Missionary Zeal: The Paradox of Native American Paradox of Native American

MissionsMissions America’s Changing ErrandAmerica’s Changing Errand Tensions Among 19Tensions Among 19thth Century Century

MissionariesMissionaries Missions to Native AmericansMissions to Native Americans

America’s Changing ErrandAmerica’s Changing Errand

Foreign missions reaches its heyday Foreign missions reaches its heyday circa 1880 – 1930circa 1880 – 1930

At nadir, missions effort was a At nadir, missions effort was a massive affair involving tens of massive affair involving tens of thousands of Americansthousands of Americans

Benevolent organizations in Benevolent organizations in antebellum are modest in antebellum are modest in comparison, but prevalent comparison, but prevalent nonethelessnonetheless


Antebellum mission efforts largely Antebellum mission efforts largely influenced by evangelicalisminfluenced by evangelicalism

Generally inward, not outward Generally inward, not outward looking when it came to reforming looking when it came to reforming societiessocieties

1820s – 1860s: Formation of cultural 1820s – 1860s: Formation of cultural nationalism and hemispheric thinking nationalism and hemispheric thinking among Americansamong Americans


Approximately 2,000 foreign missionaries Approximately 2,000 foreign missionaries dispatched to foreign countries during a dispatched to foreign countries during a sixty year period (1800 – 1860)sixty year period (1800 – 1860)

Countercyclical gesture to nationalism of Countercyclical gesture to nationalism of the periodthe period

Missionaries were obliged to report back to Missionaries were obliged to report back to home churcheshome churches

Reports both inspired and shamed those Reports both inspired and shamed those able bodies not willing to carry out the able bodies not willing to carry out the charge of the Great Commissioncharge of the Great Commission


Missions understood, in part, not Missions understood, in part, not simply as the improvement of “pagan” simply as the improvement of “pagan” or “heathen” populations, but also for or “heathen” populations, but also for the health and fulfillment of churches the health and fulfillment of churches in the United Statesin the United States

This understanding of mission becomes This understanding of mission becomes subtly wedded to zeal of nationalistic subtly wedded to zeal of nationalistic expansionist ideals. Missionaries expansionist ideals. Missionaries seldom, if ever, divorced missionary seldom, if ever, divorced missionary arguments from nationalist ideology arguments from nationalist ideology


William Hutchinson – “One can best chart a William Hutchinson – “One can best chart a path through these mission ideologies, can path through these mission ideologies, can begin to organize the varied prescriptions begin to organize the varied prescriptions without doing violence to them, by calling without doing violence to them, by calling attention at the outset to the ways in which attention at the outset to the ways in which mission theories affirmed Western and mission theories affirmed Western and American culture; and then to the ways in American culture; and then to the ways in which they either disavowed elements of which they either disavowed elements of both, or attempted for practical reasons to both, or attempted for practical reasons to divorce the Christian message and outreach divorce the Christian message and outreach from the cultural trappings.”from the cultural trappings.”

Tensions Among 19Tensions Among 19thth Century Century MissionariesMissionaries

Internal tensions that were Internal tensions that were significant. Considerable division significant. Considerable division within mission boards and among within mission boards and among missionaries concerning the missionaries concerning the character of mission and its character of mission and its relationship to commercial, military, relationship to commercial, military, and diplomatic effortsand diplomatic efforts


Prophetic voices within movement, Prophetic voices within movement, often rare, critical of the assumptions often rare, critical of the assumptions of missionary program--particularly of missionary program--particularly the means employed by some the means employed by some missionary boardsmissionary boards


Nagging question – To what extent must Nagging question – To what extent must Western or American values be Western or American values be transmitted to subjects of mission transmitted to subjects of mission program?program?

Missionary programs experience triumphs Missionary programs experience triumphs and severe defeatsand severe defeats

Missions to Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) Missions to Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) were met with spectacular success (1810 – were met with spectacular success (1810 – 1850), unlike those efforts to Native 1850), unlike those efforts to Native AmericansAmericans

Missions to Native Missions to Native AmericansAmericans

““We are not commanded to teach We are not commanded to teach schools in order to undermine schools in order to undermine paganism…If this is our duty, the paganism…If this is our duty, the command must be found in another command must be found in another gospel; it is not found in the gospel gospel; it is not found in the gospel of Jesus Christ” – Francis Wayland, of Jesus Christ” – Francis Wayland, 18531853


Francis Wayland (1796-1865)Francis Wayland (1796-1865) Pastor of First Baptist Church, Boston Pastor of First Baptist Church, Boston

1821-18261821-1826 Pioneer in progressive ideas Pioneer in progressive ideas

concerning higher educationconcerning higher education President of Brown (1827-1855)President of Brown (1827-1855)


American Board of Commissioners American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) – for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) – founded in 1810founded in 1810

ABCFM accounted for 80% of all ABCFM accounted for 80% of all missionary activities in Americamissionary activities in America

Reformed bodies (Presbyterians and Reformed bodies (Presbyterians and Congregationalists in particular) Congregationalists in particular) make up nearly 40% of participants make up nearly 40% of participants during antebellumduring antebellum


Two distinct stages of missionary Two distinct stages of missionary efforts to Native Americans:efforts to Native Americans:

1817 ABCFM establishes missions and 1817 ABCFM establishes missions and schools to four principal tribes in the schools to four principal tribes in the Old Southwest—Cherokees, Choctaws, Old Southwest—Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Creeks—also work Chickasaws, and Creeks—also work among Osage tribes of Missouriamong Osage tribes of Missouri

1830 – President Jackson’s Indian 1830 – President Jackson’s Indian removal policy institutedremoval policy instituted


Missionaries follow westward Missionaries follow westward movement of tribes and also begin movement of tribes and also begin work among the Pawnee, Nez Percé, work among the Pawnee, Nez Percé, Sioux, etc.Sioux, etc.


First stage 1817 – 1830First stage 1817 – 1830 Heartening results:Heartening results: Thirty-three mission stations (apparent Thirty-three mission stations (apparent

receptivity of missionaries among native receptivity of missionaries among native populations)populations)

900 Indian converts900 Indian converts 1,000 Indian students attending schools1,000 Indian students attending schools Literacy rates nearly 50% in some tribes Literacy rates nearly 50% in some tribes


Western “assimilation” of Indian culture Western “assimilation” of Indian culture marks the first stage’s missionary effortmarks the first stage’s missionary effort

1816 - Samuel Worcester described 1816 - Samuel Worcester described board’s objectives (ABCFM) as “Civilizing board’s objectives (ABCFM) as “Civilizing and Christianizing” in that orderand Christianizing” in that order

Westernization was proposed alternative Westernization was proposed alternative to stagnationto stagnation

Jedidiah Morse speaking of increasing Jedidiah Morse speaking of increasing intermarriage opportunities suggested – intermarriage opportunities suggested – “They would then be literally of one blood “They would then be literally of one blood with us, merged in the nation, and saved with us, merged in the nation, and saved from extinction.”from extinction.”


Morse’s notion is soon tested showing the Morse’s notion is soon tested showing the limits of Northern tolerance for racial equalitylimits of Northern tolerance for racial equality

Cornwall School, Cornwall ConnecticutCornwall School, Cornwall Connecticut Cherokee leader Elias Boudinot marries a Cherokee leader Elias Boudinot marries a

white women in 1825white women in 1825 Vocal opposition was led by Reverend Lyman Vocal opposition was led by Reverend Lyman

Beecher and area residentsBeecher and area residents ABCFM’s board takes virtually no action ABCFM’s board takes virtually no action

concerning the marriage to the dismay of concerning the marriage to the dismay of many many


Jeremiah Evarts, the board’s secretary, Jeremiah Evarts, the board’s secretary, delivers a written response asking, delivers a written response asking, “How does it appear to be the will of “How does it appear to be the will of God that individuals of different tribes God that individuals of different tribes and nations not intermarry? Is there and nations not intermarry? Is there anything in the Bible, that asserts or anything in the Bible, that asserts or implies, that man and wife be precisely implies, that man and wife be precisely the same complexion…”the same complexion…”

Cornwall School closed two years later Cornwall School closed two years later


By the 1830s and in light of Jackson’s By the 1830s and in light of Jackson’s removal policy, missionaries find removal policy, missionaries find themselves in a troubling positionthemselves in a troubling position

To “civilize” their subjects, the tribes To “civilize” their subjects, the tribes must live near the American majority must live near the American majority culture. Yet, the Federal government culture. Yet, the Federal government is pushing them farther West where is pushing them farther West where the closest encounters are the the closest encounters are the American frontierAmerican frontier


Some missionaries resist the Some missionaries resist the government’s removal policies and face government’s removal policies and face imprisonment in the state of Georgiaimprisonment in the state of Georgia

One episode resulted in the One episode resulted in the missionaries championing of missionaries championing of intermarriage among the races, now intermarriage among the races, now viewed as an extremely radical positionviewed as an extremely radical position

Apprehensions build both internally and Apprehensions build both internally and externally concerning missionsexternally concerning missions


““Restrained enthusiasm” for missions becomes Restrained enthusiasm” for missions becomes apparent in both theoretical and practical apparent in both theoretical and practical issues issues

Societies apprehensive to invest monies into Societies apprehensive to invest monies into practices seemingly contradictory of U.S. practices seemingly contradictory of U.S. policypolicy

Growth of American colleges provides Growth of American colleges provides alternative training groundsalternative training grounds

Those hoping to “civilize” native populations Those hoping to “civilize” native populations concerned with “showiness” of missionary concerned with “showiness” of missionary effortsefforts


Mission schools – concentrated Mission schools – concentrated populations and the spreading of populations and the spreading of diseasedisease

Initial success of missionary efforts in Initial success of missionary efforts in native languages by the 1830s native languages by the 1830s creates hurdles for a generation of creates hurdles for a generation of new missionaries facing budgetary new missionaries facing budgetary cuts, new languages/tribes to cuts, new languages/tribes to encounter, and emphasis of encounter, and emphasis of evangelicals concerning conversionevangelicals concerning conversion


Forced and voluntary removals Forced and voluntary removals coupled with pressures of white coupled with pressures of white settlement create nearly impossible settlement create nearly impossible conditions for missionariesconditions for missionaries

1880s – missions to Indians closed1880s – missions to Indians closed Bewilderment for many involvedBewilderment for many involved

religion and society in america week 6 – lecture 1 america’s missionary zeal: the paradox of...

Documents

errand missions

errand americas

errand foreign missions

foreign missionaries

native americans missions

missions effort

period missionaries

americas missionary