Item #14021 Defence of Rev. Charles W. Denison from the Slanders of the Boston Baptist Bethel Society, and First Baptist Church: Showing the Interest Taken in the Affair by "Elder Nathaniel Culver." Slander, Charles Denison, Baptists, heeler.

Defence of Rev. Charles W. Denison from the Slanders of the Boston Baptist Bethel Society, and First Baptist Church: Showing the Interest Taken in the Affair by "Elder Nathaniel Culver."

[Boston:]: Published under the Sanction of the Independent Bethel Union of the Port of Boston, 1846. First edition. 8vo, original printed wrappers, 60 pages. A little split along the spine (but sound); some light soil and wear; a very good copy. Item #14021

The reform-minded Rev. Denison had concurrently started the Bethel Union, a temperance ministry for the seamen of Boston, and the religio-nautical paper Sheet Anchor with the blessing of local Baptist churches--including (it appears) such tangible blessings as several loans to Denison which he subsequently had trouble repaying. Soon notices were appearing in local newspapers maligning Denison's character, he was dismissed from the First Baptist Church, his library was attached and sold off at auction, etc. Denison defends himself here at length, with numerous testimonials to his own character and work--the whole salted with entertainingly pugnacious attacks against his attackers: "Who is he that is thus privily slandering his neighbor? I answer, he is the Rev. William Crowell, Editor of the Christian Watchman, Boston . . . the same 'individual' who once thought a poem of mine--'The Burial of Knowles'--good enough to be copied into his paper, but too good to have my name attached to it! He is the same 'individual' who, (if report speaks truly,) *allowed his own father to go the Poor House, to be supported as a pauper!* And yet this 'individual' talks about *his* being 'in no sense responsible for the character of Mr. Charles W. Denison!' *He* 'responsible' for my character!" Denison appears to have come out of this contretemps relatively unscathed, marrying the writer Mary Andrews Denison in 1846 and soon involved in publishing The Olive Branch and remaining active in abolitionist and temperance circles. Starr, Baptist Bibliography, D1445.

Price: $225.00