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September 18, 1814, Pro War of 1812 Sermon by William Ellery Channing, Boston

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:400.00 - 500.00 USD
September 18, 1814, Pro War of 1812 Sermon by William Ellery Channing, Boston
War of 1812
Pro “War of 1812” Sermon by William Ellery Channing, Boston, “Published at the Request of the Hearers.”
September 18, 1814-Dated, Pro War War of 1812 Imprint, Sermon by William Ellery Channing, Minister of the Church in Federal-Street, Boston, 19-pages, Complete, Choice Very Fine.
Rare historic content Imprint, measuring about 5.75” x 9”, 19-pages, titled, "A Sermon Delivered in Boston, September 18, 1814, “Published at the Request of the Hearers. By William Ellery Channing, Minister of the Church in Federal-Street., Published by Henry Channing, Boston, 1814.” He was a grandson of William Ellery (1727–1820), a Signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, Deputy Governor of Rhode Island, Chief Justice, and influential citizen. This is a pro War of 1812 imprint. 19 pages plus covers, complete, string bound, being an important 1814 Sermon delivered in Boston by William Ellery Channing, on Sept. 18, 1814, less than a month since the British Burned Washington, D.C., in which he refers to, in part:

"the sad reverse which this country exhibits", noting that "but a few years ago, we stood on the eminence of prosperity. Amidst the storms which desolated nations, we were at peace... And is it indeed true, that from this height we have sunk so low, that our commerce is swept from the ocean, that industry has forsaken our cities, that the husbandman has resigned the ploughshare for the sword, that our confidence is changed into fear, that the tumult of business has given place to the din of arms, that some of our citizens are perishing in foreign prisons, and others shedding blood on a foreign soil, that hostile fleets scatter terror through our coasts, and flames through our cities, that no man feels secure, that the thought of invasion and slaughter mingles with the labours of the day, and disturbs the slumbers of the night, and that our national government, empoverished, and inefficient, can afford us no protection from such imminent danger? Yes - this is true - we need no reasoning to convince us of its truth...."

Channing urges the people of American to better fulfill their duties both to God (by being more pious and virtuous), and to their country (by having more patriotism). This is a scarce War of 1812 imprint, and a scarce sectarian topic for a sermon, which is explained by Channing in the note on the half-title page, which reads:

"In the present state of our country, the author has not felt himself at liberty to reject the urgency of those, who have requested this discourse for the press. It is always with great reluctance that he addresses the publick on political subjects. But the moment has come, when private feelings are to be discarded. A good citizen owes himself to his country, and he will withhold no effort, however feeble, which may purify and elevate publick sentiment, or in any manner contribute to publick safety." Even clean light tone, pages well printed and crisp, pages untrimmed as made. This important sermon is lacking in most all collections.
William Ellery Channing (April 7, 1780 – October 2, 1842) was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton (1786–1853), one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. Channing was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker in the liberal theology of the day.

His religion and thought were among the chief influences on the New England Transcendentalists although he never countenanced their views, which he saw as extreme. His espousal of the developing philosophy and theology of Unitarianism was displayed especially in his "Baltimore Sermon" of May 5, 1819, given at the ordination of the theologian and educator Jared Sparks (1789–1866) as the first minister of the newly organized First Independent Church of Baltimore.

Channing, the son of William Channing and Lucy Ellery, was born April 7, 1780, in Newport, Rhode Island. He was a grandson of William Ellery (1727–1820), a Signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, Deputy Governor of Rhode Island, Chief Justice, and influential citizen.

As a child, he was cared for by the formerly enslaved woman Duchess Quamino, who later influenced his views on abolitionism. He became a New England liberal, rejecting the Calvinist doctrines of total depravity and divine election.