PREACHER

[‘I don’t care where I get to if I am only inside the gate’: Thomas De Witt Talmage, prominent American preacher.] Autograph Letter Signed to an English preacher (‘brother’), describing his hard work preaching and converting.

Author: 
Thomas De Witt Talmage (1832-1902), prominent American Presbyterian, one of the most popular preachers of his day
Publication details: 
16 December 1893; on letterhead of ‘The Christian at Work’, 102 Chambers Street, New York.
£50.00

In his 1902 biography L. A. Banks quotes Dr David Gregg of Brooklyn: ‘There is but one man in the American pulpit that can draw, and hold, and thrill, twice every Sabbath the year round, an audience of 8,000. There is but one man on the globe that preaches the Gospel every week through the press to 25,000,000.’ 3pp, 8vo. Bifolium, with the final page written lengthwise on the reverse of the first leaf. In good condition, on discoloured paper, with remains of stub adhering to blank reverse of second leaf, which also carries a pin hole to one corner. The recipient is unidentified.

[Frederick William Robertson, celebrated Victorian preacher and theologian, admired by Dickens.] Autograph Letter Signed to ‘Miss Smith’, playfully offering to assist her in her ‘atheistical’ and her sister in her’demonological investigations’.

Author: 
Frederick William Robertson (1816-1853), Anglican preacher and theologian, Oxford friend of Ruskin, admired by Dickens, patronized by Lord Shaftesbury and the Marquis of Lansdowne
Publication details: 
8 November [no year]; 60 Montpellier Road [Brighton].
£60.00

An amusing and entertaining letter from a man destined for ‘une triste vie et une triste ministère’ (see his entry in the Oxford DNB). 3pp, 16mo. Bifolium. Thirty-seven lines of text, neatly and closely written. In fair condition, worn and grubby. Folded twice for postage. Signed ‘Fred: W: Robertson’. Begins: ‘My dear Miss Smith / Could you but see the piles of books & papers that are as yet only partially disinterred from their temporary coffins you would conceive my dismay and despair at your question. I will become a disciple of Comte to please you.

[Thomas Binney, Congregational minister known as the ‘Archbishop of Nonconformity’.] The first part only of an Autograph Letter, discussing his writing a preface for a work by ‘the blind eloquent American’ [William Henry Milburn].

Author: 
Thomas Binney [Thomas Benney] (1798-1874), Congregational minister known as the ‘Archbishop of Nonconformity’ [William Henry Milburn (1823-1903), ‘the blind preacher’]
Publication details: 
‘Walworth [London] / Octr 31. 1856’.
£40.00

See Binney’s entry in the Oxford DNB. 4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. The present item is only the first part of the letter, and hence unsigned, but the author is undoubtedly Binney (the text ends with a reference to ‘my preface to Dr Cheever’s “Incidents & Memories of the Christian Life,” published by Collins of Glasgow’). In good condition, lightly aged. Folded for postage. The recipient is not named, but the subject of the letter is a proposal for Binney to prepare for English publication a work by ‘the blind eloquent American’ (i.e. William Henry Milburn).

[Dr Thomas Guthrie, Scottish divine and popular preacher, leader of the temperance and Ragged School movements.] Autograph Letter Signed, acknowledging a 'Kind Gift of £1 to the Original Ragged School'.

Author: 
Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873), Scottish divine and philanthropist, one of the most popular preachers of his day in Scotland, where he was a leader of the temperance and Ragged School movements
Publication details: 
16 February 1872. 28 Westbourne Terrace, London.
£50.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. 1p, 16mo. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, and folded twice for postage. Firmly written in a somewhat florid hand. Reads: ‘Dear Sir / Accept my Grateful thanks for your Kind Gift of £1 to the Original Ragged School & believe me with much respect yours truly / Thomas Guthrie’.

[H. R. Haweis [Hugh Reginald Haweis], cleric and musicologist, editor of Cassell’s Magazine.] Autograph Card Signed to John Bacon of Blackburn, regarding his next work, and the provision of photographic portraits of him.

Author: 
H. R. Haweis [Hugh Reginald Haweis] (1838-1901), Church of England cleric and musicologist, editor of Cassell’s Magazine, husband of the illustrator Mary Haweis (1848-1898)
Publication details: 
‘Amber House July 11’ [with St John’s Wood postmark of 11 July 1882].
£50.00

See his entry, and that of his wife, in the Oxford DNB. Plain postcard addressed by Haweis to ‘John Bacon Esqr / 48 Griffin St / Wilton / Blackburn’. In fair condition, discoloured and worn. Reads: ‘Dear Sir. / My next work will be duly advertised. My photographs can be got from Fry & Co. 68 East St. Brighton (& my wife’s also). Thanks for all kind words. / H R Haweis. / Amber House July 11’.

[‘The most remarkable pulpit orator of his time’: James Parsons of York, Congregational minister.] Autograph Letter Signed to Rev. J. Rawlinson, discussing his ‘intended retirement from my Pastorate in York’.

Author: 
James Parsons (1799-1877) of York, Congregational minister, son of the preacher Edward Parsons (1762-1833)
Publication details: 
20 July 1870. High Harrogate [Yorkshire].
£90.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB, which characterizes him as ‘the most remarkable pulpit orator of his time’, and that of his father. 3pp, 12mo. On bifolium. Somewhat aged and with the recto of the first leaf grubby, but with text clear and complete, with thirty-three lines of text in Parsons’ close and neat hand. Signed ‘James Parsons’ and addressed to ‘Revd. J. Rawlinson’. He ‘must, reluctantly, decline to comply’ with Rawlinson’s request. He wonders whether he has ‘seen, or heard of an announcement in “the Leeds Mercury” with reference to my intended retirement from my Pastorate in York’.

[Gaspard Mermillod, Roman Catholic cardinal of Swiss extraction, noted for his preaching.] Note in French in the third person, to Théodor de la Bire, on his calling card, in envelope addressed by him, introducing ‘Mr. & Mme. Jenner de Londres’.

Author: 
Gaspard Mermillod, Roman Catholic cardinal of Swiss extraction, noted for his preaching [Théodor de la Bire; Jenner of London]
Mamillod
Publication details: 
No date or place.
£80.00
Mamillod

The Catholic Encyclopedia declares him to be ‘one of the great preachers of modern times’.On one side of a 10.5 x 6 cm calling card, with slightly larger envelope. Card in good condition, lightly aged; envelope in fair condition. Printed on the card is ‘Le Cardinal Mermillod’, and beneath this he has written: ‘Présent au cher Mr. de la Bire Mr. & Mme. Jenner de Londres, il lui demande pour eux son cordial acceuil.’ Card is addressed to ‘Monsieur / Théodor de la Bire / hôtel d’Angleterre/’. See image

[John Caird, Principal of the University of Glasgow.] Autograph Letter Signed ('J. Caird.') to 'Miss Marshall', regarding his wife's illness, and the recipient sharing 'in the management of her stall'.

Author: 
John Caird (1820-1898), Church of Scotland theologian, noted preacher, and Principal of the University of Glasgow, 1873-1898
Publication details: 
On letterhead of The University, Glasgow. 14 March [no year].
£56.00

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. He sends her belated thanks for her 'kind compliance with Mrs. Caird's request'. His wife has been very ill since he received her letter, but he believes that 'the critical stage of the disease is fairly over; & besides her illness, the death of an old servant, has left me little time to attend to other engagements'. Mrs Caird is 'much gratified' that Marshall is 'to share in management of her stall'.

[ Agnes Maude Royden [ Maude Royden-Shaw ], preacher and suffragist. ] Autograph Signature ('A. Maude Royden.') to printed circular, thanking recipients for their 'share of the Car' which she has been given to undertake her work since her 'lameness'.

Author: 
Agnes Maude Royden [ later Maude Royden-Shaw ] (1876-1956), preacher and suffragist
Publication details: 
Circular addressed from 16 Rosslyn Hill, London, N.W.3. [27] May 1920.
£60.00

1p., 12mo. Stained and on aged paper. Reads: 'THANK you most gratefully for your share of the Car, which is already in use, and saving me more than I can say. It is not too much to say that it halves my fatigue and makes my work a happiness instead of a burden. I do not like driving in a car while others go in 'buses, but since my lameness really hampers me, I console myself with the delightful thought that it has been given me by those who work in the same causes and towards the same end that I do, and that I shall work the better for their kindness.'

[ Samuel Coley (1825-1880), Professor at Headingley Theological College, 'the Illustrative Preacher'. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'My dear Bro [i.e. 'Brother Minister'], regarding a 'Missionary Meeting for New Radford'.

Author: 
Samuel Coley (1825-1880), 'the Illustrative Preacher', Methodist Professor at Headingley Theological College, Leeds
Publication details: 
Without date or place. [ Headingley Theological College, Leeds ]
£50.00

1p., 12mo. In good condition. Reads: 'My dear Bro [meaning in this case 'Brother Minister'] | Our own Missionary Meeting for New Radford will be on that same evening. I should not wonder if Mr Taylor will not rather want to borrow you than lend me. You will see that I cannot accede to your wish or it would please me to do it.'

[ Dr Thomas Guthrie, Scottish divine, phlanthropist and preacher. ] Autograph draft of part of a speech of thanks, for delivery to 'great & good men', including 'my Lord Provost', assembled to honour him.

Author: 
Dr Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873), Scottish divine and philanthropist, one of the most popular preachers of his day in Scotland, where he was a leader of the temperance and Ragged School movements
Publication details: 
[ Scotland. ] Undated.
£180.00

Written in ink on both sides of an irregular slip of paper (roughly 9 x 19cm), with a few words inserted in pencil. Aged and worn. In Guthrie's hand, and with 'Dr Guthrie's' in pencil at head of first page. The text comprises the upper part of the first leaf of the draft of a speech of thanks by Guthrie, for delivery at a meeting in his honour. Heavily revised, with a few interpolations in the margins on both sides. There are no indications that the text has been published, and Guthrie's sons' memoir, included in his 'Autobiography' (1874), throws up no clues.

[ Ernest Hawkins, Canon of Westminster. ] Autograph Letter Signed, writing in affectionate terms ('My dear') to an unnamed recipient, about 'your little manual'.

Author: 
Ernest Hawkins (1802-1868), Canon of Westminster, missionary society administrator and ecclesiastical author
Publication details: 
'79 Pallmall [sic] [ Pall Mall, London ] | July 3. 1851'.
£45.00

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Begins: 'My dear | Our Jubilee bustle - & subsequently four days spent at Oxford on a College Election have prevented my attending to your little manual - The last corrections which you made - are now sent to the Printer - & a revise shall be sent in a day or two.' He ends by expressing relief at the 'improving accounts of your poor brothers family'.

[ James Parsons of Lendal Chapel, York, Congregational minister and 'the most remarkable pulpit orator of his time'. ] Autograph Letter Signed to Rev. James Everett, requesting his presence at a meeting at Salem Chapel on behalf of schools.

Author: 
James Parsons (1799-1877), Congregational minister, a popular preacher at Lendal Chapel, York [ James Everett (1784-1872), Methodist minister ]
Publication details: 
St Saviourgate [ York ]. 25 January [ c.1842 ].
£56.00

2pp., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged, neatly attached by stub to another leaf. He hopes Everett will be 'able and willing to comply' with his request that he attends, at a future date, in 'the school room of Salem Chapel at a meeting on behalf of our Sabbath and day schools'. As Everett is 'relieved from some of [his] wonted Engagements', Parsons hopes 'that no obstacle will exist'. According to Everett's entry in the Oxford DNB, he 'moved to York in 1839. Through failure of health he was […] made a supernumerary minister in 1842, but remained in York, writing more actively than ever'.

To You is the Word of Salvation sent. Seven Addresses to the Men and Women of England, delivered at St Martin's Hall, London, by Richard Weaver, a converted Collier and Ex-Pugilist. With a biographical sketch.

Author: 
Richard Weaver, a converted Collier and Ex-Pugilist [born at Asterley, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in 1827, died 1896]
Publication details: 
London: Benj. Lowe & Co., 31, Paternoster Row. [No date, but preface dated 'London, September, 1860.'.]
£180.00

128pp., 16mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, in shiny yellow printed wraps with slight staining at head of front cover. The twelve-page 'Biographical Sketch' covers pp.3-16. It quotes the Rev. Baptist W. Noel as saying that Weaver 'has been preaching at Sheffield, and other towns, to multitudes of working men [...] he was, at one time, addicted to prize-fighting, and that he was never beaten in his life.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Geo. Hartley') to 'G. Woolcott Esqre'.

Author: 
Reverend George Hartley (Methodist preacher?) [George Woolcott (English architect?); acoustic; acoustics]
Publication details: 
17 March 1825; 19 Charlotte Street, Portland Place, London.
£95.00

4to, 4 pp. Very good on lightly aged paper. Hartley has 'attentively considered' Woolcott's 'plans for your New Church with reference to an opinion of their merits as being calculated to assist the Human Voice in Rhetorical delivery'. He is 'so little of an Architect as to be unable to assist my observations with the technical terms which would facilitate the meaning of my observations', but he will give them as clearly as he can, speaking from his 'long experience in Public Delivery in (I may say) almost all kinds of enclosed spaces'.

Two Letters Signed, the first in a secretarial hand and the second in Autograph, to Rev. Joseph Lucas.

Author: 
Joseph Parker (1830-1902), English nonconformist divine, preacher, theologian and miscellaneous writer
Publication details: 
16 November 1827 and 7 March 1873; both on letterhead The Rosstrappe, Highbury New Park [London].
£80.00

Both items one page, octavo, and on aged and creased paper. Regarding Lucas's selection from Parker's works, 'Detached links; extracts from the Writings and Discourses of Joseph Parker' (Richard D. Dickinson, 1873). LETTER ONE: Thanks Lucas for his 'kind note', but does not 'see how the suggestion it conveys can be realized. I am afraid you would find it difficult to get a publisher.' Advises Lucas 'not to pursue the idea any further'. LETTER TWO: In a shaky hand explains that he is 'so poorly just now that I cannot give any phot[ographe]r. a sitting.

ALS, 3pp, 16mo, to "Mr Light"

Author: 
William John Knox-Little (DNB), divine and preacher
Publication details: 
18 January 1913, on letterhead "SPINFIELD, | MARLOW, | BUCKS."
£45.00

Agrees to preach (" 'make a few remarks' in your pulpit)" on Sunday morning, despite the fact that "my preaching days are over". "the fewer people who know it the better". Warns that he has neither physical nor mental strength left, and "By disobeying the medical tyrants" has previously got into trouble. Asks to be lent the necessary robes. Negligible browning from contact with woodpulp slip.

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