Disciples of Christ Historical Society

As followers of 19th-century Disciples minister George Darsie tweets know, Bro. Darsie has been sharing entries from his 1884 diary since mid-August.  For the new year, he is moving ahead almost a decade to 1893.  He is still the faithful minister for the Christian Church in Frankfort, Kentucky, he is still married to Coranelle, and, in many ways, life continues much as before. 

But 1893 was a momentous year in America, and, though people and communities were more isolated in those days, George Darsie was a man engaged with public affairs as well as spiritual ones.  1893 brought the worst economic depression the nation was to experience until the 1930s.  In addition, Chicago opened the spectacular ‘White City’ — officially the World’s Columbian Exposition, celebrating (a year late) the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the New World. 

Popularly known as the Chicago World’s Fair, the Exposition played host to the annual meeting of the American Historical Association at which historian Frederick Jackson Turner presented ‘The Significanace of the Frontier in American History,’ in which he boldly set his thesis both that the frontier had shaped the American character and that the frontier era was over.  Turner’s ‘frontier thesis’ is still discussed and debated in graduate seminars across the country. 

The World Parliament of Religions also held its first meeting at the Chicago World’s Fair.  An 18-day event, the parliament drew scholars and clergy from all over the world and from all the world’s known religious traditions in an effort to increase understanding and tolerance.  Said Dr. Alexander Kohut of New York: ‘The scions of many creeds are convened at Chicago’s succoring parliament of religions, aglow with enthusiasm, imbued with the courage of expiring fear, electrified with the absorbing anticipation of dawning light.  The hour has struck.’

 It should be interesting to discover the extent to which these events are reflected in George Darsie’s diary.  We know that his diary for 1893 will reveal the life and routines of a preacher of his day, absorbed with matters great and small, always devoted to his ministry in late 19th-century Frankfort, Kentucky.

More 1893 Milestones:

 Thomas Edison opened the first motion picture studio in West Orange, New Jersey.

 The Duryea brothers drove the first gasoline-powered motorcar in America in Springfield, Massachusetts.

 Rudolf Diesel received a patent for the diesel engine.

 Mahatma Gandhi committed his first act of civil disobedience in India.

Sara Harwell     1/28/2010

When we think of a 19th century Christmas we generally are reminded of the convergence of writings and events that influenced or even established so many of the traditions and customs we still practice today – 

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (readings of which were recently given by his great great grandson Gerald Charles Dickens at Park Avenue Christian Church in New York) —  

Clement Moore’s ‘A Night Before Christmas’ –

Prince Albert introducing the Christmas tree to Queen Victoria’s court from his native Germany. 

Even Washington Irving’s comic essays ‘Christmas Eve’ and ‘Christmas Day’ – both very popular in their day if not as well remembered now — were influential in how Victorians came to perceive a ‘traditional’ Christmas with Irving’s colorful descriptions of coach rides through the English countryside, decorating, games, parties, church services, Christmas dinner, and cozy chats by the fireside of an ancient English manor.  Such evocative descriptions led British and Americans both to emulate these inviting scenes and customs.

Such holiday practices were not lost on Disciples minister George Darsie of First Christian Church in 1884 Frankfort, Kentucky. His diary entries — now being entered as tweets at  www.twitter.com/GeorgeDarsie — reveal his knowledge and embrace of 19th century popular customs: riding his horse Charley out to the country to find a Christmas tree for his Sunday School class, shopping for toys and candy in Louisville, ice skating, reading Dickens by the fire, and more.  At the same time, his usual routines and duties remained in place: preparing sermons, preaching funerals, visiting the sick, and treating his dog for mange. Celebrate Christmas with Brother Darsie on Twitter and experience the rich, full life of a Disciples minister over a century ago.

From Disciples of Christ Historical Society — have a peaceful happy holiday season.

Sara Harwell          12/23/2009

On Thursday and Friday, November 5-6, the DCHS Board of Trustees met at the Thomas W. Phillips Memorial Archives.  In committee and plenary sessions, individually and collectively, they offered leadership and wisdom for the fulfillment of the Society’s misssion. 

Among the highlights of this years meeting were: 

◊  A presentation by Christian Board of Publication/Chalice Press president Cyrus N. White on the challenges and prospects facing religious publishing in the 21^st century.

◊  A delicious dinner at Lipscomb University Center for Spiritual Formation at Longview, a splendid antebellum mansion in South Nashville, accompanied by a presentation by Dr. Carl McKelvey on the Center’s ministry.

◊  A wonderful performance by guitarist Josh Philpott, son of DCHS Curator Elaine Philpott.

◊  A presentation and hands-on activity featuring several of the Society’s artifacts selected by Director of Research Services Mac Ice for the occasion (pictured above and below).

Many thanks to our dedicated Board for helping us keep our promise.

Sara Harwell       11/18/2009

I saw an old slogan for AT&T today…The System is the Solution. In other words, once you have the correct system in place, hitting on all cylinders, then everything works to order.

Wonder if that’s what AC had in mind when he named it The Christian System? Faith, the correct way to relate to God, forms a “machine” where all parts are pinging and, then, everything about our lives works to order.

I know one thing for sure…if AC had stayed around a few more years, he would have been working the phone from sun-up til sundown.

GTC 11/14/09

As you can imagine, we enjoy both Tradition, and traditions, at the Historical Society. Today begins one of our annual traditions — the meeting of our Board of Trustees. It is always a pleasure to welcome our Board to the Thomas W. Phillips Memorial Archives. While some of our Board members live in Nashville, most travel from cities far and wide to attend the annual meeting.

Like the Board of any non-profit ministry, ours performs many important functions, including financial oversight and policy setting. However, their most important duty is done everyday in the communities and congregations in which they live. And that is being Ambassadors for the Society…indeed, Ambassadors of our Tradition. Along with all of us who are Members of the Society, the Board gives a voice to the deep meaning of our history. Along with all of us, they say “This is important; pay attention.”

The Board comes to Nashville to get re-energized for their role as Ambassadors. And they get us re-energized, as well. This mutual “powering-up” is one of our greatest traditions. And it makes all of us better equipped to tell the world about another great thing…our Tradition.

GTC 11/05/09

If anyone (besides me) is paying any attention — at all — to this blog, I would certainly like to hear about it.

Email me by 11/05/09 at carson@discipleshistory.org

If I hear from just one of you, then we’re good to go…but if I’m only talking to myself, then I can do that in the privacy of my car.

GTC 11/02/09

Well, here it is again.  All Saints Day.

Of course, this is only to remember all those truly holy ones who have come before us. After all, you couldn’t possibly be holy—a saint.  You just stay on the sidelines and watch.  Who do you think you are?

Let me ask you…were you born? Are you human? Are you living on planet earth?

Guess what? YOU are a saint. YOU are holy. THIS is your day.

Enjoy it. Revel in it. Rejoice. Shout.

Am I a saint? You’d better believe it. Are you a saint? Are you breathing? YOU are a saint…you are holy. This is your day.

Blessings

GTC 11/01/09

Do you know where the term “broadcasting” comes from?  It’s actually a farming term. When the farmer goes out with his seed sack over his shoulder and begins throwing (casting) the seed widely (broad), then he is broadcasting.

Little wonder that the agricultural term was borrowed early on by radio to refer to spreading your signal (message) just as far as you were able.

That’s what’s happening in Jesus’ parable of The Sower (Mark 4:1-20). Do you remember this marvelous story? The Sower has some tough luck, because it seems that almost everywhere he casts his seed leads to a disaster. Birds steal it, or the ground is no good, or it’s actually a thorn bush instead of soil. In fact, 75% of the time The Sower gets it wrong.

But, wait, he still has 25% of his seed left. And all of it lands in good, rich soil and produces a huge harvest.

So, what do you think? Was The Sower deliberately casting his seed in useless places? Did he say, ‘Hey, that looks like some hard, unproductive ground over there. I think I’ll just waste some of my seed.’

Or is it more likely that he was paying attention to the one and only job he had been given? Broadcasting. It wasn’t his concern about where the seed was going. He was only told to go out and spread it around. It turns out that’s our job, too.

The bad news is that when we do that alot of seed ends up producing nary a thing. The good news is that when it lands in the right spot it produces bunches.

What is your “seed?” What is that one thing that you do better than anyone else? How is your unique calling lived out?

Once you know the answer, then you can begin broadcasting with abandon. And don’t worry about where your gift is landing. The truth is some people will ignore you altogether. And the truth is that many people will “get” you and be blessed by you. And you by them. Bunches.

GTC 10/29/09

Tricentennial anyone? Well, with the 200th anniversary of TC’s “Declaration and Address” just behind us, it may be a little early to start thinking of a 300th celebration. Still, we are hearing that many communities aren’t going to leave the Great Communion celebration behind. Instead, they are talking about annual gatherings of the three streams at the Lord’s Table.

It’s what I’m calling Communionity.

Let us know if your congregation is planning on future gatherings with others in the family. And we had better watch out…we might start liking each other. 

GTC 10/21/09

Well, here is a typical day in the life of the president.  First, I spoke to an undergraduate class at Lipscomb University in Nashville on my favorite subject….communion. (Dr. Ted Parks: thank you for the invitation). Then I had a lunch appointment for the greater good of the Society. Then I had to head to library to do some prep for a seminar I’m leading in Pittsburgh this weekend. Finally, Kristin and I were hammering out a print Ad for the 2010 calendar being produced by Chalice Press. (Being a calendar, we decided on the tagline that the Historical Society is “never out of date”).

Which, of course, we never are.

The truth is there is no “typical” day for the president of the Society.  But that gives you a glimpse into one of them.

GTC 10/12/09