Important Contemporary Copy of Letter from John Adams Defending Unitarianism
JOHN ADAMS. Historically important contemporary copy of a letter from John Adams to Jedidiah Morse issuing a detailed defense of Unitarianism and resisting Morse’s attempt to convert him to Athanasianism. Believed to have been entirely handwritten by one of Adams’ daughters or his son, Thomas Boylston Adams, and personally kept by Adams for his records. HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT CONTEMPORARY COPY OF A LETTER FROM JOHN ADAMS ISSUING A DETAILED DEFENSE OF UNITARIANISM AND RESISTING ATTEMPTS TO CONVERT HIM TO ATHANASIANISM Reads in full: “This letter must not be printed. Quincy, May 15th, 1815, Dear Doctor, I thank you for your favour of the 10th, and the pamphlet enclosed, ‘American Unitarianism.’ I have turned over its leaves, & found nothing, that was not familiarly known to me. In the preface, Unitarianism is represented as only 30 years old in New England. I can testify as a witness to its old age. Sixty five years ago, my own minister, the Revnd. Samuel Bryant, Dr. Jonathan Mayhew, of the west Church in Boston, the Revnd. Mr. Shute of Hingham, the Revnd. John Brown of Cohasset, & perhaps equal to all, if not above all, the Revnd. Mr. Gay of Hingham, were Unitarians. Among the Laity, how many would I name, Lawyers, Physicians, Tradesmen, Farmers? I could fill a sheet, but a present, will name only one, Richard Cranch, a man, who had studied Divinity, & Jewish, & Christian Antiquities, more than any Clergyman, now existing in New England. More than 50 years ago, I read Dr. Samuel Clarke, Emlyn, & Dr. Waterland: do you expect, my dear Doctor, to teach me any thing new in favour of Athanasianism? There is, my dear Doctor, at present existing in the world, a Church Philosophic, as subtle, and learned, as by hypocritical, as the holy roman Catholic, Apostolick, & Ecumenical Church. This philosophical Church, was originally English. Voltaire, learned it from Lord Herbert, Hobbes, Morgan, Collins, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, &c &c &c. You may depend upon it, your exertions will promote the Church Philosophie, more than the Church Athanasian, or Presbyterian. This & the coming age, will not be ruled by Inquisitions, or Jesuits. The restoration of Napoleon, has been caused by the Resuscitation of Inquisitions and Jesuits. I am & wish to be your friend, John Adams. Reverend. Dr. Morse.” Docket reads in full: “Copy of Pres. Adams’s Letter to Dr. Morse, May 15th 1815, on the old age of American Unitarianism.” “THE PAMPHLET ENCLOSED, ‘AMERICAN UNITARIANISM.’...IN THE PREFACE, UNITARIANISM IS REPRESENTED AS ONLY 30 YEARS OLD IN NEW ENGLAND. I CAN TESTIFY AS A WITNESS TO ITS OLD AGE…MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, I READ DR. SAMUEL CLARKE, EMLYN, & DR. WATERLAND: DO YOU EXPECT, MY DEAR DOCTOR, TO TEACH ME ANY THING NEW IN FAVOUR OF ATHANASIANISM?...YOU MAY DEPEND UPON IT, YOUR EXERTIONS WILL PROMOTE THE CHURCH PHILOSOPHIE, MORE THAN THE CHURCH ATHANASIAN, OR PRESBYTERIAN. THIS & THE COMING AGE, WILL NOT BE RULED BY INQUISITIONS, OR JESUITS.” We were unable to locate the original letter signed by Adams and there is only one other contemporary copy currently housed by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (their copy’s translation is somewhat different than the present letter). One of the few letters from Adams known to exist where he is defending his faith. BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN HANDWRITTEN BY ONE OF ADAMS’ CHILDREN, PERSONALLY KEPT BY ADAMS FOR HIS RECORDS, AND ONE OF A FEW LETTERS FROM ADAMS KNOWN TO EXIST WHERE HE IS DEFENDING HIS FAITH Contains one page with docketing on the verso, measures 10 by 8.25 inches, and in very good condition with toning, creasing, light staining, and very tiny holes along the folds.
Specifications
| Return Shipping Will Be Paid By | Buyer |
| All Returns Accepted | Returns Accepted |
| Item Must Be Returned Within | 30 Days |
| President | John Adams |
| Term In Office | 1789-1861 |
| Year | 1815 |
| First Lady | Abigail Adams |
| Theme | Politics |
| Material | Paper |
| Country/Region | United States |
| Country/Region Of Manufacture | United States |
JOHN ADAMS. Historically important contemporary copy of a letter from John Adams to Jedidiah Morse issuing a detailed defense of Unitarianism and resisting Morse’s attempt to convert him to Athanasianism. Believed to have been entirely handwritten by one of Adams’ daughters or his son, Thomas Boylston Adams, and personally kept by Adams for his records. HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT CONTEMPORARY COPY OF A LETTER FROM JOHN ADAMS ISSUING A DETAILED DEFENSE OF UNITARIANISM AND RESISTING ATTEMPTS TO CONVERT HIM TO ATHANASIANISM Reads in full: “This letter must not be printed. Quincy, May 15th, 1815, Dear Doctor, I thank you for your favour of the 10th, and the pamphlet enclosed, ‘American Unitarianism.’ I have turned over its leaves, & found nothing, that was not familiarly known to me. In the preface, Unitarianism is represented as only 30 years old in New England. I can testify as a witness to its old age. Sixty five years ago, my own minister, the Revnd. Samuel Bryant, Dr. Jonathan Mayhew, of the west Church in Boston, the Revnd. Mr. Shute of Hingham, the Revnd. John Brown of Cohasset, & perhaps equal to all, if not above all, the Revnd. Mr. Gay of Hingham, were Unitarians. Among the Laity, how many would I name, Lawyers, Physicians, Tradesmen, Farmers? I could fill a sheet, but a present, will name only one, Richard Cranch, a man, who had studied Divinity, & Jewish, & Christian Antiquities, more than any Clergyman, now existing in New England. More than 50 years ago, I read Dr. Samuel Clarke, Emlyn, & Dr. Waterland: do you expect, my dear Doctor, to teach me any thing new in favour of Athanasianism? There is, my dear Doctor, at present existing in the world, a Church Philosophic, as subtle, and learned, as by hypocritical, as the holy roman Catholic, Apostolick, & Ecumenical Church. This philosophical Church, was originally English. Voltaire, learned it from Lord Herbert, Hobbes, Morgan, Collins, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, &c &c &c. You may depend upon it, your exertions will promote the Church Philosophie, more than the Church Athanasian, or Presbyterian. This & the coming age, will not be ruled by Inquisitions, or Jesuits. The restoration of Napoleon, has been caused by the Resuscitation of Inquisitions and Jesuits. I am & wish to be your friend, John Adams. Reverend. Dr. Morse.” Docket reads in full: “Copy of Pres. Adams’s Letter to Dr. Morse, May 15th 1815, on the old age of American Unitarianism.” “THE PAMPHLET ENCLOSED, ‘AMERICAN UNITARIANISM.’…IN THE PREFACE, UNITARIANISM IS REPRESENTED AS ONLY 30 YEARS OLD IN NEW ENGLAND. I CAN TESTIFY AS A WITNESS TO ITS OLD AGE…MORE THAN 50 YEARS AGO, I READ DR. SAMUEL CLARKE, EMLYN, & DR. WATERLAND: DO YOU EXPECT, MY DEAR DOCTOR, TO TEACH ME ANY THING NEW IN FAVOUR OF ATHANASIANISM?…YOU MAY DEPEND UPON IT, YOUR EXERTIONS WILL PROMOTE THE CHURCH PHILOSOPHIE, MORE THAN THE CHURCH ATHANASIAN, OR PRESBYTERIAN. THIS & THE COMING AGE, WILL NOT BE RULED BY INQUISITIONS, OR JESUITS.” We were unable to locate the original letter signed by Adams and there is only one other contemporary copy currently housed by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (their copy’s translation is somewhat different than the present letter). One of the few letters from Adams known to exist where he is defending his faith. BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN HANDWRITTEN BY ONE OF ADAMS’ CHILDREN, PERSONALLY KEPT BY ADAMS FOR HIS RECORDS, AND ONE OF A FEW LETTERS FROM ADAMS KNOWN TO EXIST WHERE HE IS DEFENDING HIS FAITH Contains one page with docketing on the verso, measures 10 by 8.25 inches, and in very good condition with toning, creasing, light staining, and very tiny holes along the folds.
