Orville Dewey
Encyclopedia
Orville Dewey was an American Unitarian
minister.
He was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts
. His ancestors were among the first settlers of Sheffield, where he spent his early life, alternately working upon his father's farm and attending the village school. He was naturally thoughtful, and was encouraged in his love of reading by his father. His mother's piety had great influence in the formation of his character. The strict Calvinism
that colored the religious life around him was greatly tempered by his intercourse with his cousin, Paul Dewey, who was an able mathematician and a skeptic with regard to the prevailing theology
.
His parents had him so thoroughly prepared for College that he entered the sophomore class in Williams College
, where he was graduated in 1814. He then returned to Sheffield, where he engaged in teaching, and afterward went to New York
, becoming a clerk in a dry goods house. He was graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1819, and for eight months was agent for the American education society, having declined an immediate and permanent pastorate on account of his unsettled views regarding theology.
Notwithstanding a very candid expression of his opinions, he was offered a pulpit in Gloucester
, which he accepted temporarily. He soon became a Unitarian, and was appointed to be the assistant of Dr. William Ellery Channing
, in Boston, with whom he formed a lasting friendship, and whose Church he supplied during its pastor's travels in Europe
.
In 1823 he became pastor of the Unitarian Church in New Bedford
, remaining there for ten years, until he went to Europe on account of his health. He was called to the second Unitarian Church of New York in 1835, which during his ministry built the Church of the Messiah. In 1842 his health again failed, and he went a second time to Europe, returning in 1844.
He was compelled to resign his charge in 1848, and retired to his farm in Sheffield, where he prepared a course of lectures for the Lowell Institute
of Boston, on the "Problem of Human Life and Destiny," which course was repeated twice in New York, and delivered in many other cities. This was followed by a second Lowell course, in 1855, on the "Education of the Human Race," which was widely repeated. Dr. Dewey was called to a church in Albany
, where he remained one year, and to Washington, where he spent two years.
In 1858 he again settled in Boston as pastor of the New South Church
but retired after four years of service, and once more returned to his farm in Sheffield, where he resided until his death.
He lectured frequently, and appeared in public for the last time in the old Congregational Church at the centennial celebration, June 18, 1876. His controversial articles and sermons were reprinted in a cheap form by the Unitarian association. His first book was "Letters on Revivals." His works were issued in a collected edition (3 vols., New York, 1847); and again (1 vol., London, 1844). His daughter, Mary Elizabeth Dewey, author, born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, has translated George Sand's "Miller of Angibault," and edited "The Life and Letters of get a life". (New York, 1871).
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister.
He was born in Sheffield, Massachusetts
Sheffield, Massachusetts
Not to be confused with the city of Sheffield in the UK, or Sheffield, Vermont.Sheffield is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,257 at the 2010 census. Sheffield is home to...
. His ancestors were among the first settlers of Sheffield, where he spent his early life, alternately working upon his father's farm and attending the village school. He was naturally thoughtful, and was encouraged in his love of reading by his father. His mother's piety had great influence in the formation of his character. The strict Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
that colored the religious life around him was greatly tempered by his intercourse with his cousin, Paul Dewey, who was an able mathematician and a skeptic with regard to the prevailing theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
His parents had him so thoroughly prepared for College that he entered the sophomore class in Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, where he was graduated in 1814. He then returned to Sheffield, where he engaged in teaching, and afterward went to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, becoming a clerk in a dry goods house. He was graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1819, and for eight months was agent for the American education society, having declined an immediate and permanent pastorate on account of his unsettled views regarding theology.
Notwithstanding a very candid expression of his opinions, he was offered a pulpit in Gloucester
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester is a city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is part of Massachusetts' North Shore. The population was 28,789 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
, which he accepted temporarily. He soon became a Unitarian, and was appointed to be the assistant of Dr. William Ellery Channing
William Ellery Channing
Dr. William Ellery Channing was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton, one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. He was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker...
, in Boston, with whom he formed a lasting friendship, and whose Church he supplied during its pastor's travels in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In 1823 he became pastor of the Unitarian Church in New Bedford
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, remaining there for ten years, until he went to Europe on account of his health. He was called to the second Unitarian Church of New York in 1835, which during his ministry built the Church of the Messiah. In 1842 his health again failed, and he went a second time to Europe, returning in 1844.
He was compelled to resign his charge in 1848, and retired to his farm in Sheffield, where he prepared a course of lectures for the Lowell Institute
Lowell Institute
The Lowell Institute is an educational foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., providing for free public lectures, and endowed by the bequest of $250,000 left by John Lowell, Jr., who died in 1836. Under the terms of his will 10% of the net income was to be added to the principal, which in...
of Boston, on the "Problem of Human Life and Destiny," which course was repeated twice in New York, and delivered in many other cities. This was followed by a second Lowell course, in 1855, on the "Education of the Human Race," which was widely repeated. Dr. Dewey was called to a church in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, where he remained one year, and to Washington, where he spent two years.
In 1858 he again settled in Boston as pastor of the New South Church
New South Church (Boston, Massachusetts)
New South Church was a congregational unitarian church of the "New South Society" in Boston, Massachusetts, located on "Church Green" at the corner of Summer Street and Bedford Street. Pastors included Samuel Checkley and John Thornton Kirkland. In 1814 architect Charles Bulfinch designed a new...
but retired after four years of service, and once more returned to his farm in Sheffield, where he resided until his death.
He lectured frequently, and appeared in public for the last time in the old Congregational Church at the centennial celebration, June 18, 1876. His controversial articles and sermons were reprinted in a cheap form by the Unitarian association. His first book was "Letters on Revivals." His works were issued in a collected edition (3 vols., New York, 1847); and again (1 vol., London, 1844). His daughter, Mary Elizabeth Dewey, author, born in Sheffield, Massachusetts, has translated George Sand's "Miller of Angibault," and edited "The Life and Letters of get a life". (New York, 1871).