Beginning in 1701; missionary-minded Anglicans launched one of the earliest and most sustained efforts to Christianize the enslaved people of Britain's colonies. Hundreds of clergy traveled to widely-dispersed posts in North America; the Caribbean; and West Africa under the auspices of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG) and undertook this work. Based on a belief in the essential unity of humankind; the Society's missionaries advocated for the conversion and better treatment of enslaved people. Yet; only a minority of enslaved people embraced Anglicanism; while a majority rejected it. Mastering Christianity closely explores these missionary encounters. The Society hoped to make slavery less cruel and more paternalistic but it came to stress the ideas that chattel slavery and Christianity were entirely compatible and could even be mutually beneficial. While important early figures saw slavery as troubling; over time the Society accommodated its message to slaveholders; advocated for laws that tightened colonial slave codes; and embraced slavery as a missionary tool. The SPG owned hundreds of enslaved people on its Codrington plantation in Barbados; where it hoped to simultaneously make profits and save souls. In Africa; the Society cooperated with English slave traders in establishing a mission at Cape Coast Castle; at the heart of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The SPG helped lay the foundation for black Protestantism but pessimism about the project grew internally and black people's frequent skepticism about Anglicanism was construed as evidence of the inherent inferiority of African people and their American descendants. Through its texts and practices; the SPG provided important intellectual; political; and moral support for slaveholding around the British empire. The rise of antislavery sentiment challenged the principles that had long underpinned missionary Anglicanism's program; however; and abolitionists viewed the SPG as a significant institutional opponent to their agenda. In this work; Travis Glasson provides a unique perspective on the development and entrenchment of a pro-slavery ideology by showing how English religious thinking furthered the development of slavery and supported the institution around the Atlantic world.
#890956 in Books 2010-10-15 2010-10-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x 1.20 x 9.30l; 1.36 #File Name: 0199751579448 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An excellent review of Lincoln's admiralsBy Bryant MartinAn excellent review of Lincoln's admirals; and his relationship with them; as well as including the relationships other people in Lincoln's govt. with these admirals. Really informative. Much info. I hadn't read before. (I'm an avid C.W. fan) So; you are not wasting your money.Only one complaint; and I don't know if it's really legitimate judging on this author's great presentation. I did feel like I wanted to know more of the personal lives of these admirals; and not just relationship with Lincoln. I must say the author does get into some of their personal loves quite well. I was looking for more.28 of 28 people found the following review helpful. Lincoln's Mastery of the War at SeaBy Grover Hartt; IIIIn the deluge of new books about the sixteenth president appearing in anticipation of the bicentennial of his birth; Lincoln and His Admirals stands apart. It begins to fill the void resulting from the frequent neglect of the naval aspects of the Civil War. For this reason alone; the book is worthwhile.The book; however; is more than merely worthwhile. It is a comprehensive account of the events and personalities involved in this crucial phase of the Civil War that is told in a fine narrative style. Symonds provides a compelling story of how Lincoln's initial reluctance to command was replaced by an increasing confidence that led to his personal role in many great and small details of naval administration. This "sea change" was the product of Lincoln's perceptive intelligence and his relentless determination to preserve the Union.Symonds includes informative portraits of many naval officers now almost lost to history and judiciously tallies their strengths and weakness. It did seem odd to me that he has comparatively little to say about Farragut or his torpedo-damning ascent of Mobile Bay. I was also surprised by the omission of the duel between Alabama and Kearsarge -- only the outcome is reported. Perhaps the author concluded that these events are already well-known. My only other criticism is that the first portion of the book would have been improved by relating the less familiar events afloat to those ashore that are much more widely known. At one point; I thought a timeline would have been helpful; but later; the author links the war at sea with the land war very well.Finally; I have to say that this very good book has a very good dust jacket. In the foreground is a vivid image of the encounter between Monitor and Merrimack (or Virginia); but looming above it is the ghostly face of Abraham Lincoln. It is a perceptive introduction to this highly recommended book.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. AdmirableBy Christian SchlectThis book provides a view of Abraham Lincoln's presidential leadership skills from the standpoint of Civil War naval affairs. It is not a history of the ships or average sailors of the period.Professor Symonds relates how President Lincoln grew as a military leader during the war while handling the diverse crew of naval leaders that had stayed with the Union when the South first bolted. The Cabinet infighting between Welles; Seward; Chase etc. is nicely drawn; as are descriptions of foreign relations frictions brought about by actions at sea.I liked that the author peppered his narrative with President Lincoln's small stories; often used by that great man to make serious points.
