In today's match-up we get a 20th century monk/best-selling author with a lot of letters after his name versus a 19th century missionary bishop with what just might be the best name in Lent Madness (Enmegahbowh may beg to differ). Will the Kenyon College students and alums rally to put Philander Chase over the top? Or will the many who have read and been touched by Thomas Merton's "The Seven Storey Mountain" jump to his cause? Only you and the next 24 hours will tell.
In yesterday's battle, Mary Magdalene swept to a resounding victory over John Huss (66% to 34% with well over 1,700 votes cast), setting up a wild Round of the Saintly Sixteen match-up with Joan of Arc. Magdalene vs. Huss also set a record with over 100 comments! Keep up the good work, friends, and don't forget to check out the updated bracket and the calendar of upcoming battles.
Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O. (January 31, 1915 – December 10, 1968) was born in France to Owen Merton, a New Zealander, and Ruth Jenkins, an American. Both were artists. Later in 1915, with World War I raging, they moved to the United States of America where John Paul, his brother, was born in 1918.
Merton's mother died when he was six which led to a complicated childhood, moving between his father, his grandparents in New York, and boarding schools in France and England. His father died in 1931. Merton went to Clare College, Cambridge, in 1933 where he lived a dissolute life and it is likely that he fathered a child. His guardian, Tom Bennett, who had been a classmate of Owen’s in New Zealand, intervened and persuaded him to go back to New York.
In 1935 Merton entered Colombia University where he studied English literature. He also discovered an interest in Roman Catholicism and began to engage with issues of social justice.
He joined the Roman Catholic Church in 1938, the year that he graduated. He considered joining the Franciscans but, after a Holy Week retreat, in 1941, at Our Lady of Gethsemane, near Bardstown, Kentucky, he joined this monastery of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance on December 10, 1941.
In the Second World War, his brother John Paul died in 1943 when his plane's engines failed over the English Channel.
As a monk, Thomas Merton became one of the most widely-read and deeply-respected authors on spirituality of the twentieth century. He wrote more than seventy books as well as lots of articles. He also maintained a prolific correspondence, with people around the world, on a great diversity of topics.
His autobiography, "The Seven Storey Mountain," published in 1948, was a publishing sensation. More than 600,000 copies sold in the first year alone.
Merton was responsible for the formation of new monks and novices at a time when the monastery was thriving. He had a passion for solitude and was finally given permission to live in a hermitage on the monastery grounds. He helped to highlight the spiritual dimension of Christianity and did so with a strong interest in other world religions.
He died from an electric shock from a faulty fan in Bangkok while attending a meeting of religious leaders.
Collect for Thomas Merton: Gracious God, you called your monk Thomas Merton to proclaim your justice out of silence, and moved him in his contemplative writings to perceive and value Christ at work in the faiths of others: Keep us, like him, steadfast in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Bosco Peters
To Philander Chase (1775-1852), the Book of Common Prayer was the second best book ever written. Chase picked up the BCP when studying at Dartmouth College, and upon reading it, decided to become an Episcopalian. For Episcopalians throughout what was then the frontier of the United States, it’s a good thing he did. Despite the lack of a seminary in the new United States, Chase was ordained a priest at age 23 (having studied under the private instruction of the Rev. Thomas Ellison), and over the next 18 years served churches in New York, Louisiana, and Connecticut (the latter two of which would later become the cathedral churches of their respective dioceses).
Then in 1817, in fine Abrahamic tradition, Philander Chase uprooted his family, including his consumptive wife, Mary, and moved west to the frontier, which at that time was Ohio. Chase’s Oaks of Mamre were in Worthington, Ohio, where he founded Kenyon College and Bexley Hall Seminary (and where Mary passed away from her illness). His move west happened partly out of pioneering zeal and partly because he did not see eye to eye with Bishop Hobart of New York. His conflict with Hobart (in whose diocese the new General Seminary had recently opened), not to mention his unwillingness to expose young frontiersmen to the vicissitudes of city life (from which they might not want to return) led Chase to found the seminary in Ohio, which opened in 1824
Prior to that, in 1818, Chase was elected the first Bishop of Ohio. However, his penchant for single-handedly controlling the institutions in his charge led to fallout in both the college and diocese, and he resigned both the presidency and episcopacy in 1831. The old pioneering zeal flared up again, and he moved to Michigan, founding many churches along the way. Then, in 1835, he was elected the first Bishop of Illinois, and he continued moving west. He also served as the Presiding Bishop from 1843 until his death in 1852.
Philander Chase was a pioneer for the Episcopal faith in the frontier of the nascent United States. His conviction and zeal, while it often got him into trouble with his colleagues, helped spread the Gospel to the edge of the country, where it took hold and flourished.
Collect for Philander Chase: Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith: We give you heartfelt thanks for the pioneering spirit of your servant Philander Chase, and for his zeal in opening new frontiers for the ministry of your Church. Grant us grace to minister in Christ’s name in every place, led by bold witnesses to the Gospel of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-- Adam Thomas
Vote!
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154 comments on “Thomas Merton vs. Philander Chase”
As much as I love Merton, you can't really be an Episcopal convert in Illinois and not vote for our dear Philander.
As a former church planter, I just had to vote for Philander!
And such a good rhyme!
Tough choice, especially as I am now re-reading "The Silent Life" by Thomas Merton. I'm in Kentucky, which gives one point for Merton. Philander Chase is Episcopalian, so one point for him. Chase disagreed with Bishop Hobart, which (in my view) is one point against him. Chase founded colleges in my neighboring state of Ohio, so one point for him. So that's a tie. I'm going with Philander Chase based on the strength of that awesome photo of him. I mean, look at him!
I've always been enamored with pioneers. Merton moves my soul but Chase seems to be the real worked in the vineyard.
Also, keep in mind that Merton travelled the globe, connecting with others of similar spiritual bent, but from foreign traditions. He tried to build bridges between disparate mystical experts from around the world.
What??? I vote and then go away for eight hours and Merton has lost his lead!! Has this gone viral on some Kenyon College listserv?
I've been blessed to work for two wonderful bishops over the last 14 years. Lucky me! Grumpy bishops? No Golden Halo for them. C'mon people who have yet to exercise their franchise, make it happen for Merton.
How curious, to see my inspiration, Merton, in a competition with the founder of my alma mater, Kenyon College!!
I'd have to take Merton... this man is famous, and despite his tragic demise as a young man, his philosophy will inspire generations to come.
That said, Chase picked a nice spot for a college!!!
As a monastic myself, I have to vote for Thomas Merton, AKA Father Louis, who showed us the spiritual paucity of the 20th century and how to overcome it. I've been on retreat at Gethsemani and it had a major influence on my spiritual growth. With due respect to pioneering Philander Chase, Merton gets my vote.
Cynthia,
You'd better marshal the troops at Gethsemane, then, and get them voting...
If a Kenyon College listserv can take off, why not a Trappist one? Are the Trappists on FaceBook?
Oh, wow, really??? I had Merton with the halo??!!!
Folks, follow that trackback to the Thrill from Kenyon College.
It is a hoot! I am bookmarking this one.
David Hoyt writes a rousing rally to arms around Philander Chase.
Click on some of the side links: "How to Succeed as an English Major Without Really Trying: Some Vastly Oversimplified Pointers" by Thea Goodrich is a great read. She has nailed my experience as an English major, albeit some of the genres weren't around when I graduated from Columbia School of General Studies in the sixties.
I had to go with +Chase solely because of the historical record attesting to him repeatedly enduring broken bones from carriage accidents on the rough roads to my parish to make his visitations – while working for free, no less. (1) Nothing against Merton, but that's devotion.
1. Rima Lunin Schultz. The Church and the City: A Social History of 150 Years at Saint James, Chicago (Chicago: The Cathedral of Saint James, 1986), 23-24.
Philander
Chase never gave up preaching & organizing colleges. An obvious leader, hw kept leading & spreading the gospel. Merton retired to write books, speeches, etc. I'm voting for Chase, the fearless evangelist ! I'd love to know the story behind the naming: Philander.
12:32 CST
Lent Madness is addictive. Good Night.
Most votes ever?
Merton!
Philander rocks!
Dear Merton Voters,
I am sorry about this stunning loss. I truly am. Merton's writings on spirituality are classics and as a devoted ecumenist I greatly admire his interest in interfaith dialogues. It would not be too strong a word to call the outcome of this vote a travesty.
If you are looking for a way to assuage your grief and pain, please take a look at the big picture bracket and consider that -- jarring as this vote was -- at least voting in future rounds just got easier. Really, if you think about it, a future vote against Chase anywhere is a vote for Merton, don't you think? Vengeance may not be a very Trappist virtue, but seriously, wouldn't it be satisfying to have the parochial Chase taken down by another world-class 20th-century theological giant?
Starting an early lobby for D. Bonhoeffer...
Yes, this was a painful loss, but I think painful losses are the heart of Christian spirituality--undoubtedly familiar to both Bishop Chase and Father Louis. But perhaps voters could take a wider world view in voting? Just a suggestion. Otherwise I'd like to propose my mother--an amazing gentle person, humble without being a floor mat, and bold in the faith. You will all be thrilled to meet her in Heaven!
Love it!
I was thinking about Lent Madness this afternoon, in the context of theology of glory (ssssss) versus theology of the cross (yay - if one can cheer that sort of thing). I was wishing that rather than the Halo going in the end to one of the folks in the bracket, deserving as any one of them would be, it would be wonderful to lift up for one brief shining moment just some regular good Christian soul, out there trying to live his/her life not for glory but just out of love of God and their neighbour...but who? How would you choose? How would you even know? ....and then there's your e-mail, doing just that and providing a nominee (sort of). Sign from God. I would so vote for your mother! : )
She would be SO embarrassed by your "second" of her nomination, but I know she would be pleased as well.
Thank you all for this intriguing bit of Lenten Madness. I have thoroughly enjoyed the discussion! Let me just say, looking at the Chase progeny through the generations since the Bishop, I believe "bull-headed", "irrascible", and "pioneering" all fit my family.
According to family lore, the Bishop said that as he rode through the frontier in Ohio and Illinois, where most people saw a minister once in 20 years, he would often be called on to "marry the couples and baptize all their children." The interesting part is that we seem to be returning to that outlook of getting outside our comfortable pews, and taking Christ to where people are, in the developing Missional church....making the Bishop more relevant in the 21st Century than one would expect!
I have to say I like to see stories of those who have had a checkered past fall in love with God. I remember reading Merton when I first cam into religious community
Philander Chase reminds me of an evangelist I once knew. A wonderful charismatic person who was self aware enough to know that his gift was to motivate the flock but not to stay and tend them. Philander's singlemindedness and passion for the Gospel made him the perfect person for lighting a fire in people's hearts but I think he lacked the patience and gentleness to tend those fires and keep them burning. It's like cooking soup. You need a high heat to start it to boil but you then you have to turn it down and let it simmer or it will burn up.
It is my priv' to drive past Philander's church in Fishkill,NY 2x day. He was an original evangelist, and we are in is debt. I love the Hobart-Chase thing, still, every year at Diocesan conventions. And, I'm in it for mary Mag too. have a cross from her "grotto" in Provence.