Here's a match-up that may have you scratching your hair shirt. James Theodore Holly, pioneering African-American bishop and missionary versus Harriet Beecher Stowe, author and abolitionist. Two 19th century figures who had a major impact upon race relations in the United States and abroad.
Yesterday F.D. Maurice defeated David of Wales in a day that saw a brief technical glitch in the initial daily e-mail sent out to subscribers. "Yes, Virginia, there are Lent Madness gremlins."
What's that? You say you don't receive these fantabulous e-mails insuring that you never miss a vote? Go to the home page and look on the right side just under the Voting 101 video -- enter your e-mail address and voila! You'll receive every match-up in your inbox at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time.
Finally, as we enter into another exciting and occasionally heart-wrenching day of voting, remember that what we say about confessing our sins to a priest in the Episcopal Church also applies to engaging in Lent Madness: "All may, none must, some should."
James Theodore Holly
James Theodore Holly was the first bishop of the Episcopal Church in Haiti and the first African-American bishop in the Episcopal Church. He was born in 1829 to freed blacks in Washington, D.C. Holly was self-educated and taught himself Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and Creole over the course of his life.
As a young adult, Holly devoted his time to the cause of abolitionism and greater inclusion of African Americans in the Episcopal Church. He also worked alongside Frederick Douglass and Lewis Tappan and served as an editorial assistant for The Voice of the Fugitive, an abolitionist newspaper in Canada. Although he was baptized and remained Catholic through his young adult years, in 1852—a year after he married his wife Charlotte—Holly was received into the Episcopal Church. Three years later, he was ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church and in 1856, a priest.
Holly founded the Episcopal Society for Promoting the Extension of the Church Among Colored People, a forerunner of the Union of Black Episcopalians. While a member, he passionately advocated for the Episcopal Church to make a public statement in opposition to slavery.
Emboldened by his belief that people of color could experience unique opportunities and freedom outside of the United States, Holly, his family, and a small group of emigrants left the United States for Haiti in 1861. During their first year on the island, many of the emigrants died, including Holly’s mother, his wife, and two children. Nevertheless, Holly went on to found Trinity Episcopal Church as well as a host of schools and health clinics. He was ordained the first missionary Bishop of Haiti in 1874.
Holly’s leadership and vision helped create a more culturally inclusive church in a period of great racial upheaval. Along with Holly’s dogged determination of a life of equality for all, his ministry expanded the geographical and cultural parameters of the Episcopal Church and served as a voice for the voiceless. At the time of his death in 1911, the Episcopal Church in Haiti had more than 2,000 members, fifteen parish churches, and fifteen ordained clergy. And today, the Episcopal Church in Haiti, with nearly 90,000 members, is the largest diocese in The Episcopal Church.
Collect for James Theodore Holly
Most gracious God, by the calling of your servant James Theodore Holly you gave us our first bishop of African American heritage. In his quest for life and freedom, he led your people from bondage into a new land and established the Church in Haiti. Grant that, inspired by his testimony, we may overcome our prejudice and honor those whom you call from every family, language, people, and nation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
-- Maria Kane
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe put pen to paper and changed the world. She actually wrote more than twenty books in her lifetime but is best remembered for Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which brought home the moral evil of slavery in graphically emotional terms.
Born June 14, 1811, Stowe was raised in a progressive and very devout household. She enrolled in a school run by her older sister and received an education in the classics, unusual for a girl at the time. At twenty-one, she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio (now known primarily as the headquarters city of Forward Movement, sponsors of Lent Madness) to join her father, who had moved there to serve as president of Lane Theological Seminary. There, she met Calvin Ellis Stowe, a professor at the seminary and fellow abolitionist. They got married in 1836 and had seven children. Their home became a stop on the Underground Railroad and Harriet continued with her writing and work as an abolitionist.
Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin as a response to the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This law stated that if any former slave was captured in the North, they had to be forcibly returned South and returned to their owner, or sold.
By this time, Stowe and her family had moved to Maine, where her husband was teaching theology at Bowdoin College in Brunswick. Stowe would gather students and faculty to read over the chapters as she completed them. The book was published in June of 1851, when Stowe was forty-one years old. In a letter to an English Lord Chief Justice, “I wrote what I did because as a woman, as a mother, I was oppressed and broken-hearted with the sorrows and injustice I saw, because as a Christian I felt the dishonor to Christianity.” Initially, the novel came out in installments in the newspaper The National Era. She was paid only $400—considered a small payment, even for that time. When Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published in novel form, the book sold a staggering 300,000 copies in less than a year.
The book not only articulated slavery as intellectually wrong but also as emotionally wrong, with the effects of slavery played out in the tragic lives of its characters. And the book sparked outrage over slavery like nothing else had to that point. In 1862, Stowe went to the White House to meet with President Lincoln. Her son reported that Lincoln greeted her with “So you’re the little lady who wrote the big book that started this war.”
Stowe kept writing through the rest of her life, though nothing ever matched the success of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. And she kept fighting injustice. In her family’s summer home of Mandarin, Florida, she founded several integrated schools and promoted the ideal of equal education.
She died in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1896.
Collect for Harriet Beecher Stowe
Gracious God, we thank you for the witness of Harriett Beecher Stowe, whose fiction inspired thousands with compassion for the shame and sufferings of enslaved peoples, and who enriched her writings with the cadences of The Book of Common Prayer. Help us, like her, to strive for your justice, that our eyes may see the glory of your Son, Jesus Christ, when he comes to reign with you and the Holy Spirit in reconciliation and peace, one God, now and always. Amen.
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213 comments on “James Holly vs. Harriet Beecher Stowe”
Why oh why did you put these two together? This was one of the most difficult decisions I had to make, but after lots of re-reading, prayer and thought I had to vote for Bishop Holly. I so admire Harriet Beecher Stowe, and wish that I could have given her a vote also......, however, there is still much work to be done in Haiti.
Carolyn: How true. Our church in Altadena, CA supports St. Marguerite school in Haiti. They have so little, and we have so much. The children walk miles uphill to school every day-joyfully. We supply hot lunches, teacher salaries, school supplies, and our love and prayers. Their love of Christ and thankfulness for their abundance speaks to the work of Bishop Holly. It also speaks to how much more work we must do in Haiti. I voted for Bishop Holly, and recommend him to you.
A previous commenter used the word "excruciating" for this choice, and that's right. But I'm going with Bishop Holly in honor of Dr. Chris Buresh, who has been in Haiti as much as possible for a busy emergency room physician, helping with the health recovery of Haitian people since the disaster ravaged the country. He, too, has faced death of those close to him there, but also the joy of seeing Haitians' lot improve somewhat. In a sense, his modern-day crusade parallels Holly's earlier work and inspires me to think about what more I could be doing in the world today.
Went with Stowe today, because I am a huge believer in the unique power of fiction to cast light into dark corners of society in a way that shows us that which is illuminated before we realize we are standing in the corner as well.
Great job! Another tough one. Bishop Holly got my vote but I was hovering over the vote key for a bit. I suspect that HBS will win the day.
As a Catholic, I love how this whole Madness is a daily lesson about holy men and women ,some who are new to me, who are shining examples for us all. Sadly, I never heard of Bishop Holly before this morning but I was impressed with his biography. I learned more about HBS as well. This is a wonderful Lenten activity. I'm voting daily!
Did someone say today's choice was going to be easy? NOT! I want to vote for them both. But since I have to choose one, I'm voting for Stowe. I love that a "little woman" can have such a big impact. And that she published "the big book" after 40! Even better. You go girl!
In honor of several dear friends who are priests today because Bishop Holly paved the way, my vote goes to this great man. As others have said, he did an amazing work for God, has left a marvelous legacy and deserved to be lauded and better known! Thank you SEC for shining light on the ones who are lesser known!
Voting for Holly anyone who can teach himself all those languages - wow (maybe I need to commit to improving my Spanish) -- tough decision though.
I admire HBS, but there is something a little obnoxious in giving her so much credit for writing a popular novel in the melodramatic style of 19th century America. She did well by doing good. I don't fault her, but I cannot see that she was a saintly person. She had a good nose for the right cause at the right time.
However, because Frances Perkins won last year, I do predict that HBS will win this year. She's not my personal favorite, but in my aspiration to pick the church ministry that will receive the bracket contributions, I have picked her.
I voted for Holly. I refer to Rev. Stanley's comments to support the success of his work.
Another tough one. I am voting for Holly since his evangelism is what the Church needed and needs.
This is a tough one. I think I'm voting for Harriet, since she did so much to change the world, and did it as a woman (living in the 1800's no less) and mother of seven children!
As all the matches have been difficult, I agree that a woman in the 1800'S was an amazing feat. No doubt that Holly had many personal losses and kept his faith, but I standby my HBS vote.
Had to vote for Holly - I am a member of the Diocese of Alabama, and the Diocese of Haiti is our companion diocese. There are some wonderful Episcopalians serving the people of Haiti, and I just had to salute Holly's establishment of the church there!
I voted for James Holly. I was surprised to see the voting so close...are people voting for HBS or the "idea" of HBS? From the descriptions, James was much more active in spreading the mission and word of God and the church. "Along with his dogged determination of a life of equality for all, his ministry expanded the geographical and cultural parameters of the Episcopal Church and served as a voice for the voiceless." -- I think that's worth voting for!
Surprised no one picked up on parenthetical comment that Cincinnati is PRIMARILY (caps mine) is known as the HQ for the Forward Movement
That's probably because it's absolutely true. Is there anything else we should know about Cincinnati?
That's exactly what I came up with in the end. It was a hard choice, but Holly did the greater good I think. So I voted for Holly.
Regarding the thoughts about Holly being more active in spreading the gospel....I tried to keep firmly in mind how darn near impossible it was to be taken seriously as a woman and to actually even remain safe for voicing, let alone publishing, any thoughts that were controversial. Think of the tortures that women went through not much later for trying to be able to vote. I don't know if there is a biography of HBS, but her societal beliefs and the publicity they generated could not have been easy. Regardless, this was a really tough decision to make, but I stuck with Harriet.
Not a peep about Harriet's church affiliation? Born and raised in New England, her father was the famous preacher the Rev. Lyman Beecher. The fact that she was a Congregationalist in her faith formation concerning freedom and individual rights should have gotten a passing mention.
And the Congregationalists merged with the Christians; the Congregational Christians merged with the Evangelical and Reformed Church, and the United Church of Christ was born--my father was a UCC minister.
Thanks for saying that, Katherine. My thinking exactly.
This was a very hard one. In the end I voted for the person of color, Holly. The fact that he stayed in Haiti after so much loss amazed me.
As a lover of literature and a Cincinnatian I feel compelled to vote for HBS.
As someone who works with Bishop Holly's former parish, St. Luke's in New Haven, I have the pleasure of seeing the legacy of his zeal for mission every week!
Citizen's of New Haven and Connecticut, I urge you to vote for a man who has done so much for us here in the Nutmeg State!
Agreed, a verrry tough choice here, but having read Uncle Tom's Cabin recently I have to go with HBS. People will read that book for the next century and never forget the evils of slavery that still exist in many forms.
Betsy, thanks for pointing this out ! Slavery does indeed still exist ! The next time you go to any fast food places and see those employees working their butts off for lousy pay, that is slavery! Thanks for letting me vent. I know I'm off topic here, sorry sec.
I agree with Bonnie's comment. I initially thought HBS would be my vote, as I did not know of Holly. After reading his bio, and learning of his humility and sacrifice, my choice was made clear. Holly is definitely a saint in my book.
I'm just glad to know that Forward Movement gives Cincinnati a reason to be on the map. However, Bishop Holly is a true saint of the church.
For once, I'm glad it's such a close race. Both are champions of under-served humanity. Today I had to go with Bishop Holly, mainly because through Lent Madness I learned about another saint. And that's what LM is really all about. OK, mostly; the rest is trying to find an acronym for "the Episcopal Society for Promoting the Extension of the Church Among Colored People"--ESPECACP? Worse than PBFWR!
For those of you who are just getting started with Lent Madness, "house of virgins" refers to Antony of Egypt.
Vote strategically. If Holly can beat Stowe and Alcuin and Antony can beat Basil, we can have a great day debating houses of virgins versus bringing your family along to the mission!
Touche!
I don't know how you are supposed to decide who to vote for on this one! They are both worthy! Having written on Dred Scott (an article I tried to get published on the 200th anniversary of the Dred Scott decision. While the publishers very much liked my article, there was sadly a glut of such articles and it never got published), I am only too well aware of the history of slavery in this country. It is easy to say that people "know" the evils of slavery, but the fact is that people in the 19th century did not! Both abolitionists and Southern slaveholders invoked the name of God and scripture to justify their point of view. Harriet Beecher Stowe's book shockingly disturbed people out of just accepting slavery as a fact of life! That is not to say that Holly was unimportant or to discount his work as an abolitionist. Merely, that it is wrong to discount Stowe's book. It did, in part, as Lincoln said push this country to a war that was ultimately over the slavery question! Frederick Douglass called the Dred Scott decision "a beacon of light" on the whole issue of slavery and freedom for all mankind. Holly's association with Douglass is also significant to me. In the end, I had to figuratively flip a coin, and voted for Harriet Beecher Stowe, but it was that difficult a decision.
Any person who can continue in ministry after losing their wife, children and mother-in-law, has my vote. Holly lost neither faith nor heart, and often one or both, go in the face of such a challenge. And all those churches then and now! Talk about yer fruits! Love Harriette, gotta vote for Holly!
Two fine members of that great cloud of witnesses, but I voted for Stowe. Part of it is the collect: she "enriched her writings with the cadences of the Book of Common Prayer." Part of it is her saying, "As a Christian I felt the dishonor to Christianity." Part of it is the realization that Stowe was one of the group of people who ultimately persuaded Lincoln that he must speak out about slavery and not simply defend the Union if there were to be any justice from the war. Add the underground railroad and founding integrated schools in the south? She breathed the gospel and lived it flagrantly and that makes her very Holy Woman.
What does that mean, "enriched her writings with the cadences of the BCP"? Literally, or what?
Pretty much literally. It's the way you talk when the language appeals to you or when it is comfortably familiar to you. Spanish-natives like worship in Spanish because the cadences are those that most fully express what they feel. Likewise, those for whom the PB is appealing and regularly used, tend to show it in their use of language. Henry Beecher (Harriet's brother) did something similar when he left his father's Calvinist language behind in favor of the "decadent appeals to the senses -- music, decoration, and a joyous frivolity" -- that marked the Episcopal Church in his time and place. Not sure we would think of it quite that way, but the idea is that people adopt the cadence that allows them to put fervor into what is most important to them. That is why "like" and "fer sure" and "tots" seem so jarring just don't do anything for old fuddie-duddies like me.
I humbly beseech Scott Gunn not to include any more pictures of cats in Lent Madness communiques. Cats, as we all know, so heavily populate the internet as to cause both distraction and attraction. I'm pretty sure it was the photo of Morris that did St. David in.
If only the whale in the graphic had been toying with a ball of string...
I think the collect for HBS should be amended to say "inspired millions" as it did - including me in eighth grade. I have to vote for the woman and writer who made such an impact on me at a young age so many years ago and so many years after her death.
I am very thankful to the extensive Episcopal commitment to parishes and schools in Haiti so its Holly for me.
Voted for Harriet.
Seemed like Holly didn't want to "fight" for his freedom in the US and left for Haiti thinking it might be easier there. Unfortunately, he paid a very high price for this freedom.
I just discovered that today is Holly's feast day! Coincidence???