In 1816, the Society for the Promotion of Theological Education at Harvard University was organized to provide money for instruction in theology and to run the new Harvard Divinity School.
After 1830, the Divinity School faculty assumed direction of the School and dissolved the Society. A new Society for Promoting Theological Education was formed and continues today. A bequest of John Davis Williams in 1848 gave this Society the financial capacity to help worthy Harvard Divinity School students through the Williams Fund.
Historical Sketch, Act of Incorporation, Devise, Decree of Court, By-laws, Officers, and Lists of Members. [Print Only] Includes memorial inscriptions that were on tables in the first Harvard Divinity School Library (now Farlow Herbarium).
This 1815 broadside is a proposal "to form a society 'for the education of candidates for the ministry in Cambridge University.'" Includes blank form for subscribers' names. Signed and dated: In behalf of the corporation, with the assent of the Board of Overseers by John T. Kirkland, President of Harvard College.
Probably printed by Hilliard and Metcalf, printer for Harvard University in 1815. Text in two columns; printed area measures 25.5 x 15.8 cm.
According to the Constitution of the Society, adopted in 1816, "a donation of fifty dollars, an annual subscription of five dollars, if by a clergyman of two dollars, constituted a person a member of the Society."
John Adams |
Rev. Abiel Abbott |
Rev. John Allyn |
Mrs. Hannah Amory |
Mrs. Elizabeth Amory |
John Bright |
Andrew Brimmer |
Edward Brooks |
Rev. W.E. Channing |
Jonathan Coolidge |
Paul Coffin |
Rev. Henry Colman |
John Davis |
Thomas A. Dexter |
Rodolphus Dickerman |
Benjamin Fessenden |
Rev. John Foster |
Rev. N.L. Frothingham |
Joseph Gates |
Benjamin Goddard |
Rev. Thomas Gray |
Rev. T.M. Harris |
George Hayward |
William Hilliard |
John Head |
Joseph Head, Jr. |
John Heard |
Samuel Hoar |
David Hyslop |
Jonathan Hunnewell |
Luther Lawrence |
William P. Mason |
William Minot |
B.R. Nichols |
Rev. Asa Packard |
Thomas Parsons |
George Partridge |
Charles P. Phelps |
Benjamin Pierce |
Rev. John Pierce |
H. Prince |
Rev. John S. Popkin |
Benjamin Rice |
Rev. Ezra Ripley |
Rev. Samuel Ripley |
Benjamin Russell |
Daniel Sargent |
Henry Sargent |
Lemuel Shaw |
William Shimmin |
L. Saltonstall |
Rev. Samuel Sewell |
William Sullivan |
George Thatcher |
George Thatcher, Jr. |
Henry S. Thatcher |
Philip S.S. Thatcher |
Elisha Ticknor |
Richard D. Tucker |
Gustavus Tuckerman |
Rev. Henry Ware |
Rev. William Ware |
Rev. Henry Ware, Jr. |
William Wells |
James H. Wells |
Rev. John White |
Rev. Peter Whitney |
Thomas Wigglesworth |
Rev. Samuel Willard |
Eben H. Williams |
Edmund Winchester |
Rev. Noah Worcester |
Deacon White |
Act of Incorporation - Feb. 15, 1826
On February 15, 1826, the Massachusetts legislature approved "An Act to incorporate certain persons by the name of the Society for the Promotion of Theological Education at Cambridge"
William Ellery Channing led a campaign to fund Harvard Divinity School. Observations is Channing's appeal "to the friends of Harvard University, of an enlightened ministry, of free inquiry, and of pure Christianity" (p 20)
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