
Education
Documents relating to Earl Clement Davis's time as a student at the Harvard Divinity School from 1902 to 1904, where he earned his Bachelor of Sacred Theology, or S.T.B. In the 1904 commencement photo above, Davis can be seen on the far left.
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History 6: Saint Columbanus
Earl Clement Davis
This is from a collection of manuscripts—mostly class papers— written while Davis was a student at Harvard Divinity School, 1902-1904. This manuscript is clearly for the History 6 class he took during the 1902-03 academic year. On the cover page the professor has written “A.
A lengthy discussion of the Irish Saint Columbanus (543-615).
The primary downloadable document contains the original document followed by the transcription. The bottom of each item page also features the primary document as an embedded pdf for browsing.
Transcription by Davis Baird. Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.
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Sermons I: The Leadership of Jesus
Earl Clement Davis
This is from a collection of manuscripts—mostly class papers— written while Davis was a student at Harvard Divinity School, 1902-1904. This manuscript has “Sermons I (14)” on the top of the first page. On the back side of the last page: “Read before the Harvard Unitarian Club meeting at the home of Wm. Liffany, Feb. 19, 1903
Earl Davis confronts one of Unitarianism's challenges -- that people want a personal relationship with God, something most Christian religions can supply through Jesus, but which Unitarianism cannot. Davis calls this need, "the Christ Idea.", arguing that by speaking of God's immanence in every person's soul -- as opposed to God's transcendence, Unitarians can solve the need for "the Christ Idea" without thinking of Jesus as more than a man. The "Leadership of Jesus" refers to his exemplary life as a moral ideal.
The bottom of each item page also features the primary document as an embedded pdf for browsing.
Transcription by Davis Baird. Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.
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Church History VI: Suppression of the English Monasteries
Earl Clement Davis
This is from a collection of manuscripts—mostly class papers— written while Davis was a student at Harvard Divinity School, 1902-1904. This manuscript is clearly for the Church History VI class he took during the 1902-03 academic year.
A lengthy discussion of the suppression -- virtual elimination -- of the English monasteries during the Reign of Henry VIII. It concludes that this work was not done so much in support of religious progress, but in support of Henry's interests -- to divorce Catherine and to gain wealth and revenue. Includes a long bibliography.
The primary downloadable document contains the original document followed by the transcription. The bottom of each item page also features the primary document as an embedded pdf for browsing.
Transcription by Davis Baird. Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.
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Diploma, Harvard University, S.T.B, 1904
Harvard University
Earl Clement Davis earned his Bachelor of Sacred Theology, or S.T.B., degree from Harvard in 1904. The S.T.B. degree was the principle degree preparation for persons pursuing ministerial careers
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A Prophet of Democracy (Commencement Address)
Earl Clement Davis
Earl Davis' commencement address in the 1904 Harvard Commencement program on his thesis "A Prophet of Democracy". The subject of his thesis was John Wise (1652-1725), a minister in Ipswich who fought for the principle of no taxation without representation. This speaks to Davis' early interest in government and the role of the people's voice in being governed.
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Homiletics II: The Conquest of Unconscious Sin
Earl Clement Davis
This is from a collection of manuscripts—mostly class papers— written while Davis was a student at Harvard Divinity School, 1902-1904. This manuscript is clearly for the Homiletics II class he took during the 1903-04 academic year.
A sermon, "The Conquest of Unconscious Sin," that served as Davis's class paper for Homiletics II. It starts with a story from Quebec, "Le Chien d'Or" or "The Golden Dog." The story is a kind of "what goes around comes around" story about the silent triumph of a wronged person, Philibert, over his tormentors. The point of the sermon is that we must make an effort to have a clean heart and a right spirit, otherwise we will succumb to unconscious sin.
The primary downloadable document contains the original document followed by the transcription. The bottom of each item page also features the primary document as an embedded pdf for browsing.
Transcription by Davis Baird. Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.
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New Testament II: Greek: Final Exam
Earl Clement Davis
This is from a collection of manuscripts — mostly class papers — written while Davis was a student at Harvard Divinity School, 1902-1904. This manuscript — which is what was once called a “blue book”— is clearly for the New Testament II class he took during the 1903-04 academic year. 2 concerning their authorship, audience, purpose, etc.
The primary downloadable document contains the original document followed by the transcription. The bottom of each item page also features the primary document as an embedded pdf for browsing.
Transcription by Davis Baird. Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.
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An Unknown Sacrifice
Earl Clement Davis
A seemingly unfinished bit of story about a son leaving home.
This is from a collection of manuscripts—mostly class papers— written while Davis was a student at Harvard Divinity School, 1902-1904. This manuscript is undated and not obviously connected to any specific class.
The primary downloadable document contains the original document followed by the transcription. The bottom of each item page also features the primary document as an embedded pdf for browsing.
Transcription by Davis Baird. Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.