Sermons, 1919-1924
Here is a selection of sermons delivered by Earl Clement Davis at the Church of Our Father in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from 1919-1924. It is here that Davis begins to incorporate using broad sermon outlines as opposed to full sermon texts. This series contains a mix of both.
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The Fact of God in Human Experience
Earl Clement Davis
Not a full-text sermon, but an outline. Focuses on the main patterns of 19th century developments: experience and science. Davis asks that we sit humbly at nature's feet and learn. A violation of Christian spirit by political and social developments led to the World War.
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. -
Will a Belief in Immortality Survive?
Earl Clement Davis
Davis argues for immortality of the personality. While psychical research is discussed as possible support, he fundamentally hangs this belief on his experience of the order and purpose of the universe.
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. -
Did Christ Have the Power of God?
Earl Clement Davis
This sermon provides a detailed discussion and study of the source of Jesus' power -- a faith tried and tested in experience, not a transcendent faith. The scene of the Garden of Gethsemane is the sublime height of Jesus' moral courage and leadership.
Earl C. Davis clearly worked on this sermon. Two envelopes containing text for it survive. The first, with the note on the outside, “Did Christ Have the Power of God?" was preached Sunday evening, Feb., 25, 1923 and contained a beginning-to-end text of the sermon. The second envelope had two sets of extra notes, broadly similar, but one worked over in pencil. The materials below include the full sermon – as found in the first envelope – and both of the alternative texts notes found in the second envelope, and a transcription of all.
Date refers to Date Given.
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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The Land of Promise
Earl Clement Davis
Not a full-text sermon, but an outline. What kind of world should we want to live in? Not a world without hardship and tragedy; that is inconsistent with evolution. Davis wants to strive for greater simplicity and deeper wider knowledge of the higher conceptions of the meaning of life.
Date refers to Date Given.
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. -
The Need for A Spirit of Broad Fellowship. What Shall We Do with the Heretics?
Earl Clement Davis
This sermon starts as a historical discussion about dealing with heretics and resolving doctrinal differences of opinion. He talks a lot about "heresy hunters". Davis argues against creeds and argues for engaging with different opinions productively. He argues that this is part of the essence of the Protestant Reformation. A handwritten notation indicates that he also read this sermon on September 25, 1949 in Petersham.
Date refers to Date Given.
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. -
The Essential Christ
Earl Clement Davis
The bulk of the sermon is a discussion of recent advances in neuroscience. How does consciousness connect with the cerebral cortex? His answer is faith -- a faith that "carries us forward in the direction to which all known facts point...the faith is this: that somehow in that wonderful mystery of conscious personality, that operates in the central exchange of our cerebral cortex, there is a central urge that reaches out towards the truth, goodness and beauty in the world." Davis cites examples from the progress of man through the ages.
Date refers to Date Given.
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. -
The Power of Understanding: Not Illusion but Truth is Divinity
Earl Clement Davis
Psalm 46:10: "Be Still and Know that I am God." This is not a full text sermon, but an outline. It focuses on the advances of science and technology. There is mention of debates over evolution. "We begin with the observation of fact. We interpret facts. God is in reality in the common place."
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. -
The Well Fed Mind
Earl Clement Davis
Not a full text sermon, but an outline based around Proverbs 4:7: "Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
Date refers to Date Given.
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. -
An American Sunday
Earl Clement Davis
The emergence, centuries ago, of a day of rest for worship and recreation was a great advance. The question for Davis is how we use this day; for our betterment, intellectually, physically, morally -- or not?
Date refers to Date Given
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. -
Thanksgiving, Then and Now. An After-thought
Earl Clement Davis
Davis argues for a more liberal view of acceptable activities for Thanksgiving day. Evidently, there were complaints about people engaging in various kinds of recreation (such as theatre, baseball, etc) instead of going to church. Davis sees no harm here, and thinks the recreational approach is truer to the Pilgrim Thanksgiving.
Date refers to Date Given.
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.