Manuscripts

Follow

• 

  'Church Fairs and Suppers, Graft and Blackmail, says Minister', Pittsfield Newspaper article

  Pittsfield Newspaper

  A report of Davis' unhappiness with Church fairs and suppers as fundraisers (for his salary). His issue was that they did not treat people according to need, claiming it was quite the opposite, particularly for the women who organized them. To help fight this, Davis gave up a significant portion of his salary.

• 

  Count Leo Tolstoy: A Tragedy of the Times

  Earl Clement Davis

  A relatively long discussion of Tolstoy's life and, in Davis' view, ultimately unfinished spiritual growth. There is analysis of two books, Anna Karenina and The Resurrection. Davis concludes Tolstoy failed to shed the need for dogma, and that this is a tragedy of our times because we are in change.

  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.

• 

  Industrial Cooperation

  Earl Clement Davis

  A lengthy analysis on how to have more productive and humane systems of production, by aligning the three necessary elements of production (capital, management, and labor) in a more "organic" way. Interesting examples include Edme-Jean Leclaire (1801-1872) and N.O. Wilson (1844-1922).

  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.

• 

  Permanent Characteristics of Liberal Religion

  Earl Clement Davis

  An incomplete -- but long -- manuscript. Davis arrives at two key generalizations. The first is that social developments grow out of forces already operating in life. The second is a moral generalization -- that free inquiry is a fundamental moral principle for modern life. His route to these generalizations is by considering the lives and efforts of early pioneers, his own ancestors, and Thomas Hooker, who co-founded Hartford, Connecticut in the mid-1600s. Davis tries twice to argue that the world is imbued with moral purpose, but the essay is incomplete on this point.

  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.

• 

  Review of "The Introduction of Androcles and the Lion" by George Bernard Shaw

  Earl Clement Davis

  An overall very positive review of George Bernard Shaw's introduction to his play Androcles and the Lion. Davis takes Shaw's bait -- "Why not give Christianity a trial" -- and discusses the playwright's compelling vision for revisioning Christianity for the modern world. Davis states that "the point is that the pathway of history is strewn with the remains of dead Gods. They are dying today. In all the fields of modern activity we make our generalizations in accord with the facts of experience."

  While this manuscript has no date, Davis wrote another piece on George Bernard Shaw in 1913 ("The Court Jester to King Bourgeois"). Additionally, "Androcles and the Lion" was published and first performed in 1912. It is reasonable to date this piece around the same time.

  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 Bible as Literature [Three Bound Bundle]

  Earl Clement Davis

  Earl Davis surveys the Old Testament and discusses several kinds of literature to be found there. Including: Primative (Song of Deborah, Judges V; Song of Moses, Exodus 15); Folk legends or myths (Moses and the burning bush, Exodus 3:1-6; Jacob's Vision at Bethel, Genesis 28); Wisdom literature, proverbs (Folk song of good husbandry, Proverbs 27:23-27); Minor Prophets (The smiting prophet, Amos 8:4-14; The prophet of disciplined love, Hosea, 14); Poetry of Exile (Psalms 42,43,61,63,137-best); Psalms of Ascent; 120-134; Great Prophecy (Israel's destiny, Isaiah 52:13, 53:12); Lyric Poetry (Song of Songs); The Book of Job -- one of the great literary achievements of all time.

  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 Ethical Aspect of Socialism

  Earl Clement Davis

  This is an address supporting socialism, where Davis situates socialism as an obvious next move in the historical trajectory from feudalism to freedom; authority to democracy. Davis sees said historical trajectory as an ongoing movement away from monopolies of truth, state power, and industrial production and distribution.

  Unfortunately, this essay, clearly written for a particular audience (“I assume that you have not come here to be entertained…”) has no definite date in the manuscript, or identification of the event where it was presented. There is ample textual evidence that it was written during the time Earl Davis was the Minister of the Unity Church in Pittsfield (1905-1919).

  During this time Davis published a short pamphlet, “Socialism: A Reply to The Common Assertion that the Socialist Movement is Atheistic, Irreligious, and a Menace to the Family” (1910). “The Ethical Aspect of Socialism” clearly derives from a common concern to explicate and support the Socialist movement in the United States.

  Davis also references “the Pres. of the United States.” This could be Theodore Roosevelt, who in 1906 said, among other things, “The very reason why we object to state ownership, that it puts a stop to individual initiative and to the healthy development of personal responsibility, is the reason why we object to an unsupervised, unchecked monopolistic control in private hands. We urge control and supervision by the nation as an antidote to the movement for state socialism. Those who advocate total lack of regulation, those who advocate lawlessness in the business world, themselves give the strongest impulse to what I believe would be the deadening movement toward unadulterated state socialism.” Davis' essay could be read as a response to this stance by Roosevelt.

  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 Relation of Public Schools to Life

  Earl Clement Davis

  This manuscript is very likely a public high school commencement address. Earl Davis discusses three serious issues he finds with public education. (1) The tend to crush the child's innate desire for adventure, a desire Davis sees as seminal to the achievements of history. (2) They do not support a child's interest in doing real work -- because real factories are too dangerous and inhuman, and this undermines the emerging adults appreciation for labor. (3) They do not support the healthy idealism that young adults can bring to clean up the messes of their elders. Through all of this, there is an interesting discussion of "the labor problem." Davis thinks vocational education is a kind of faux substitute, although perhaps in the current world the only route towards a solution to the labor problem. He is clear that a child's personality is the most potent force in 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.

• 

  Why Cardinal O'Connell is Wrong! [Three Bound Bundle]

  Earl Clement Davis

  A long essay responding to a talk by Cardinal O'Connell of Boston. Unfortunately, we are unable to identify which talk Earl Davis is responding to. The piece is Davis' most complete argument against authority religion and in favor of democracy and freedom in religious considerations. He discusses previous failures in "infallible" religion, including Coperincus/Galileo, Darwin, and the morality of earning interest. He states that we will never outgrow religion, but we will outgrow certain religious institutions -- including, in Davis' view, all authority religions.

  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.

• 

  Five Months at Camp Devens [Four Fasteners Bundle]

  Earl Clement Davis

  In some cases, Earl Davis bound together manuscripts in bundles. This manuscript is part of one such bundle of seven, held together by four brass fasteners. Six of the seven can be dated to 1918.

  With America’s entry into World War I in April 1917, a massive mobilization of troops was initiated. Fort Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts was one of the training facilities used for this purpose. Religious support for the troops-in-training was provided, and Earl C. Davis spent five months at Camp Devens (November 1917 through March 1918) providing this service as a voluntary chaplain. In this writing he describes his time there, the character of the troops, and the making of an army from individual men.

  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.

• 

  Letter to the Pittsfield Eagle

  Earl Clement Davis

  Earl Davis wrote this letter in part to damp down anxieties over the recent Russian Revolution.

• 

  The Strike of the General Electric Company Employees

  Earl Clement Davis

  A pretty straight discussion of the history and issues that led to the then current strike taking place at several General Electric plants, including Pittsfield, but also Fort Wayne, Indiana, Schenectady, New York, and Lynn, Massachusetts.

  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.

• 

  Review of the Book 'God of the New Age' by Eugene William Lyman [Four Fasteners Bundle]

  Earl Clement Davis

  In some cases, Earl Davis bound together manuscripts in bundles. This manuscript is part of one such bundle of seven, held together by four brass fasteners. Six of the seven can be dated to 1918.

  A short book review of a book by Eugene William Lyman called God of the New Age. Earl Davis is sharply critical of the book because it fails to recognize how history has moved forward in its conceptions of Jesus and of God.

  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 Significance of Labor Strikes from the Point of View of Evolution of Religion [Regarding the 1918 Pittsfield General Electric Strike] [Three Bound Bundle]

  Earl Clement Davis

  Many of the manuscripts that came in the trunk of Earl C. Davis’ writings were “singles,” held together with a push-pin or sometimes a loop of string. In some cases, manuscripts were collected together in a group, as with the four manuscripts presented under this heading.

  Written shortly after the start of the 1918 Pittsfield General Electric strike, Davis considers "the labor problem" and puts it into context with the Industrial Revolution's development as well as the gap between owners and workers in new labor environments. Davis was deeply involved in this strike, appointed by the War Labor Board to serve as the local administrator for its duration. His manuscript ends concludes with a long quote from William Ellery Channing's "Honor Due to All Men."

  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.

• 

  Correspondence from Elmer Forbes to Earl Clement Davis re: Financial Reimbursement for Camp Devens

  Elmer Forbes

  A letter from Elmer Forbes, then Secretary of the Department of Community Service for the American Unitarian Association, containing expense statements for reimbursement regarding Davis' time as voluntary chaplain for Camp Devens (November 1917 through March 1918).

  The bottom of each item page also features the primary document as an embedded pdf for browsing.
  
  Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.

• 

  Correspondence from Samuel Eliot to Earl Clement Davis

  Samuel Eliot

  This correspondence includes several letters from Samuel Eliot, then President of the American Unitarian Association regarding his role as voluntary chaplain for Camp Devens. Unfortunately, the correspondence is only those received by Earl Davis. None of Davis' letters to Eliot have been found.

  Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird.

• 

  The Dream of a Christmas Shopper [Three Bound Bundle]

  Earl Clement Davis

  Many of the manuscripts that came in the trunk of Earl C. Davis’ writings were “singles,” held together with a push-pin or sometimes a loop of string. In some cases, manuscripts were collected together in a group, as with the four manuscripts presented under this heading.

  A dream of a socialist utopia where the workers own the means of production.

  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 Other End of a Shad Dinner

  Earl Clement Davis

  This is a a first-person account by Davis of a night out in Boston in May of 1916 and a summer vacation in Maine the same year. He compares the ways of life of the city and the country. Annie Davis is part of this story.

  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 Court Jester to King Bourgeois

  Earl Clement Davis

  This manuscript was written for the Pittsfield Paper and Pen Club, likely a book club, and discusses the important work of George Bernard Shaw (the 'Court Jester'). It would appear that a fair bit of the material is drawn from Archibald Henderson's 1911 biography of Shaw and Davis' own experience of Shaw's plays. Particular attention to the subject of marriage in his work.

  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.

• 

  Robert Burns: The Poet of Common Life

  Earl Clement Davis

  A discussion of the poetry of Robert Burns, emphasizing his attention to nature and a "common man's" experience.

  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.

• 

  Address Given at the Presentation of Diplomas to Members of the Graduating Classes of Grammar Schools of Pittsfield

  Earl Clement Davis

  A graduation address for the Grade 9 class of all Pittsfield schools. He focuses on the importance of education in rendering better and more useful citizens.

  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.

• 

  Churches for Truth and Justice [Twine Bound Bundle]

  Earl Clement Davis

  This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound collection. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911. The United States went through a recession in 1908, and there was increasing labor unrest, including a general strike in Philadelphia in 1910. These difficulties provide some of the backdrop to these manuscripts.

  One of the manuscripts, “What about City Government,” has a clear notation that it was written for the “Pipe and Pen Club,” presumably some periodic gathering to discuss issues of the day. It is possible that all – or nearly all – of these manuscripts were prepared for that gathering, as they do not read like sermons.

  Closely related to "The Work of a Church Today" (also part of this Twine Bound Collection), "Churches of Truth and Justice" concerns the proper role of a church in society.

  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.

• 

  Marriage and Divorce [Twine Bound Bundle]

  Earl Clement Davis

  This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound collection. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911. The United States went through a recession in 1908, and there was increasing labor unrest, including a general strike in Philadelphia in 1910. These difficulties provide some of the backdrop to these manuscripts.

  One of the manuscripts, “What About City Government,” has a clear notation that it was written for the “Pipe and Pen Club,” presumably some periodic gathering to discuss issues of the day. It is possible that all – or nearly all – of these manuscripts were prepared for that gathering, as they do not read like sermons.

  In this piece, Davis responds to concerns about the rising number of divorces. He discusses the development of marriage from the evidence of prehistoric times to his present. He argues that the direction has been towards life-long monogamy held on equal basis between men and women. Since the rise in divorces coincides with a rise in the economic and political power of women, Davis sees this as evidence of a good trend.

  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.

• 

  Social Ideal of the Modern World

  Earl Clement Davis

  This is one of twelve sermons Earl Davis kept together in a twine-bound collection. While these manuscripts are undated, internal evidence clearly dates them to the years 1909-1911. The United States went through a recession in 1908, and there was increasing labor unrest, including a general strike in Philadelphia in 1910. These difficulties provide some of the backdrop to these manuscripts.

  One of the manuscripts, “What about City Government,” has a clear notation that it was written for the “Pipe and Pen Club,” presumably some periodic gathering to discuss issues of the day. It is possible that all – or nearly all – of these manuscripts were prepared for that gathering, as they do not read like sermons.

  This manuscript is a carefully developed argument that the "ancient world" was characterized by the ideals developed in Plato's Republic with three principles: (1) class distinctions; (2) right of the ruling class to rule because of their monopolized access to truth as they define it; (3) the only access to truth for the other classes comes directly from the ruling class. The Modern world is characterized by the repudiation of these three principles and has been under development for centuries. Davis discusses the Peasants Revolt of 1381, the poem "Piers the Plowman", and John Ball, the revolutionary priest of Kent. He notes some great achievements of the modern world: (1) public education; (2) moves towards universal suffrage; (3) industrialization. But there is more to do -- among other things letting capitalism -- another form of class distinction -- to go by the board.

  Date refers to Date Given and 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.

• 

  Socialism

  Earl Clement Davis

  These notes were found in Earl Davis' writing desk in a folder titled "Agitator". The Agitator was a short-lived radical, socialist leaning newspaper published between 1910 and 1912. These are mostly likely notes that Davis took from one of their articles. The notes lay out the specific program of Socialism and its accomplishments to date (1910). A lot of the early text is identical to the The Constructive Program of Socialism (1908) by Carl D. Thompson, then city clerk in Milwaukee's Socialist administration.

  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.