Sermons, 1905-1919
Here is a selection of sermons that Earl Clement Davis delivered at the Unity Church in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. In at least one case ("The Place of the Church in the Life of the Individual and in Society"), the sermon was printed and published, but most of the sermons here were delivered from these manuscripts.
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Growth and Salvation
Earl Clement Davis
Earl Davis approached this topic twice. While it is pretty clear that “Irrepressible Impulse to Growth” is the first attempt (it is short and does not really come to a conclusion), “Growth and Salvation” reads as a full completed sermon.
Here we provide both versions of the sermon. The primary downloadable document is for the combined text and translation of “Growth and Salvation". This is followed by the separate documents of the aforementioned, and then the corresponding three documents for “The Irrepressible Impulse to Growth.”
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. -
Obedience to the Will of God
Earl Clement Davis
In this sermon, Davis considers the need for our obedience to God's will. He examines three aspects of Calvinism:
(1) Sovereignty of God (which Davis suggests is effectively the same as the sovereignty of natural law)
(2) Man's dependence on God -- again consistent with the idea that natural law covers the whole universe
(3) the doctrine of man's depravity and that of election by God. Davis calls this "obnoxious and revolting."
Obedience to the will of God includes "obeying the natural and moral laws." But it is more: it is a transcendent identification with God -- of all men with God -- with God's purposes and being. It is a loss of self into God. Davis describes the feeling of this state of identification.While this manuscript has no date, there are internal references (included in footnotes of transcription) that strongly suggest this sermon was preached during Earl Davis' time as minister of the Unity Church in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
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 Democratization of Industry I
Earl Clement Davis
There are two versions of this sermon. An earlier incomplete version, with a slightly different title, “Making Democracy Safe In America: Democratization of Industry,” was one of the sermons in the “1918 Four-brad Bundle.” That sermon was substantially expanded and worked over into “The Democratization of Industry.” Both manuscripts and their transcriptions are provided here, with the latter being the primary document featured.
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The Richness of the Religious Life
Earl Clement Davis
This sermon discusses three important elements to the religious life: (1) Evidence from nature of a powerful and ill-understood force behind the universe; (2) A realization that man is akin to God--both physically and more importantly mentally/morally; (3) A transcendent experience of being one with God and sharing God's purposes on earth. Davis is clearly motivated by his experiences in nature. He concludes that the religious life is not a sacrifice, but a "full complete, ever broadening life".
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 Great Tradition Becomes the Great Faith
Earl Clement Davis
According to a note attached to this sermon, it was given during June, 1918. Earl C. Davis also gave this sermon in Petersham on July 15, 1951.
This sermon is about the need for and search for "values that are good enough or true enough or beautiful enough to command our complete allegiance and fidelity; to give purpose and dignity to our life beyond the mere motions of animal existence." Jesus met this challenge in staying true to his conviction, even unto death; that was his commitment to his disciples in the story of the transfiguration. In current times with threat of authoritarianism we hunger for this kind of truth and integrity. There is also extended discussion of Henry David Thoreau's May 12th, 1857 journal entry.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 New Era
Earl Clement Davis
This was Davis' first sermon after the outbreak of World War I. He blames the war on international industrial imperialism's century-long development. He states that this horrible consequence was to be expected given the imperialistic tendencies of all the nations involved (including the US), an imperialism driven by commerce and proselytizing so-called Christianity. Yet, Davis sees reason to hope, by working to establish a better world order based on democracy and humanity.
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. -
Good Will Among Men, Is it a Fact or a Theory? (incomplete)
Earl Clement Davis
This is the first of two 1909 sermons (the second being on the 'That Man May Live') David gave about the "real meaning" of Christmas. Davis is concerned that the real meaning of Christ is submerged in a bunch of sentimental pseudo-history, "pure and unadulterated rot." He discusses the Roman god Saturnus and the annual Saturnalia festival and holiday. He discusses Jesus' early life and initially becoming aware of his faith. He also talks about his early disciples. This sermon is incomplete.
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. -
Robert Louis Stevenson, the Man of an Understanding Heart
Earl Clement Davis
A biographical study of Robert Louis Stevenson with a focus on his interest in, and care for, all the humans he interacted with. Special emphasis is placed on his burial on Samoa.
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. -
That Man May Live
Earl Clement Davis
The second of two December 1909 sermons ("Good Will Among Men" is the first) on the "real meaning of Christmas. Davis says to honor Jesus -- to really honor him -- is to recognize that he really believed in creating heaven on earth. We have to do the work now to strive for that ideal and not worship some past hero -- such as Jesus -- and hope that said past hero will save us today. Such focus on the past distracts from the hard work needed today to create the better future for tomorrow.
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 Place of the Church in the Life of the Individual and in Society
Earl Clement Davis
A published pamphlet of one of Earl Davis' sermons. Jesus gathered volunteers who understood and supported the kind of life that Jesus advocated; that is the beginning of the Christian church before institutionalization. Davis discusses the implications for assessing the current value and use of the church. Man is not made for church; church is made for man. The kingdom of God was to be a kingdom on this earth. The church -- then and now -- must serve human personality and reality.
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.
Item description based off writing and context provided by Davis Baird. -
Abraham Lincoln and the Needs of the Time
Earl Clement Davis
A discussion of the key human characteristics of Abraham Lincoln that led to his greatness. These include honesty, integrity, and an understanding of humans. He emphasizes the needs for people to inhabit these qualities in order to solve the problems with Democracy today.
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 Missionary Spirit
Earl Clement Davis
On the 100th anniversary of the Haystack Prayer meeting in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Davis sets out to explain the origin of Christianity's missionary efforts. He traces Christianity's intellectual/administrative sources to Jewish tradition, Greek philosophy, and Roman government. The sermon feels unfinished, and there is a note confirming this. However, it is noted as being preached on Oct 14, 1906.
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. -
A Plea for the Principle of a Creedless Church (Outline)
Earl Clement Davis
Outline notes for an address in connection with Davis’ ordination as minister of the Unity Church, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
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.