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. The undated sermons are listed first, followed by a reverse chronological order.

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Practical Politics and Civic Righteousness

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from August 30, 1908 to November 26, 1908.

A discussion of the principles underlying democracy and the threats from "practical politics and practical politicians" whose lack of integrity to the common welfare undermine democracy.

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.
Some Religious and Social Ideas of Tolstoy

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from August 30, 1908 to November 26, 1908.

Discusses the radical religious ideas of Leo Tolstoy, particularly his doctrine of non-resistance.

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 Bearing of Burdens

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from May 24, 1908 to August 9, 1908. This sermon again (see "Man's Responsibility", November 27, 1904) addresses the passage from Galatians 6:5 "For every man shall bear his own burden." The first burden is that of determining what kind of person one will be and one's moral and religious views. Davis sees this as a matter of individual responsibility (Universal priesthood, see "Mountain Climbing", June 28, 1908). But then there are daily burdens for oneself and for one's community and society. Davis is sharply critical of politicians -- parasites and leaches -- and the idle rich and more compassionate of the idle poor.

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 Conservation of Resources

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from August 30, 1908 to November 26, 1908.

While Davis does reference problems with natural resources -- forest depletion and other natural resources -- his focus here is on the depletion of human resources -- "solid, honest, healthy human beings." His concern is the corruption of wealth-seeking. His primary target is the church, which he claims has failed to honor Jesus' second commandment, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." The focus here is on the church's stance toward the labor problems of the day. He concludes quoting Ely Moore's 1833 address to the new General Trades' Union of New York City.

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 Educated Good Will

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from May 24, 1908 to August 9, 1908.

Davis defines the "uneducated good will" as having good will towards family and fellows. He defines the "educated good will" as good will towards all. He defines education as "that knowledge of facts and principles of life that enable one to live the better and the richer 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 Moral Conscience and the Needs of the Times

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from May 24, 1908 to August 9, 1908.

This sermon uses the process of gardening as a metaphor for figuring out what to do morally to improve society. Davis insists that the church must be more than a fine fellowship. It must stand for and prompt action in support of the principles of Jesus.

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 Moral Significance of the Evolution of a Religious Faith From the Idea of God As An Occasional Visitor To The Idea of God As the Indwelling Goodwill

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection, Bundle #1, Manuscript #3, that includes sermons from May 22, 1908 to August 9, 1908.

This sermon characterizes the change in the idea of God from a "big man" who was fed and feted at festivals and who helped secure good outcomes from wars and other needs --"an occasional visitor"-- to the idea that Jesus shared of God as spirit, best understood in analogy to the relation of a father to his children. One "finds God" in everyday life, in the beauty of nature and how nature provides and in the loving relations of humans--"the Indwelling Goodwill."

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 Motive of Conduct in a World of Righteousness

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the third bound 1908 collection that includes a couple of reports and several sermons, which—except for this one—duplicate sermons found in 1908 bundles #1 and #2. So, while this sermon is not explicitly dated, it certainly is from 1908.

This sermon begins with the observation that for thousands of years people have sought a world of righteousness. Even as progress has been made we have always found more work to do in striving towards a righteous world. The key to righteousness is treating all people as people and not as things. Davis states that "These conditions exist because we think that there are circumstances under which we may treat a human being as we would treat a thing; that there are circumstances under which we may deal with a human being without love; that there are conditions under which we may ignore the nature of man and for our own convenience override his claims to consideration and destroy him and ourselves at the same time. Herein is the root of all evil."

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 Motive of Right Living [Outline of Sermon]

Earl Clement Davis

Outline of a sermon that deals with the problems with various kinds of selfishness -- of the body, of the mind, of money and property, of power -- and altruism. Christ is discussed, but only with a broad meaning: "Christ is a word which was applied to one who was a minister to humanity, whose great absorbing passion it was to labor to the end that men might see the way to the great and rich life."

This is from the third bound 1908 collection that includes a couple of reports and several sermons, which duplicate sermons found in 1908 bundles #1 and #2. This sermon, alone among the manuscripts in bundle #3, is explicitly dated.

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 of Extending More Rational Methods in Dealing with the Small Offenders Against the Social Order

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from August 30, 1908 to November 26, 1908.

In this sermon, Davis proposes to consider criminal justice from the position of two key principles: (1) Humans are each individually the sites of divinity, or "the Great Good Will" and (2) Human experience over history, and in each person's lifetime, is a disciplining of this Great Good Will. With these two principles in mind he goes on to consider current practice in criminal justice where there is an increasing shift from a focus on the societal impacts to the impacts on individual offenders. He begins to consider juvenile justice reform, but the sermon ends mid-sentence, 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.
The Open Way and the Life of Man

Earl Clement Davis

This sermon concerns the relationship between humans and "the Unseen," referring to God and/or the underlying principles of order and morality of the universe. This sermon is from the bound collection that includes sermons from May 24, 1908 to August 9, 1908. This document is incomplete and only contains the first two of five sections of the sermon. The outline, included in the supplemental materials, gives an overview of the sermon's entirety.

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. Also included in the supplemental files are Davis' original outline for this sermon as well as Davis Baird's transcription.

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.
The Puritan Spirit in the Life of Today

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from August 30, 1908 to November 26, 1908. A handwritten note on the side of the manuscript says, “Published.” There has been no evidence found of a publication of this sermon.

A Thanksgiving Union Service preached at the South Congregational Church. Davis first discusses the misunderstandings of the Puritans -- as religious fanatics and dogmatists -- and urges instead that we see the Pilgrims as spiritually powerful and consecrated to changing life for the better against the corruption of the Court of King James. He goes on to urge that "we today" pick up some of the spirit of the Pilgrim in a consecrated fight against the Worship of Money, with all of its awful consequences, including child labor, inadequate wages, and women in the workforce. Davis states that we should push back against this worship and instead worship righteousness and the primacy of each human 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 Religion of Humanity

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from August 30, 1908 to November 26, 1908.

In this sermon, Davis discusses the religious ideas of 19th century Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Mazzini. Mazzini suggested that change is ongoing in both religion and faith. Old dogmas and old forms die as new ideas and new forms are created.

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 Spirit of the Evangel

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from May 24, 1908 to August 9, 1908.

This sermon focuses on Universal priesthood and the implications of this responsibility. Davis focuses on three elements: (1) One must listen to the world and to others in the world, listen with an understanding heart. (2) In light of what one learns with the understanding heart, one must develop one's moral purposes in the world. (3) One must act on these purposes. This is a full life of the living God.

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 Value of Doubt in Religious Life

Earl Clement Davis

This is from the bound collection that includes sermons from August 30, 1908 to November 26, 1908.

In this sermon, Davis criticizes the notion that faith is opposed to doubt, calling it perniciously false. He discusses one of the most successful works of 19th century literature, Robert Elsmere by Mrs Humphry Ward (Mary Augusta Ward), as well as the doubts of 19th century English divine Frederick William Robertson. The manuscript of 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.
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.
Broken Ideals and Discourages Worshippers [String-Bound Collection]

Earl Clement Davis

This is one of nine sermons Earl Davis kept together in a string-bound collection. All but one are undated. The dated one comes with an envelope marked April 1, 1906. The other eight sermons were gathered together and hand-written on similar paper. Therefore, it is reasonable to date all of them from 1906, probably Spring 1906.

This sermon is a sustained attack against idolatry, including that involving Jesus and the Church. Davis sates that the way to truth is by focusing on ideals not idols.

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.
Broken Idols and Discouraged Worshippers

Earl Clement Davis

In this sermon, Davis advocates against idolatry, including idolatry involving Jesus and the Church. He states that the point is to discover what the "real value" of the thing / thought / object / etc. This applies money as well as art. Davis suggests that the way to truth is by focusing on ideals and not idols.

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.
Choosing the Noble Life [String-Bound Sermons]

Earl Clement Davis

This is one of nine sermons Earl Davis kept together in a string-bound collection. All but one are undated. However, this one was marked April 1, 1906. The other eight sermons were gathered together and hand-written on similar paper. Therefore, it is reasonable to date all of them from 1906, probably Spring 1906.

Davis reflects on how one could paint a dark picture of the world and its problems, but that it would be false because of each person's ability to choose the noble life. He states that "we, who can discover the laws of nature, we, who can feel the power and the thrill of fellowship with human beings, and penetrate the inner secrets of humanity, we, who can feel the mystic presence of the unseen, think you we are born to live a life of degrading self-indulgence and ease?"

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.
From Smoke to Pen [String-Bound Sermons]

Earl Clement Davis

This is one of nine sermons Earl Davis kept together in a string-bound collection. All but one are undated. The dated one comes with an envelope marked April 1, 1906. The other eight sermons were gathered together and hand-written on similar paper. Therefore, it is reasonable to date all of them from 1906, probably Spring 1906.

In this sermon, Davis takes the elusiveness in trying to turn smoke (thought) to pen (writing) and uses it as an exercise. He tells his audience to "excuse personal idiosyncrasies as they present themselves, in the name of good fellowship. By the aid of my pen, I try to bring you some of the thoughts which I delight in when the strange hour of the pipe and the fire are upon me". The result is a sermon that starts out almost cosmic in tone. Davis gradually segues into considering and discussing the scientific method as a "clarifying reagent to all the problems which confront us".

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.
Jesus, the Lover of Human Nature [String-Bound Sermons]

Earl Clement Davis

This is one of nine sermons Earl Davis kept together in a string-bound collection. All but one are undated. The dated one comes with an envelope marked April 1, 1906. The other eight sermons were gathered together and hand-written on similar paper. Therefore, it is reasonable to date all of them from 1906, probably Spring 1906.

According to the opening, this is the second in a series of sermons on the 'Religion of Jesus and its Relation to the Religious Ideals of Today. The first focused on Jesus' appreciation -- and learning from -- nature. This focuses on Jesus' appreciation -- and learning from (love for) -- human nature.

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.
Take Time to Live [String-Bound Sermons]

Earl Clement Davis

This is one of nine sermons Earl Davis kept together in a string-bound collection. All but one are undated. The dated one comes with an envelope marked April 1, 1906. The other eight sermons were gathered together and hand-written on similar paper. Therefore, it is reasonable to date all of them from 1906, probably Spring 1906.

In this sermon, Davis rejects fond looks to the past (Thomas Carlyle) and future (Edward Bellamy) and urges us to live in the present. To live best is to emphasize one's unique -- and divine -- personality. He expresses concerns about the homogenizing effects of education, labor, etc, saying "dare to be non-conformist."

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.
Temptation [String-Bound Sermons]

Earl Clement Davis

This is one of nine sermons Earl Davis kept together in a string-bound collection. All but one are undated. The dated one comes with an envelope marked April 1, 1906. The other eight sermons were gathered together and hand-written on similar paper. Therefore, it is reasonable to date all of them from 1906, probably Spring 1906.

This sermon is a discussion of the temptations of Jesus and their meaning for modern life (see Matthew 4:4-9). Jesus met and conquered these temptations because he heard God in him; he was doing God's work with God, perfecting the uncompleted world.

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 Finality of Christianity [String-Bound Sermons]

Earl Clement Davis

This is one of nine sermons Earl Davis kept together in a string-bound collection. All but one are undated. The dated one comes with an envelope marked April 1, 1906. The other eight sermons were gathered together and hand-written on similar paper. Therefore, it is reasonable to date all of them from 1906, probably Spring 1906.

Included in the string-bound collection of sermons were two versions of “The Finality of the Christian Religion”. Both are inspired by Professor George Burman Foster’s 1906 book of the same title. What we have called “Version 1” reads more like a book review. Davis fully discredits "supernaturalism" or "authority-religion" and looks for a different approach to the religious value of Jesus in his personality, his will, his faith.

“Version 2” contains Earl Davis’ more considered thinking prompted by the book. He proclaims supernatural approaches dead, but that pure materialism is equally unappealing. It is through human personality, human seeking for ideals, that we find the power of Jesus and religion in modern times. Both versions of this work are available here, with "Version 2" being the primary document.

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.