Children of Peace PDF
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Children of Peace Taking its title from the religious sect examined, Children of Peace is a history of one of the most significant and least-studied religious sects in English-speaking Canada. John Mclntyre paints a colourful picture of a group of individuals who tried to provide a model for a new church and a new society. The Children of Peace, which existed from 1812 to 1890, was started by former Quakers from the United States who set up a Utopian com- munity near Toronto. With their propensity for fine architecture, music, and ritual, adherents to the sect attracted the attention of the religious, political, and social elites. Their leader and founder, David Willson, was one of the most prolific religious writers and theorists in Canada at the time. The Children of Peace sought to create a church where God spoke directly to all and where both Christians and Jews could find a home. Mclntyre looks at life in the community and places the sect within its broader historical contexts. His examination of the community's buildings and artefacts provides additional insights into the beliefs and behaviour of its adherents. Children of Peace makes an important contribution to the growing field of religious and cultural history in Canada. w. JOHN MCINTYRE is professor of liberal studies, Seneca College. McGill-Queen's Studies in the History of Religion G.A. Rawlyk, Editor Volumes in this series have been supported by the Jackman Foundation of Toronto. 1 Small Differences 8 Serving the Present Age Irish Catholics and Irish Revivalism, Progressivism, Protestants, 1815-1922 and the Methodist Tradition An International Perspective in Canada Donald Harman Akenson Phyllis D. Airhart 2 Two Worlds 9 A Sensitive Independence The Protestant Culture of Canadian Methodist Women Nineteenth-Century Ontario Missionaries in Canada and William Westfall the Orient, 1881-1925 Rosemary R. Gagan 3 An Evangelical Mind Nathanael Burwash and the 10 God's Peoples Methodist Tradition in Canada, Covenant and Land in South 1839-1918 Africa, Israel, and Ulster Marguerite Van Die Donald Harman Akenson 4 The Devotes 11 Creed and Culture Women and Church in The Place of English- Seventeenth-Century France Speaking Catholics in Elizabeth Rapley Canadian Society, 1750-1930 Terrence Murphy and Gerald 5 The Evangelical Century Stortz, editors College and Creed in English Canada from the Great 12 Piety and Nationalism Revival to the Great Depression Lay Voluntary Associations Michael Gauvreau and the Creation of an Irish- Catholic Community in 6 The German Peasants' War Toronto, 1850-1895 and Anabaptist Community of Brian P. Clarke Goods James M. Stayer 13 Amazing Grace Studies in Evangelicalism in 7 A World Mission the United States, Canada, Canadian Protestantism and Britain, Australia, and the Quest for a New Beyond International Order, George Rawlyk and 1918-1939 Mark A. Noll, editors Robert Wright 14 Children of Peace W. John Mclntyre Children of Peace W. JOHN McINTYRE McGill-Queen's University Press Montreal & Kingston • London • Buffalo McGill-Queen's University Press 1994 ISBN 0-7735-1195-4 Legal deposit third quarter 1994 Bibliotheque nationale du Quebec Printed in Canada on acid-free paper This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Social Science Federation of Canada, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Publication has also been supported by the Canada Council through its block grant program. Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Mclntyre, W. John (William John), 1951- Children of Peace (McGill-Queen's studies in the history of religion; 14) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7735-1195-4 i. Children of Peace - History. 2. Christian communities - Ontario - Sharon - History - igth century. 3. Ontario - Church history - igth century. 4. Millenialism - Ontario - History - igth century. I. Title. II. Series 8x9999.5431^134 1994 289.9 094-900316-6 This book was typeset by Typo Litho Composition Inc. in 10/12 Palatino. To my grandparents This page intentionally left blank Contents Figures and Tables ix Preface xi 1 A Gathering of Friends 3 2 Meeting House and Camp Meeting 14 3 Visions 30 4 Meeting House and Temple 47 5 Doctrine, Worship, and Ritual 82 6 Life and Work in the Community 108 7 House and Home: The Ebenezer Doan House 140 8 Religion and Politics 151 9 The Last Years of the Children of Peace 178 10 The Children of Peace and the World Around Them 186 Notes 211 Bibliography 237 Index 253 This page intentionally left blank Figures and Tables FIGURES 1 Yonge Street Friends Meeting House 4 2 Portrait of David Willson 10 3 Bonnet from the Yonge Street Quaker community 22 4 Buckingham Friends Meeting House, Bucks County, Pennsylvania 23 5 Painted banner, attributed to Richard Coates 32 6 Painted banner, attributed to Richard Coates 34 7 First meeting house of the Children of Peace 50 8 Bank Meeting House, Philadelphia 53 9 Temple of the Children of Peace 58 10 Interior of the temple 59 11 Altar at the center of the temple 61 12 Desk made by John Doan 71 13 David Willson's study 75 14 Second meeting house of the Children of Peace 77 15 Interior of the second meeting house 79
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