Clergy Dissent in the Old South 1830-1865

[Gene C]

Written by David Chesebrough, published in 1996. About 100 pages with about 30 additional pages of footnotes and bibliography.

An interesting subject, but too academic an approach to the material for me. The information was interesting, but the presentation of the material was flat. Perhaps it was not the authors intent, but this could have been a very encouraging and inspiring book. The telling of their sacrifices for what they believed in lacked emotion. It didn't engage me in their suffering.

However, I am glad I read this and the stories of some of the people who sacrificed so much to what they believed in. I have a greater understanding of how important the clergy's role was in their community. Most of the dissenting clergy received their higher education in northern schools. Most of them had to leave the churches and community they were serving. Where they lived, preaching against slavery was bad enough, but it was worse (treasonous) to be preaching against secession.

Reasonably priced (my copy, used like new was $3.25) I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

http://www.amazon.com/Clergy-Dissent-Old...gy+dissent