Gates, Theophilus. Life and Writings of Theophilus R. Gates, 1818
Gates, Theophilus. Life and Writings of Theophilus R. Gates, 1818
Gates, Theophilus. Life and Writings of Theophilus R. Gates, 1818
Gates, Theophilus. Life and Writings of Theophilus R. Gates, 1818
Gates, Theophilus. Life and Writings of Theophilus R. Gates, 1818
Gates, Theophilus. Life and Writings of Theophilus R. Gates, 1818
Gates, Theophilus. Life and Writings of Theophilus R. Gates, 1818

Gates, Theophilus. Life and Writings of Theophilus R. Gates, 1818

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Gates, Theophilus R. The Life and Writings of Theophilus R. Gates. Second Edition, with corrections. Philadelphia: Printed by David Dickinson, for the Author, 1818.  [3565]

Full leather with black leather spine title label, 7 1/2 4 1/2 inches, binding is scuffed and worn, small ding to spine, 3" crack at top of back joint - has the appearance of that section of the leather backstrip being sometime repasted to the spine. Private library bookplate of Joseph A. Sadony, bottom corner of ffep torn with loss. 514 pp. with varying degrees of foxing, with separate title pages to five of the parts, all with the same 1818 imprint. A little shaken, with nothing detached. Good.

Kaplan, A Bibliography of American Autobiographies, no. 2121.

Library of Congress lists only this second edition.

Theophilus Ransom Gates (1787-1846), “born in Hartland, Connecticut; early experienced strange, disturbing visions; in Philadelphia 1810-35; criticized existing religions; pub. the monthly Reformer; unhappy home life led him to adopt perfectionism; influenced by J. H. Noyes; launched 'Battle-Axe Experiment' 1837, advocating free love based on a 'principle of holiness' leading to union of 'soul mates'; his colony in 'Free Love Valley'; near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, disappeared after he left in reaction against excesses." - Dickinson College Archives online, unidentified photocopied page.

This is a collection of Gates' writings, written some decades before his "Battle Axe" phase, each with separate title pages but the page numbers are continuous throughout. It contains

His Trials, Experience, Exercises of Mind, and first Travels.
Truth Advocated, or, explanations on parts of the Revelation and other Prophecies
A sincere inquiry concerning the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God
Observations on the Signs of the Times: intended as a supplement to Truth Advocated
Remarks on the Goodness and Severity of God
A View of the Last Dispensation of Light that will be in the World, &c.
The Dream, first printed in the Philadelphia True American
A History of two Jews, in their pursuit after the Truth
An Account of the People of the Catacombs
Concluding Remarks in Application to the Whole

The bookplate is of the private library of Joseph A. Sadony (1877-1960), of Michigan, who devoted his years to the study and development of his theories as to the working of the human mind, and to the spiritual side of man.