Smoot, John Murray. Presbyterianism in Revolutionary Pennsylvania : Constitutionalism and Freedom. No Place: Not Published, 1981. First Edition. [11407]
Maroon cloth, gilt title to spine & front, 11 x 8 3/4 inches, 190 clean pp. Very good. Hardcover.
The author's doctoral dissertation submitted in June, 1981, at st. Mary's Seminary and University. In it he argues for an understanding of the prominence and influence of the Presbyterian ministry and laymen of during the time of the Revolutionary War.
"This work...proceeds to demonstrate how the Calvinistic Scotch-Irish Presbyterians dominated the political scene in Philadelphia in 1776 and virtually created the Pennsylvania Constitution of that year...Particular attention is given to key individuals such as Tennent, Dickinson, Rush, Alison, Matlack, Bryan and Cannon. John Witherspoon towers over the whole scene." - Abstract.
The chapters are I. Introduction and Status of Scholarship, II. Presbyterian Lineage. III. Presbyterians and Colonial Experience. IV. Struggle for Unity. V. Presbyterianism in Pre-Revolutionary Pennsylvania. VI. Presbyterianism in Revolutionary Pennsylvania. VII. Pennsylvania Moves toward Political Independence. VIII. The Constitution of 1776. With a Bibliography.
John Murray Smoot (1817-2006), b. & d. Baltimore, MD. A Presbtyerian minister, he was educated at Wheaton College, at Dallas Theological Seminary, and earned a doctorate from St. Mary's Seminary and University. In addition to other ministries, he was also the pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in Baltimore for 34 years.
