Life and letters of Austin Craig

Front matter

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Preface

THIS volume affords a typical illustration of the truth which now and then through the centuries comes to light, that the real greatness of some men is obscured during their lives by the very amplitude of their own daily deeds ; it is not until Death draws the curtain aside that the real figure is disclosed.

In the span of his all too short life whose chief activities covered the years from 1840 to 1881, Austin Craig came into contact with and enthusiastically entered into many stirring events, and he drew and held to himself the friendship of many distinguished men. Prominent among these was Horace Mann, the correspondence with whom is given in this volume and it is believed will be found of especial interest by the student of educational methods. Whether as college professor or college president, instructor in a theological school or founder and president of one after his own heart where not theology but the Bible was studied, as preacher or lecturer, in his own family circle or the centre of a brilliant coterie of scholars, or rendering aid to the most unlettered or the most learned man in the long line of those who came to depend upon him — whatever the contact or whatever the event, Dr. Craig left upon it the impress of his own splendid personality.

He was an advocate of industrial and scientific training. As college professor he was a pioneer in introducing laboratory and seminar methods for the study of psychology and sociology and as far as known was the first to have his students inspect penal and charitable in-

6 PREFACE

stitutions and devise ways for their improvement. He was one of the early advocates of equal privileges for women with men educationally and in church government and ecclesiastical affairs.

It is the purpose of this volume not only to show something of the brilliant and picturesque events contemporary with him, as the Millerite excitement, one of the strangest episodes in the history of any nation, but to show how his life fastened itself lovingly upon other lives and would not leave them until he had helped them. While the book treats of many events having a bearing on religion, and is in fact a contemporary narrative of the great development of religious liberty during these years, it is by no means a volume for the church library alone, but, it is earnestly hoped, contains interest for any man or woman who loves to read the story of a life of steadfast devotion to others.

A copious amount of material was drawn upon in the preparation of this volume, and every new letter read, every time-worn pamphlet studied, every delightful literary find, every document considered, whether ecclesiastical or civil — all brought forward their evidence. In whatever direction one looked there appeared some unselfish deed, some service to another, some act of self-renunciation. Preeminently this life was one of service to others ever rendered more conspicuous by a supreme devotion to the Master of men.

The life of Austin Craig illuminates itself. Looked at from any point of view, it glows with a superb unselfishness as unconscious as it is rare.

W. S. H.

Writings of Austin Craig, D. D. .

Index

ILLUSTRATIONS

Moses Craig, Father of Austin Craig, with His First Grandchild .......

Rachel Carhart Craig, Mother of Austin Craig

The Early Home of Austin Craig, Peapack, New Jersey

Austin Craig when a Student at Lafayette College

Pen and Ink Sketch of Lafayette College in 1843

The Blooming Grove Church ....

Horace Greeley Letter Reproduced in Facsimile .

The Blooming Grove Parsonage ....

Adelaide Churchill Craig, Wife of Austin Craig

Edward Everett Hale .....

Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio

North Christian Church, New Bedford, Mass. .

Interior of North Christian Church .

President's Home Christian Biblical Institute

Christian Biblical Institute, Stanfordville, N. Y.

Student's Home .......

Marriage Certificate Reproduced in Facsimile

Dr. Craig's Letter to His Daughter Reproduced in Facsimile .....

Dr. Sarah McCarn Craig .

Dr. Warren Hathaway

Greek Letter Written by Dr. Craig, and in Facsimile .....

Professor Edward L. Youmans

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