1920s Notes of Evangelical Christian Minister Attending Lectures by Religious Scholars Across America

On offer is a very interesting notebook kept by an American minister in the roaring 1920s. Writing in 1924 and 1925, the author writes quotes and reflections on Bible teaching, preached by a number of American Biblical scholars. The author of this flip-top notebook is unknown. Context suggests that it is a male and that he is a minister.

Notable scholars about whom this minister’s writes include William Jennings Bryant, William Evans, Samuel D. Gordon and others. Bryant was a very popular public speaker who was a three-time contender for the U.S. Presidency. Other speakers, such as Evan and Gordon, used to travel across the United States conducting Bible conferences. Their emphasis was spreading the message of Evangelicalism.

The author of this notebook seems to have attended various such Egangelical conferences. On Jan 14th, 1925, he wrote about a talk given by Bryant at the Venetian Pool resort in Coral Gables, Florida. In his writing on this conference, he discusses things said by Bryant and resources or opportunities available in southern Florida. 

In Chicago, he attended a lecture by Rev William Evans entitled Why I Am Not A Christian Scientist. 

In New York, he listened to a Dr. Laws speak on Hebrews – Christians Need of Patience

In February, 1924, he attended a lecture by Samuel D. Gordon in Boston titled Can We Have Communication With Our Loved Ones After Death?

All of his notes are replete with scriptural references and teaching articulated by evangelical Christians.

Evangelicalism is the worldwide, trans-denominational movement within Protestant Christianity which holds the belief that the essence of the Gospel is the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ's atonement. Evangelicals believe in the centrality of the "born again" experience in receiving salvation, in the authority of the Bible as God's revelation to humanity, and in spreading the Christian message.

For a social historian, this notebook offers an insight into the evangelical stream of thinking that played such a significant role in shaping American religion, culture and eventually politics. Evangelicals came to dominate US cultural institutions, including schools and universities. Over time, with the advent of new ideas and approaches, the evangelical movement fractured into modernist and fundamentalist groups. This continues to have significant cultural and political ramifications in the United States.

This small pocket notebook measures 6 inches by 3.75 inches and contains 144 pages. It is about 95% complete. The cover, binding and pages are all in good condition. The handwriting is quite legible.