Thomas, Abel C. Autobiography of Rev. Abel C. Thomas: including Recollections of Persons, Incidents, and Places. Boston: J. M. Usher, 1852. First Edition. [10886]
Teal cloth decorated in blind & gilt, light scuffing with frayed corner tips, 7 3/4 x 5 inches. 408 generally clean pp., light foxing, a bit shaken at the center. Good. Hardcover.
John C. Morgan, in the Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography, styles this 'the most detailed source of information" on the life of Thomas.
Incidents and people mentioned in this autobiography include Universalist churches, Thomas Wetherill, Elias Hicks, Lorenzo Dow, Unitarian Mohammedanism, Hosea Ballou, Attacked by a clergyman in Easton Court House, Abner Kneeland, Arminio-Calvinism, Rev. Albert Barnes, Singular freak of a Universalist minister, Lewiston bee-house, Presbyterian Force-pump, The Smith War, Discussion with Rev. Luther Lee, Knappism, Down into a coal-mine, Devil's doctrine, Fanaticism and Enthusiasm, Negro Sermon in a log-cabin, My opinion of city-preachers, Visit to Iranistan, Mission to England.
Abel Charles Thomas (1807-1880), b. Philadelphia, PA; d. Tacony, PA; a Universalist evangelist, minister, journalist, and historian. His grandfather Abel Thomas was for 56 years a Quaker preacher in Pennsylvania. The grandson Abel Charles Thomas wrote many tracts and several books in defense of his denomination, and his debates with Luther Lee and Ezra Stiles Ely were published in book form.
"A Universalist minister whose most important pastorate was at the Lombard Street Church, Philadelphia, 1830-1839, and again 1848-1863. A controversial writer and speaker. He edited Hymns of Zion, Philadelphia, 1839, the first Universalist hymn book to contain tunes." - Henry Wilder Foote, DNAH archives.
