Religion

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Frances Willard in Pulpit

November 7, 1859

Yesterday was the Sabbath. In the morning attended a Lecture at the University Chapel by Dr. Dempster;-Subject, "The Law of the Sabbath."It was not practical, but was an argumentative, historical effort. It was in Dr. D's clear, concise, & logical manner of writing. After the Lecture, proceeded to the Church, & with joy saw Dr. Foster,-the minister whom I like best to listen to-enter the pulpit. His Subject was, The Day of Judgement. Very seldom in my life have I listened to such a thrilling, eloquent & effective discourse, it impressed me very much. O, if I were only a Christian!

Perhaps the most influential aspect of Frances Willard’s life remained her faith in Christianity.  Religion existed as a constant commitment throughout her childhood, only becoming more devout into adulthood.  Willard exercised religion in her own education, teachings, and used Methodism as the rationale for other ideas in her life.

As a young child, Frances Willard experienced the importance of religion within her family and local religious community.  As she grew older, Willard became more thoughtful about the role of religion in her own life and the influence of Christianity on society. Willard attended the Methodist school at North Western Female College, supported the religious education of her brother, accepted into an engagement with a future Methodist leader, and discussed her socio-political interpretations of Christianity as president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.

This journal entry includes information on Willard’s developing religious education.  She attended religious lectures and church services, and even wrote reflections on what she heard.  Unlike some of the ideas that Frances Willard adopted as she grew older, religion remained an early and consistent feature of her life which impacted the career that she later curated.

 

January 20, 1860

-Attended Prayer Meeting last eve. I have united with the Methodist Church because I like its views of the Doctrines taught in the Bible, better than those of any other branch of God's militant Church, because I have been reared in it, & for me to attach myself to any other would cause great sorrow & dissatisfaction in quarters where I should most desire to avoid such consequences,-other things being equal. In my life, I have seen a great deal of narrowmindedness & bigotry-down right bigotry manifested by Church members-those who profess to be followers of Him who said in his great, all-encompassing wisdom & kindness "There is neither male nor female, bond or free, but ye are one in Christ." [Christ underlined twice.] Before I ever declared myself determined to live,-being helped by God-a Christian life, I resolved to educate in myself an antisectarian spirit-to live against it, write against it, talk against it, always. And I honestly believe that I regard all the churches-- the branches, rather of the One Church-with feelings of equal kindness & fellowship. For myself under existing circumstances I prefer the one to which I belong, but that a person belonged to that church & was a true Christian, would be to me no more of a recommendation than that he was a true Christian & belonged to any other. The churches are all good & fighting nobly & zealously to make the world better & happier. O, I earnestly pray that as I grow older the kindly, all-loving, Catholic spirit may more deeply seat itself in my heart!

Willard has often been nicknamed “Saint Frances,” especially after her death.  Willard’s personal beliefs in Christianity shaped her approach to education and social reform, thus influencing the national trajectory of the women’s suffrage movement.  Her individual commitment to Methodism became ingrained in aspects of her work, using her early influences to impact the nation.

As a member and president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, Frances Willard shared her devotion to Christianity in her message of socio-political activism.  Her network of women developed from her leadership as a religious and social leader, creating a movement of Frances Willard supporters.

This journal entry demonstrates Willard’s personal reflections on Christianity and its influence.  She wrote, “In my life, I have seen a great deal of narrowmindedness & bigotry-down right bigotry manifested by Church members-those who profess to be followers of Him who said in his great, all-encompassing wisdom & kindness.”  This statement indicated not only Willard’s analysis of Christianity, but her reflections on social reforms within Christianity.  Even in religion, Willard’s activist spirit guided her considerations and practices.