The Gardiner Spring Manuscript Collection

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: SCM 216

Staff Only

Scope and Content

This collection consists of 11 sermon manuscripts written by Dr. Spring from 1812 to 1861.

Dates

1812 - 1861

Language of Materials

English

Access:

There are no special restrictions to the access of this collection. It may be examined by library patrons under the normal rules and conditions of Special Collections.

Preferred Citation

The following is the acceptable citation for publication: The Gardiner Spring Manuscript Collection. Special Collections, Princeton Theological Seminary Library.

Chronology

1785
: Born
1810-1873
: Pastor, Brick Presbyterian Church (old First Presbyterian Church), New York City
1861
: Presented the "Spring Resolutions" at the Presbyterian General Assembly
1873
: Died

Biographical Information

Gardiner Spring (1785-1873) was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He graduated from Berwick Academy and Yale University. After law studies, Spring felt a call to ministry and enrolled at Andover Seminary. In 1810 he was called as pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church (old First Presbyterian Church) of New York City. He remained there for sixty-three years until his death.

Gardiner Spring had a distinguished career as a preacher, author, and leader of the "Old School" wing of the Presbyterian church. He is perhaps best known for the so-called "Spring Resolutions," which he presented at the General Assembly of 1861. These proposed that the churches should "do all in their power to strengthen, uphold, and encourage the federal government." By adopting these resolutions, the Presbyterian General Assembly broke with its traditional silence on political matters (the so-called "spirituality of the church"), and thereby lost the Southern wing of the church by schism.

Extent

1 box (0.2 linear feet)

Additional Description

Processing Information:

The provenance of this collection is unknown. It was cataloged for many years as MS Sp769 in the old library. The collection was organized and the original finding aid was written in October of 1996, by Raymond D. Cannata, under the direction of William O. Harris, Archivist. The finding aid was edited by Sarah Seraphin and Daved Anthony Schmidt in June of 2009.