Dieter - The Holiness Revival of the Nineteenth Century

Studies in Evangelicalism

Edited by Donald W. Dayton, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Kenneth E. Rowe, Drew University Library

1. The Holiness Revival of the Nineteenth Century, by Melvin Easterday Dieter. 1980, 1996.

2. The Lane Rebels: Evangelicalism and Antislavery in Antebellum America, by Lawrence Thomas Lesick. 1980.

3. Freedom and Grace: The Life of Asa Mahan, by Edward H. Madden and James E. Hamilton. 1982.

4. Evangelicals United: Ecumenical Stirrings in Pre-Victorian Britain, 17951830, by Roger H. Martin. 1983.

5. Theological Roots of Pentecostalism, by Donald W. Dayton. 1987.

6. The Law as Gospel: Revival and Reform in the Theology of Charles G. Finney, by David L. Weddle. 1985.

7. Spirit and Intellect: Thomas Uphams Holiness Theology, by Darius L. Salter. 1986.

8. The Woman Evangelist: The Life and Times of Charismatic Evangelist Maria B. Woodworth-Etter, by Wayne E. Warner. 1986.

9. The Chicago Revival, 1876: Society and Revivalism in a Nineteenth-Century City, by Darrel M. Robertson. 1989.

10. Sacraments and the Salvation Army: Pneumatological Foundations, by R. David Rightmire. 1990.

11. Sectarian Against His Will: Gerrit Roelof Polman and the Birth of Pentecostalism in the Netherlands, by Cornelius van der Laan. 1991.

Second Edition

by

Melvin Easterday Dieter

Studies in Evangelicalism, No. 1

SCARECROW PRESS, INC.

Published in the United States of America

by Scarecrow Press, Inc.

4720 Boston Way

Lanham, Maryland 20706

4 Pleydell Gardens, Folkestone

Kent CT20 2DN, England

Copyright 1996 by Melvin Easterday Dieter

British Cataloguing-in-Publication Information Available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Dieter, Melvin Easterday.

The holiness revival of the nineteenth century / by Melvin

Easterday Dieter. Second ed.

p. cm. (Studies in evangelicalism ; no. 1)

Includes bibliographical refereces and index.

1. Holiness churchesUnited StatesHistory19th century.

2. Holiness churchesEuropeHistory19th century. 3. RevivalsUnited StatesHistory19th century. 4. RevivalsEuropeHistory19th century. 5. United StatesChurch history19th century. 6. EuropeChurch history19th century. I. Title.

II. Series.

BX7990.H6D53 1996 277.3'081dc20 95-25919

ISBN 978-0-8108-3155-1

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.481984.
Manufactured in the United States of America.

To Hallie,
for love, wisdom,
and a lot of hard work

The current resurgence of interest in Evagelical religion has highlighted the importance of Evangelicalism in the formation of American culture. This series seeks to explore its roots in the Evangelical Revival and the religious Awakenings of the 18th century, its 19th century blossoming in revivalism and social reform, and its 20th century development in both sect and mainline churches. We will be particularly concerned to emphasize the diversity within Evangelicalismthe search for holiness, the Millennial traditions, Fundamentalism, Pentecostalism, and so forth. We are pleased to publish this revised and expanded edition of Melvin Dieters acclaimed study of the holiness revival in the 19th-century America, which launched out series in 1980.

Following undergraduate studies with honors at Muhlenberg College, Professor Dieter studied theology first at Eastern Pilgrim College and then at Temple University in Philadelphia where he took the doctorate in 1973. He took leadership in developing and writing the three-volume Wesleyan Theological Perspectives series 1981-1986, and edited an important collection of devotional writings of Hannah Whitall Smith (1986). For twenty years he has been a regular contributor to theological journals.

The former General Secretary of Educational Institutions of the Wesleyan Church, he taught church history at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, where he also served as academic vice president. He recently retired to Lyndhurst, Virginia.

Donald W. Dayton
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
Lombard, Illinois

Kenneth E. Rowe
Drew University
Madison, New Jersey

This journey through the nineteenth century began almost thirty years ago at a small college near Boston, Massachusetts. There, at a chance meeting, two fledgling history professors shared their common interest in someday writing the history of the American perfectionist revival movement.

Both men eventually used their doctoral research projects to that end. In 1957, Dr. Timothy Smiths thesis on revivalism and social reform brought the movement to the attention of the academic and religious world. That volume quickly took its place as one of the crucially definitive interpretations of nineteenth century religious and social history.

The other young man, after long involement in academic administration, finally got back to his own commitment to contribute to the history of the holiness revival; his doctoral research is summed up largely in the volume which follows. One of the joys of that research was to share the journey again with Tim Smith, now director of studies in American religion at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Smith served on the doctoral committee.

Many others have shared in the venture. Dr. Franklin H. Littell graciously adopted a doctoral candidate at a critical point in his study. Dr. Earnest B. Stoeffler, whose loving concerns for pietism shaped not only that candidates teaching but his life, and Dr. Elwyn Smith, who encouraged the original research, were good guides.

The kindness of the many librarians who shared the dusty recesses of their nineteenth century collections was always an encouragement. Special thanks go to Lawrence McIntosh and Kenneth Rowe of Drew University and to the librarians at Pasadena Nazarene College (now Point Loma College) who were especially helpful.

And all along the extended journey, Hallie was there encouraging, prodding, typingsharing good times and bad. Very near to the beginning Judy padded alongJudy, who is now following her own research and teaching paths.

All of us, who have experienced the pleasures of the unexpected discoveries as well as the humdrum plodding which a professionally honed venture demands, hope that all who join us through the account which follows will share the joy of discovery and find little humdrum plodding. It has been a purposeful journey, and attempt at a balanced and reliable view of a small but significant segment of life; it has all been con amore.

Melvin E. Dieter
Wilmore, Kentucky
June 6, 1980

It is a commonly accepted truism in American church history that from the time of the Great Awakening until the close of the nineteenth century revivalism was the dominant force in the shaping of American Protestantism.

The title of an introductory editorial, What Shall Be Done to Revive the Work of Holiness in the Church?