DOCUMENT SIGNED, BY THOMAS DE WITT, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN PROTESTANT SOCIETY, AND HERMAN NORTON, ITS CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, CERTIFYING THAT COLONEL DARIUS BRANCH IS A LIFE MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY. NEW YORK, JUNE 21, 1848.
Engraved broadside, 11-3/4" x 15-1/2". Old folds and light soil, Very Good. Elaborate, fine engraved image, drawn by G. Muller and engraved by Bonar & Cumming, depicting masses of heathen-- including Indians, Africans [one holding a spear], Middle Eastern types, and others-- lining up to be converted to Christ. The engraving is captioned, "Come Out of Her My People."
Devoted to attacking Roman Catholicism and converting unbelievers-- particularly foreign-born Irish immigrants-- to Protestantism, the American Protestant Society was founded in 1844. The Know-Nothing Movement was growing exponentially, especially in eastern cities to which those immigrants had flocked. De Witt, its President, like other Know-Nothings, believed that the hierarchical structure of Roman Catholicism was incompatible with republican institutions.
Col. Darius Branch [1767-1851], a native of Lenox, Massachusetts, moved to Bennington, Vermont, as a young man. He became a colonel in the local artillery unit. In July 1848 he donated $23 to the American Protestant Society which, combined with his earlier $2 donation, earned him a lifetime membership. [VERMONT HISTORICAL GAZETTEER, VOLUME 3, 1877, Page 509; AMERICAN PROTESTANT MAGAZINE, VOLUME 4, AUGUST, 1848, Page 95.]
Rev. Thomas De Witt [1791-1874] graduated from the Theological Seminary of the Dutch Church at New Brunswick as a member of its first class. He was minister of the Collegiate Church of New York from 1827 until his death. He performed editorial work with the "Christian Intelligencer," was a New York Historical Society vice-president for 30 years and president for two. [YEAR BOOK OF THE COLLEGIATE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH, ISSUE 18, 1897, Pages 457-65.]
Rev. Herman Norton [1799-1850], from New Hartford, New York, graduated from Hamilton College in 1823. Ordained in 1826, he was elected Corresponding Secretary of the American Protestant Society. [Tappan: THE LIFE OF THE REV. HERMAN NORTON... 1853.]. Item #31210
Price: $500.00