BENJAMIN HARRISON

1833-1901

23rd President (1889-1893)

Biographical Data
Religious Views
Quotations
References, Links, & Further Reading

Education: Miami University

Occupation: lawyer

Political Affiliation: Republican

Religious Affiliation: Presbyterian

Summary of Religious Views:

At least from his college days onward, Harrison appears to have been quite devout. In addition to frequently attending church, Harrison became a church elder, and taught Sunday school.

Views on Religion & Politics:

Harrison's religious faith instilled in him a sense of duty which underlay his political activities.

Quotations:

"I hope you will renew your Christian faith and duties. It is a great comfort to trust God -- even if His providence is unfavorable. Prayer steadies one when he is walking in slippery places -- even if things asked for are not given." -- letter to Russell Harrison, 8 August 1887

"I come here this morning to make an expression of my respect and esteem for this great body of delegates assembled from all the countries of the world, and much more to give a manifestation of my respect and love for that greater body of Christian men and women for whom you stand. Every ecumenical conference is a distinct step in the direction, not only of the unification of the church, but of the unification of the human race.

"Assembling from countries unlike in their civil institutions, from churches not wholly in accord as to doctrine or church order, you come together to find that the unlikeness is not so great as you had thought, and to find your common sympathies and common purposes greater and larger than you had thought-large enough presently to overspread and to extinguish all these transitory lines of division.

"I am glad to know that as followers of Wesley, whose hymns we sing, you have been in consultation as to the methods by which these minor divisions among you might be obliterated. It is the natural order that subdivisions should be wiped out before the grand divisions of the church can be united. Who does not greatly rejoice that the controversial clash of the churches is less than it once was; that we hear more of the Master and His teachings of love and duty than of hair-splitting theological differences?" -- address to the Methodist Ecumenical Conference at the Metropolitan M.E. Church, Washington, DC, 7 October 1891

References, Links, & Further Reading: Books, Articles, Links

Books

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Works by Benjamin Harrison

The Constitution and Administration of the United States of America, D. Nutt, 1897; reprint, The Constitution and Administration of the United States of America
This Country of Ours, Scribners, 1897; reprint This Country of Ours
Views of an Ex-president, Bowen-Merrill, 1901; reprint, Views Of An Ex-President, Benjamin Harrison: Being His Addresses And Writings Since The Close Of His Administration As President Of The United States
James G. Blaine, The Correspondence Between Benjamin Harrison and James G. Blaine, 1882-1893, The American Philosophical Society, 1940
Charles Hedges, comp., Speeches of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-Third President of the United States; a Complete Collection of His Public Addresses from February 1888, to February, 1892, John W. Lovell, 1992; reprint, Speeches Of Benjamin Harrison, Twenty-Third President Of The United States: A Complete Collection Of His Public Addresses From 1888 To 1892

Biographies

Charles W. Calhoun, Benjamin Harrison (The American Presidents), Times, 2005
Anne Chieko Moore, Benjamin Harrison: Centennial President, Nova Science Publishers, 2006
Harry J. Sievers, Benjamin Harrison 3 vols., Univ. Publishers, 1960-1966
ed. by H. J. Sievers, Benjamin Harrison, 1833-1901: Chronology, Documents, Bibliographical Aids, Oceana Pub., 1969
Homer E. Socolofsky and Allan Spetter, The Presidency of Benjamin Harrison (American Presidency Series), Univ. Press of Kansas, 1987
Lew Wallace & Murat Halstead, Life and Public Services of Benjamin Harrison, Edgewood, 1892; reprint, Life and public services of Hon. Benjamin Harrison

Articles

Benjamin Harrison, "Military Instruction in Schools and Colleges," The Century, Vol. 47, Iss. 3, January 1894, pp. 468-470
William C. Ringenberg, "Benjamin Harrison: The Religious Thought and Practice of a Presbyterian President," American Presbyterians, 64, Fall 1986, pp. 175-89.

Links

Works by Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison (American Presidency Project)
Inaugural Address (Bartleby)
Inaugural Address of Benjamin Harrison (Avalon Project -- Yale Law School)
Benjamin Harrison -- oldest known recording of any U.S. President (Vincent Voice Library -- Michigan State University Libraries)

Biographical Sites

Benjamin Harrison (POTUS)
Benjamin Harrison (White House)
HARRISON, Benjamin, 1833-1901 (Biographical Directory of the US Congress)
Benjamin Harrison (American President)
Benjamin Harrison (USA Presidents)
Life Portrait of Benjamin Harrison (C-SPAN)
Benjamin Harrison Home
Benjamin Harrison (Medical History of the Presidents of the United States)

Religious Views

Benjamin Harrison from The Religious Beliefs Of Our Presidents, by Franklin Steiner (Internet Infidels)