Cyrus Augustus Bartol (April 30, 1813 – December 16, 1900) was a Unitarian pastor, author, and hymnist.

Biography

Bartol was born in Freeport, Maine on April 30, 1813. He was brought up in the

Calvinist Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Ca ...

tradition by his parents, George Bartol and Anna Given. However, he was greatly influenced by a Unitarian minister named Ichabod Nichols who he described as "the spiritual guide of my youth." He graduated from

Bowdoin College Bowdoin College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. When Bowdoin was chartered in 1794, Maine was still a part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The college offers 34 majors and 36 minors, as well as several joint eng ...

in 1832 and Harvard Divinity School in 1835. He was ordained in 1837, and received a Doctorate of divinity from

Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...

in 1859. He preached a short time in

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

before returning to Boston. Bartol preached at West Church in Boston for over fifty years, half of which was spent as assistant and co-pastor to the Rev. Charles Lowell, father of the famous

James Russell Lowell James Russell Lowell (; February 22, 1819 – August 12, 1891) was an American Romantic poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. He is associated with the fireside poets, a group of New England writers who were among the first American poets that ri ...

, and the other half as lead pastor of the church.Cyrus Augustus Bartol 1813–1900
''hymntime.com''. Bartol married Elizabeth Howard, granddaughter of Simeon Howard, who had served as minister of West Church during the American Revolution, and had a daughter with her who they also named Elizabeth. In addition to a number of books and sermons, he was published in various periodicals including the ''

Christian Examiner ''The Christian Examiner'' was an American periodical published between 1813 and 1869. History and profile Founded in 1813 as ''The Christian Disciple'', it was purchased in 1814 by Nathan Hale. His son Edward Everett Hale later oversaw publicati ...

'', the '' North American Review'', and the ''

Unitarian Review Unitarian or Unitarianism may refer to: Christian and Christian-derived theologies A Unitarian is a follower of, or a member of an organisation that follows, any of several theologies referred to as Unitarianism: * Unitarianism (1565–present) ...

''. He also published a number of hymns. Bartol was interested in Transcendentalism and was influential in the movement in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

. However, he was described as remaining "staunchly independent of sectarian creed and label" and although he was involved with Unitarian, Transcendentalist, and free religious movements, he was "never totally of hem. Other clergyman, authors, and philosophers such as

Henry W. Bellows Henry Whitney Bellows (June 11, 1814 – January 30, 1882) was an American clergyman, and the planner and president of the United States Sanitary Commission, the leading soldiers' aid society, during the American Civil War. Under his leadershi ...

, Frederic H. Hedge,

Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803April 27, 1882), who went by his middle name Waldo, was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was seen as a champ ...

Robert Collyer Robert Collyer in 1880 Robert Collyer in 1903 Robert Collyer (December 8, 1823 – November 30, 1912) was an English-born American Unitarian clergyman. Biography Collyer was born in Keighley, Yorkshire, England, on December 8, 1823; the fam ...

Margaret Fuller Sarah Margaret Fuller (May 23, 1810 – July 19, 1850), sometimes referred to as Margaret Fuller Ossoli, was an American journalist, editor, critic, translator, and women's rights advocate associated with the American transcendentalism movemen ...

, and George Ripley frequented his home. He was a close friend of the Alcott family, and spoke at

Louisa May Alcott Louisa May Alcott (; November 29, 1832March 6, 1888) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet best known as the author of the novel ''Little Women'' (1868) and its sequels ''Little Men'' (1871) and ''Jo's Boys'' (1886). Raised in ...

's funeral.Abbot, Willis J. (1913).
Notable women in history
'. Philadelphia, Pa., The John C. Winston co. p. 366. He was also cited as the "most intimate ministerial friend" of Rev.

Horace Bushnell Horace Bushnell (April 14, 1802February 17, 1876) was an American Congregational minister and theologian. Life Bushnell was born in the village of Bantam, township of Litchfield, Connecticut. He attended Yale College where he roomed with futu ...

. ''

The New York Tribune The ''New-York Tribune'' was an American newspaper founded in 1841 by editor Horace Greeley. It bore the moniker ''New-York Daily Tribune'' from 1842 to 1866 before returning to its original name. From the 1840s through the 1860s it was the dom ...

'' called Bartol "probably the most successful minister in Boston" in 1868. Bartol retired as pastor of the West Church on the 30th of September, 1889. He was to be its last pastor, as the building was sold in 1894 to be used as a branch of the public library. He then moved to

Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts Manchester-by-the-Sea (also known simply as Manchester, its name prior to 1989) is a coastal town on Cape Ann, in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is known for scenic beaches and vista points. According to the 2020 population ...

and became a successful real estate investor in the area. Bartol died in Boston on December 16, 1900, at the age of 87. His funeral was well attended by friends and former members of his congregation, including Julia Ward Howe and

Booker T. Washington Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African-American c ...

. He was called by one writer "the last of the Transcendentalists."

Publications (partial list)

Books

*
Influence of the Ministry at Large in the City of Boston
' (James Munroe & Co.; 1836) *
Discourses on the Christian Spirit and Life
' (Boston: Crosby, Nichols, and co.; 1850) *
Discourses on the Christian Body and Form
' (Crosby: 1853) *
Grains of Gold, or Select Thoughts on Sacred Themes
' (American Unitarian Association; 1854) *
Hymns for the Sanctuary
', also known as the "West Boston Collection" (Boston: Crosby, Nichols, and co.; 1849) *
Pictures of Europe, Framed in Ideas
' (Boston: Crosby, Nichols, and co.; 1855) * ''West Church and Its Ministers'' (1856) *
Church and Congregation: A Plea for Their Unity
' (Ticknor and Fields; 1858) *
The Word of the Spirit to the Church
' (Walker, Wise; 1859) * ''Radical Problems'' (Boston, Massachusetts: Roberts Brothers; 1872) *
The Rising Faith
' (Boston, Massachusetts: Roberts Brothers; 1874) * ''Principles and Portraits'' (1880)

Sermons and addresses

*
Christ the Way
' (Ballard & Messinger; 1847) *
A Discourse on the Life and Character of Samuel Putnam, LL.D., A.A.S., Late Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
' (Boston: Crosby, Nichols, and co.; 1853) *
The Relation of the Medical Profession to the Ministry: A Discourse Preached in the West Church
' (J. Wilson and son; 1854) *
Proceedings in the West Church on the Occasion of the Decease of Charles Lowell, D.D.
' (Walker, Wise, and Company; 1861) *
A sermon preached in Boston on the death of Abraham Lincoln
' (Boston, J. E. Tilton and company; 1865) *
True Childhood: A Sermon
' (J. Wilson and son; 1872) *
Amos Bronson Alcott, His Character: A Sermon
' (Roberts Brothers; 1888)

Forwards

*
Recollections of Eminent Men: With Other Papers
' (Boston: Ticknor and Company; with

Edwin Percy Whipple Edwin Percy Whipple (March 8, 1819 – June 16, 1886) was an American essayist and critic. Biography He was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1819. For a time, he was the main literary critic for Philadelphia-based ''Graham's Magazine''. La ...

; 1886)

References

External links

Studio portrait of Rev. Cyrus A. Bartol, Boston, Mass., undated
- Historic New England {{DEFAULTSORT:Bartol, Cyrus Augustus 1813 births 1900 deaths Harvard Divinity School alumni Harvard College alumni Bowdoin College alumni 19th-century American clergy American Christian clergy 19th-century American writers American Unitarians 19th-century American philosophers 19th-century American theologians People from Freeport, Maine