Henry Grew
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Henry Grew (1781 – August 8, 1862) was a Christian teacher and writer whose studies of the
Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts ...
led him to conclusions which were at odds with doctrines accepted by many of the mainstream churches of his time. Among other things, he rejected the
Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God th ...
,
immortality Immortality is the concept of eternal life. Some modern species may possess biological immortality. Some scientists, futurists, and philosophers have theorized about the immortality of the human body, with some suggesting that human immorta ...
of the
soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '' soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest atte ...
, and a hell of literal eternal torment.


Life and career

Henry Grew was born in
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
,
England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, but at the age of 13, moved with his parents to the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. His family first lived 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 ...
. Later Grew lived in Providence, Pawtucket,
Hartford Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since t ...
, and
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
. He graduated from Brown University. Grew became a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Providence by age 23, and later became a pastor in Pawtucket. In 1810, he published the first of his writings, on the
Book of Matthew The Gospel of Matthew), or simply Matthew. It is most commonly abbreviated as "Matt." is the first book of the New Testament of the Bible and one of the three synoptic Gospels. It tells how Israel's Messiah, Jesus, comes to his people and ...
. At 30, in 1811, after being pastor for four years at the First Baptist Church in Hartford, his connection was dissolved because ″he adopted sentiments and usages different from those of the church″. During the next several decades, Grew served as pastor intermittently, informally, or for relatively small groups. Early in his career, Grew was involved in the Connecticut Bible Society. In the 1820s, Grew was one of the founding shareholders of Hartford Female Seminary, and in the 1830s there is evidence a Henry Grew was involved in both the 'Hartford Peace Society' and the 'Connecticut Peace Society'. In the 1830s, Grew became involved with the New England Anti-Slavery Society and spoke on their behalf. Grew was invited to the World Anti-Slavery Convention beginning 12 June 1840 in
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. He departed on the ship ''Roscoe'' on 7 May 1840. Other delegates aboard the ship besides his daughter,
Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...
, were
James James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguati ...
and
Lucretia Mott Lucretia Mott (''née'' Coffin; January 3, 1793 – November 11, 1880) was an American Quaker, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer. She had formed the idea of reforming the position of women in society when she was amongs ...
,
Emily Winslow Emily may refer to: * Emily (given name), including a list of people with the name Music * "Emily" (1964 song), title song by Johnny Mandel and Johnny Mercer to the film ''The Americanization of Emily'' * "Emily" (Dave Koz song), a 1990 song ...
and her father
Isaac Isaac; grc, Ἰσαάκ, Isaák; ar, إسحٰق/إسحاق, Isḥāq; am, ይስሐቅ is one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites and an important figure in the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He was th ...
, Abby South and Elizabeth Neall. According to Mrs. Mott, Henry Grew read and preached on the Sabbath, and Mary Grew was "quite intimate" with George Bradburn.''Mary Grew, Abolitionist and Feminist, 1813-1896''
accessed 19 July 2008]
After they arrived, Bradburn traveled with the Grews to various locations, including
Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a populat ...
and particularly Birmingham, as Mary wanted to see her father's birthplace. Before and during the convention, there was fierce debate about the participation and seating of women delegates and attendees. Grew sided with the British organisers and spoke in favour of the men's right to exclude women, despite his daughter also being excluded.Dorsey, Bruce
''Reforming Men and Women: Gender in the Antebellum City''
2002, . p.179, Accessed 21 July 2008
In 1854 a similar public debate took place when Grew and Mary attended the fifth annual
National Women's Rights Convention The National Women's Rights Convention was an annual series of meetings that increased the visibility of the early women's rights movement in the United States. First held in 1850 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the National Women's Rights Convention ...
in Philadelphia. Grew debated with
Lucretia Mott Lucretia Mott (''née'' Coffin; January 3, 1793 – November 11, 1880) was an American Quaker, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer. She had formed the idea of reforming the position of women in society when she was amongs ...
, during which he lauded the supremacy and authority of men. Grew preached throughout the remainder of his life with a small group of people who shared his religious beliefs. His writings were collected and influenced later religious leaders. He died in Philadelphia on 8 August 1862, after an illness. He was 80 years of age.Grew, Henry
"Writings of Henry Grew: 1781-1861"
''The Harvest Herald'', accessed 21 July 2008


Legacy

The writings of Henry Grew influenced
George Storrs George Storrs (December 13, 1796 – December 28, 1879) was a Christian teacher and writer in the United States. Biography George Storrs was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire on December 13, 1796, son to Colonel Constant Storrs (a wheelwright in ...
, and later,
Charles Taze Russell Charles Taze Russell (February 16, 1852 – October 31, 1916), or Pastor Russell, was an American Christian restorationist minister from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and founder of what is now known as the Bible Student movement. He was an ...
. Henry Grew and George Storrs are both mentioned as noteworthy Bible students in the October 15, 2000 issue of ''
The Watchtower ''The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom'' is an illustrated religious magazine, published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. Jehovah's Witnesses distribute ''The Watchtower—Public Edition'', along with its compa ...
'' magazine, published by the
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania is a non-stock, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Warwick, New York. It is the main legal entity used worldwide by Jehovah's Witnesses to direct, administer and disseminate do ...
of Jehovah's Witnesses. A list of Henry Grew's religious writings includes: ''Christian Loyalty: A Sermon on Matthew XXII:21, Designed to Illustrate the Authority of Caesar and Jesus Christ'' (1810), ''An Examination of the Divine Testimony Concerning the Character of the Son of God'' (1824), ''A Tribute to the Memory of the Apostles, and an Exhibition of the First Christian Churches'' (1836), ''The Practices of the Early Christians Considered'' (1838), ''A Review of Phelps' Argument for the Perpetuity of the Sabbath'' (1844), ''The Intermediate State'' (1849), ''The Sabbath'' (1850), ''An Examination of the Divine Testimony on the Nature and Character of the Son of God'' (1855), ''An Appeal to Pious Trinitarians'' (1857), ''The Atonement'' (1859), ''Divine Dispensations, Past, Present and Future'' (1861).


In popular culture

*Grew's daughter, Mary, appears as a character in Ain Gordon's 2013 play ''If She Stood'', commissioned by the
Painted Bride Art Center The Painted Bride Art Center, sometimes referred to informally as The Bride, is a non-profit artist-centered performance space and gallery particularly oriented to presenting the work of local Philadelphia artists, which presents dance, jazz, w ...
in
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
.Salisbury, Stephen
"Painted Bride productions on 19th century women touch familiar issues"
''
Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper's circulation is the largest in both the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley metropolitan region of Southeastern Penns ...
'' (April 26, 2013)


References

Notes {{DEFAULTSORT:Grew, Henry 1781 births 1862 deaths Bible Student movement American abolitionists American sermon writers Annihilationists Place of birth missing Brown University alumni British emigrants to the United States