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Alex H. Smith to Walt Whitman, 1 September 1887

About This Item

  • Title: Alex H. Smith to Walt Whitman, 1 September 1887
  • Date: September 1, 1887
  • Creator(s): Alex H. Smith
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.03670
  • Source: The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Contributors to digital file: Alex Kinnaman Stefan Schöberlein Ian Faith Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Smith, Alex H.. "Alex H. Smith to Walt Whitman, 1 September 1887." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 25 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.03670.xml (TEI)
 loc.03670.001_large.jpg 340 Harrow Road London W— Sept 1st Dear Sir,

I desire to bring under your notice the Christian Kingdom Society in the hope that you will sympathise with it—It is formed for the purpose of banding together people of different creeds, parties and countries, on the broad lines of loyalty to the Christian spirit. We do not enter into theological or ecclesiastical discussions, and we discourage all foolish disputations. We aim at bringing about those feelings of sympathy and goodwill among all people, for which you are also striving. It would be such a great  loc.03670.002_large.jpg pleasure to many of us to feel that although separated in many camps and living in many countries, we all belong to one great union—Should you feel that you can honestly accept our basis, it would be a great joy to some of us who have read your writings to have you also in our assocn​ The idea of a great brotherhood—a kingdom, not confined by rivers, or mountains, or seas, but extending over all the earth, and embracing men of all nationalities, languages, & colors, comes like an inspiration to many—I shall be thankful for a card from you if you are interested in the Socy​ & wish to join1

faithfully yrs​ Alex H. Smith

Correspondent:
Rev. Alexander H. Smith was the founder of the "Christian Kingdom Society," a society that apparently strove to unite members of various Christian denominations and understood itself as undogmatic and hence held neither meetings nor services. In the late 1880s, it had around 730 members.

Notes

  • 1. Not surprisingly, Whitman did not respond. [back]
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