Newell Dwight Hillis

Newell Dwight Hillis

Hillis circa 1900
Born (1858-09-02)September 2, 1858
Magnolia, Iowa
Died February 25, 1929(1929-02-25) (aged 70)
Bronxville, New York
Resting place Kensico Cemetery, Kensico, New York
Religion Congregationalist
Spouse(s) Annie Louise Patrick Hillis (1862-1930)
Children Richard Dwight Hillis (b. 1888)
Margaret Louise Hillis Roulston (b. 1899)
Nathalie Louise Hillis Kellogg (b. 1900)

Newell Dwight Hillis (September 2, 1858 – February 25, 1929) was a Congregationalist minister, writer, and philosopher from Brooklyn. He served as pastor of the historic Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims in Brooklyn, and he oversaw the completion of the last major renovation of the church.[1]

Biography

Newell Dwight Hillis was born in Magnolia, Iowa, on September 2, 1858.[2] His parents were Samuel Ewing and Margaret (Hester) Hillis. He graduated from Lake Forest University, Illinois, in 1884, and McCormick Theological Seminary in 1887. The same year he was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry. Subsequently he served as pastor at the First Presbyterian Church, Peoria, Illinois (1886–89); at the First Presbyterian Church, Evanston, Illinois (1889–95); at the Independent Central Church, Chicago, Illinois (1895-1899); and the Plymouth Congregational Church, Brooklyn, New York (1899-1924).

Over his lifetime he delivered approximately 3,500 lectures and published several books, largely on religious and patriotic subjects. Among his writings were Great Books as Life-Teachers: Studies of Character, Real and Ideal (1888),[3] Right Living as a Fine Art (1899),[4] After Sermon Prayers, Lectures and Oration, The Influence of Christ in Modern Life - A study of the New Problems of the Church in American Society (1900),[5] The Quest of John Chapman - The Story of a Forgotten Hero, The Quest of Happiness: A Study of Victories Over Life's Troubles (1902),[6] The Contagion of Character, Studies in Culture and Success (1911),[7] Henry Ward Beecher - A Study of his Live and Influence (1913), Message of David to his Generation (1913), The Blot on the Kaiser's Scutcheon (1918),[8] German Atrocities, Their Nature and Philosophy (1918),[9] The Better America Lectures (1921),[10] and Great men as prophets of a new era (1922).[11]

Page from proceedings of the 1914 National Race Betterment Conference.

Hillis died in Bronxville, New York, on February 25, 1929, at age 70, and was buried in Kensico Cemetery, Kensico, New York.[12]

Controversial views

As a minister in a major metropolis, Hillis railed against immorality, and he told reporters in 1900 that "a common whipping post might be very wholesome for New York today."[13] Hillis was upset over what he deemed the immoral behavior found in Broadway plays, in particular the play Sapho, which featured English actress Olga Nethersole in the role of Fanny. The offensive scene involved Fanny being carried up a flight of stairs by a man to whom she was not married, with Fanny discussing her excitement onstage about what might await the couple after they reached the top of the stairs.

Hillis was a supporter of eugenics. With John Harvey Kellogg he organized the first and second National Race Betterment Conferences in 1914 and 1915.[14] As a Vice-President of Race Betterment Foundation Hillis was on the executive committee and spoke on the subject of factory degeneration.[15] In 1918, Hillis called for the sterilization of Germans because of the atrocities performed by the German military during World War I.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Our History". Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  2. ↑ "Newell Dwight Hillis," in the Annals of Iowa, Volume 17, Number 1, p. 77, State Historical Society of Iowa, Summer 1929.
  3. ↑ Newell Dwight Hillis, Great Books as Life-Teachers: Studies of Character, Real and Ideal, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York 1898. Also published by Leopold Classic Library (April 17, 2016), https://books.google.com/books?id=Uak2FRSfbXIC
  4. ↑ Newell Dwight Hillis, Right Living as a Fine Art, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York 1899.
  5. ↑ Newell Dwight Hillis, The Influence of Christ in Modern Life: A study of the New Problems of the Church in American Society, MacMillan Company, London 1900.
  6. ↑ Newell Dwight Hillis, "The Quest of Happiness: A Study of Victory Over Life's Troubles," The Macmillan Company; 6th edition (1909)
  7. ↑ Newell Dwight Hillis, The Contagion of Character, Studies in Culture and Success, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York 1911.
  8. ↑ Newell Dwight Hillis, The Blot on the Kaiser's Scutcheon, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York 1918. Also published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 17, 2013), ISBN 978-1493791910.
  9. ↑ Newell Dwight Hillis, German Atrocities, Their Nature and Philosophy, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York 1918.
  10. ↑ Newell Dwight Hillis, The Better America Lectures, Better America Lecture Service (1921), ASIN: B0010OYR7W.
  11. ↑ Newell Dwight Hillis, Great Men as Prophets of a New Era, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York 1922.
  12. ↑ http://www.kensico.org
  13. ↑ "The Sapho Affair". PBS. 1999. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  14. ↑ Proceedings of the first National Conference on Race Betterment, January 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1914. Battle Creek, Michigan, published by Race Betterment Foundation, Battle Creek, Michigan, 1914.
  15. ↑ "First National Conference On Race Betterment". Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  16. ↑ Hillis, Newell Dwight (1918). The Blot on the Kaiser's 'Scutcheon. p. 22. Retrieved 2008-07-17.

Bibliography

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