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Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church [certificate]

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@ The Library Company of Philadelphia
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Description

Life membership certificate containing a vignette contrasting scenes of apocalyptic doom and religious salvation. Shows to the right an angel trumpeting salvation and wielding the Bible above a missionary preaching to a large group of Native Americans and a converted Black family kneeling and reaching toward the heavens; broken shackles and swords beside them. Opposite the scenes of salvation, a cross rises from the ground, bringing forth a river of redemption too late for the lost souls of a bejeweled "heathen" woman and a skull-headed man entangled by serpents. Behind them a temple, probably the Vatican, collapses to the ground. The Missionary Society, officially organized in New York in 1820, worked first to convert Native Americans and enslaved people before extending their missions to the Black inhabitants of Liberia in 1823.; Clay, del.; Sartain, sculpt.; Issued to Eliza J. Hamilton on April 7th, 1846. Signed by John Whitman, President and Saml. Sappington, Secretary.

Record Contributed By

The Library Company of Philadelphia

Record Harvested From

PA Digital