Joseph John Jefferson

Joseph John Jefferson[1] (1795–1882[2]), usually referred to as John Jefferson,[3][4][5] was a British Congregationalist minister[2] and advocate for Christian pacifism.

Biography

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Historian Martin Ceadel asserts that Jefferson's pacifist position was most likely inspired by one of his congregants named John Scott.[2] Scott died in 1832 and as minister for the Independent Meeting House at Stoke Newington, Jefferson delivered the eulogy.[5] Reverend Jefferson was elected as secretary of the London Peace Society on 11 August 1840.[6] In 1845, he spoke publicly in a series of lectures in London sponsored by the Society along with George Thompson, Henry Richard, and John Scoble. The lecture series was attended by a total of 64,000 people. Jefferson hoped they would spread Christian pacifism, specifically opposition to all wars as a Christian principle.[7] In 1846, he was one of the first sixty signers of the League of Universal Brotherhood Pledge, along with Joseph Sturge and James Silk Buckingham.[1] He was also active within the Congregational Union and the London Missionary Society.[citation needed] He retired suddenly as secretary of the Peace Society on 4 January 1848 due to poor health, but shortly afterwards in May 1848 he was made vice-president of the Society.[6] He lived for another 34 years and remained an inactive vice-president until his death in 1882.[4][6] Jefferson served as the minister for Abney Park Chapel and cemetery in Stoke Newington for more than a quarter of a century.[citation needed]

Works

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Brock 2015, p. 209.
  2. ^ a b c Ceadel 1996, p. 283.
  3. ^ Ceadel 1996, p. 345.
  4. ^ a b Ceadel 2000, p. 128.
  5. ^ a b Review of religious publications 1832, p. 246.
  6. ^ a b c Ceadel 1996, p. 525.
  7. ^ Ceadel 1996, p. 358.

References

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Further reading

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