Nathaniel Field (Adventist)
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Field M.D
(1805–1887) was an American abolitionist, and Adventist
preacher.
on the 7th of November, 1805. He graduated from Transylvania medical school, Lexington, Kentucky, and practiced medicine in Alabama for three years. In 1829 he removed to Jeffersonville, Indiana
, where he stayed for the rest of his life. He was a member of the legislature from 1838 till 1839. In the spring of the latter year he organized the City government of Jeffersonville, under a charter that he drafted and had passed by the legislature.
As a doctor Field was author of a paper on Asiatic Cholera and various other medical articles. His common interests in religion and science led to lectures such as "The Mosaic Record of Creation," "The Age of the Human Race," and "The Chronology of Fossils".
He also published humorous pieces such as "Arts of Imposture and Deception Peculiar to American Society" (1858).
. Field went further than Crutchfield and aided fugitive slaves in the underground railway
. He also opposed capital punishment
..
church in Jeffersonville, which he served as pastor for 17 years without taking a wage, believing it wrong to "make merchandise of the gospel."
Field was one of many who moved away from the Restoration Movement
of Alexander Campbell, and in 1847 he founded the Second Advent Christian Church (SACC) in Jefferson, which he pastored, again without compensation, till his death in 1887.
In common with many of those coming out of the Restoration Movement Field rejected the idea of the immortality of the soul and in 1852, the transcripts of a debate with Elder Thomas P. Connelly on the "State of the Dead" were published in book form. Field also rejected the doctrine of the Trinity
, and also the existence of a supernatural devil, seeing this as an allegory, and rejecting traditional ideas about heaven and hell as later traditions not found in the Bible. None of these ideas wast particularly radical in the currents of the 1840s. Field held his views in common with many other ex-Campbellites such as John Thomas
, Benjamin Wilson
and ex-Millerites such as Joseph Marsh
.
During the 1840s first Thomas, then Wilson, then Marsh came to adopt the view that the Jews must return to the land in fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, before Christ could return, following the views of Thomas' book Elpis Israel
. Field did not
In 1855 and 1856 Field organised two conferences for Marsh, at which other "Age to Come" believers such as A.N. Seymour, P.B. Cook spoke. But Field was despondent at the grouping's inability to form a meaningful denomination.
By 1860 there were clean dividing lines in communion
between those such as Thomas and Wilson who had been rebaptised on coming to a clearer understanding and those such as Marsh and Field who had not. This line was made permanent when the American Civil War
made the registration of church names essential for the purposes of conscientious objection.
Field's church became the Second Advent Christian Church. Thomas' group became the Christadelphians
, and Wilson's group the Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith
. Another group with similar heritage, Jonathan Cumming's Advent Christian Church
does not seem to have any direct link to Field or his associates. But this was a broad current, and before the Civil War, there were many groups with similar ideas.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
(1805–1887) was an American abolitionist, and Adventist
Adventist
Adventism is a Christian movement which began in the 19th century, in the context of the Second Great Awakening revival in the United States. The name refers to belief in the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It was started by William Miller, whose followers became known as Millerites...
preacher.
Life
Field was born in Jefferson County, KentuckyJefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
on the 7th of November, 1805. He graduated from Transylvania medical school, Lexington, Kentucky, and practiced medicine in Alabama for three years. In 1829 he removed to Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
, where he stayed for the rest of his life. He was a member of the legislature from 1838 till 1839. In the spring of the latter year he organized the City government of Jeffersonville, under a charter that he drafted and had passed by the legislature.
As a doctor Field was author of a paper on Asiatic Cholera and various other medical articles. His common interests in religion and science led to lectures such as "The Mosaic Record of Creation," "The Age of the Human Race," and "The Chronology of Fossils".
He also published humorous pieces such as "Arts of Imposture and Deception Peculiar to American Society" (1858).
Abolitionism
Field's relatives had held several slaves, which Field immediately emancipated on his inheritance. In 1834 Field voted against the entire town of Jeffersonville opposing a proposition to expel the freed negroes, and had to barricade his house against a mob. Field was related to the abolitionist Stapleton CrutchfieldStapleton Crutchfield
Stapleton Crutchfield served as a Confederate artillerist in the American Civil War. He was closely associated with Stonewall Jackson until the latter's death. Crutchfield lost a leg in battle, removing him from service in the field...
. Field went further than Crutchfield and aided fugitive slaves in the underground railway
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. He also opposed capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
..
Religious views
In 1830 he established the first CampbelliteCampbellite
Campbellite refers to any of the religious groups historically descended from the Restoration Movement, a religious reform movement in the early 19th century in the United States...
church in Jeffersonville, which he served as pastor for 17 years without taking a wage, believing it wrong to "make merchandise of the gospel."
Field was one of many who moved away from the Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
of Alexander Campbell, and in 1847 he founded the Second Advent Christian Church (SACC) in Jefferson, which he pastored, again without compensation, till his death in 1887.
In common with many of those coming out of the Restoration Movement Field rejected the idea of the immortality of the soul and in 1852, the transcripts of a debate with Elder Thomas P. Connelly on the "State of the Dead" were published in book form. Field also rejected the doctrine of the Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
, and also the existence of a supernatural devil, seeing this as an allegory, and rejecting traditional ideas about heaven and hell as later traditions not found in the Bible. None of these ideas wast particularly radical in the currents of the 1840s. Field held his views in common with many other ex-Campbellites such as John Thomas
John Thomas (Christadelphian)
Dr. John Thomas was the founder of the Christadelphian movement, a Restorationist religion with doctrines similar in part to some 16th century Antitrinitarian Rationalist Socinians and the 16th century Swiss-German pacifist Anabaptists.-Early life:John Thomas M.D., born in Hoxton Square, Hackney,...
, Benjamin Wilson
Benjamin Wilson (Biblical scholar)
Benjamin Wilson was an autodidact Biblical scholar and writer of the Emphatic Diaglott translation of the Bible...
and ex-Millerites such as Joseph Marsh
Joseph Marsh (Adventist)
Joseph Marsh was an American Millerite preacher, and editor of The Advent Harbinger and Bible Advocate.-Life:Joseph Marsh was born in St. Albans, Franklin, Vermont, on December 6, 1802. When he was 16 the family moved to Genesee County, New York, where his parents were disfellowshipped by the...
.
During the 1840s first Thomas, then Wilson, then Marsh came to adopt the view that the Jews must return to the land in fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, before Christ could return, following the views of Thomas' book Elpis Israel
Elpis Israel
Elpis Israel - An Exposition of the Kingdom of God is a theological book written by John Thomas, founder of the Christadelphians, in 1848-1849 and published in 1849.The book was based on a series of lectures given by Thomas in 1848 and is written in three parts, The...
. Field did not
In 1855 and 1856 Field organised two conferences for Marsh, at which other "Age to Come" believers such as A.N. Seymour, P.B. Cook spoke. But Field was despondent at the grouping's inability to form a meaningful denomination.
By 1860 there were clean dividing lines in communion
Communion
Communion may refer to:*Communion , the relationship between Christians as individuals or Churches*Full communion, a term used when two distinct Christian Churches say they are sharing the same communion...
between those such as Thomas and Wilson who had been rebaptised on coming to a clearer understanding and those such as Marsh and Field who had not. This line was made permanent when the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
made the registration of church names essential for the purposes of conscientious objection.
Field's church became the Second Advent Christian Church. Thomas' group became the Christadelphians
Christadelphians
Christadelphians is a Christian group that developed in the United Kingdom and North America in the 19th century...
, and Wilson's group the Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith
Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith
Church of God of the Abrahamic Faith may refer to the following two modern Christian groups that had the same origin and common history from 1850s to 1921:* Church of God General Conference or "CoGGC"...
. Another group with similar heritage, Jonathan Cumming's Advent Christian Church
Advent Christian Church
The Advent Christian Church is a "first-day" body of Adventist Christians founded on the teachings of William Miller.- William Miller :Though the first Advent Christian Association was founded in Salem, Massachusetts in 1860, the church's formation is rooted in the adventist teachings began by...
does not seem to have any direct link to Field or his associates. But this was a broad current, and before the Civil War, there were many groups with similar ideas.