William Salter
Encyclopedia
William Salter was an American Congregational
minister, public orator, social activist and historian.
Graduating from Andover Theological Seminary in 1843, Salter and his companions — the so-called "Iowa Band
" — went West to Iowa
when it was only a territory to organize congregations, build churches and battle sin in all its infinite varieties. They were the single most distinguished Protestant group of their time, and Salter, through the years, emerged superior to them all, according to biographer Philip Jordan.
Salter began his ministry in Jackson County, preaching in the Maquoketa area. In 1846 he became the second pastor of First Congregational Church in Burlington
, Iowa, and remained senior minister of this congregation for more than 60 years until his death in 1910.
According to Jordan, "Salter played a dominant role in transforming the slovenly community, where filth filled the alleys, pigs wallowed in streets and cows grazed on the public square, into a prosperous and cultivated 20th-century Burlington." He was instrumental in establishing a public library and getting a library building built. He served as president of the school board. He was a trustee of the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa
), which awarded him an honorary doctorate.
Prior to the Civil War, Salter not only allied himself with anti-slavery societies, but also operated an Underground Railroad
station to aid slaves fleeing to freedom. Runaways found sanctuary at his South Hill home and in a hidden room beneath his church. During the war, Salter visited Union troops as far south as Atlanta.
Social Gospel
theologian George Herron served briefly with Salter as associate minister in 1892 and 1893, before taking a position as professor of Applied Christianity at Grinnell College
.
A Burlington grade school was named after him, and the Congregational student center at the University of Iowa bears his name. Grinnell College
, heir to the academic institution founded by the Iowa Band, reveres the memory of Salter. His portrait hangs in the Des Moines County Heritage Center, and a portion of his library is housed at the Burlington Public Library with a number of his published works.
Salter's son, William Mackintire Salter
, was a philosopher and lecturer for the Ethical Culture Society in Chicago.
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
minister, public orator, social activist and historian.
Graduating from Andover Theological Seminary in 1843, Salter and his companions — the so-called "Iowa Band
Iowa Band
The Iowa Band was a home missionary initiative that worked at northwest frontier in the nineteenth century.-History:The Iowa Band started as a group of 12 Christian ministers, all trained at Andover Theological Seminary, who agreed to carry the gospel into a frontier region...
" — went West to Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
when it was only a territory to organize congregations, build churches and battle sin in all its infinite varieties. They were the single most distinguished Protestant group of their time, and Salter, through the years, emerged superior to them all, according to biographer Philip Jordan.
Salter began his ministry in Jackson County, preaching in the Maquoketa area. In 1846 he became the second pastor of First Congregational Church in Burlington
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
, Iowa, and remained senior minister of this congregation for more than 60 years until his death in 1910.
According to Jordan, "Salter played a dominant role in transforming the slovenly community, where filth filled the alleys, pigs wallowed in streets and cows grazed on the public square, into a prosperous and cultivated 20th-century Burlington." He was instrumental in establishing a public library and getting a library building built. He served as president of the school board. He was a trustee of the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
), which awarded him an honorary doctorate.
Prior to the Civil War, Salter not only allied himself with anti-slavery societies, but also operated an Underground Railroad
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,...
station to aid slaves fleeing to freedom. Runaways found sanctuary at his South Hill home and in a hidden room beneath his church. During the war, Salter visited Union troops as far south as Atlanta.
Social Gospel
Social Gospel
The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
theologian George Herron served briefly with Salter as associate minister in 1892 and 1893, before taking a position as professor of Applied Christianity at Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
.
A Burlington grade school was named after him, and the Congregational student center at the University of Iowa bears his name. Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
, heir to the academic institution founded by the Iowa Band, reveres the memory of Salter. His portrait hangs in the Des Moines County Heritage Center, and a portion of his library is housed at the Burlington Public Library with a number of his published works.
Salter's son, William Mackintire Salter
William Mackintire Salter
William Mackintire Salter was the author of several books on philosophy and a critical and enduring major classic on Nietzsche, and was also an Individualist anarchist. He was also a special lecturer for the Department of Philosophy in the University of Chicago. He served as lecturer for the...
, was a philosopher and lecturer for the Ethical Culture Society in Chicago.