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Charles H. Vail

December 05, 2023

Charles Henry Vail (April 28, 1866 – June 16, 1924) was an American Universalist clergyman and Christian socialist political activist and writer. Vail is best remembered as the first National Organizer of the Socialist Party of America and as a candidate of that party for Governor of New Jersey.

Charles H. Vail as he appeared in 1900

Biography edit

Early years edit

Charles Henry Vail was born in Tully, New York on April 28, 1866.[1] He attended public school in Tully and learned the trade of barrelmaker upon completion, working with his father for several years in that field.[2] Vail also showed considerable aptitude in the field of music and so he went to New York City to study under Dr. H.R. Palmer, a course which he completed in 1885.[2] Thereafter, he taught large classes in both vocal and instrumental music throughout New York City. In addition to group lessons, Vail conducted private lessons in voice, banjo, guitar, clarinet, and organ.[2] In 1887 he moved to Syracuse, New York, where he continued to teach music for the next two years.[2]

Although raised as an orthodox Protestant in the Disciple Church, Vail came to question some of its fundamental teachings and he turned to Universalism, ironically spurred to this belief by an anti-Universalist book purchased by his parents to dissuade him from that belief system.[2]

Vail became an enthusiastic adherent of Universalism and came to consider the propagation of its message to be his life mission. Vail enrolled in the Theological School of St. Lawrence University at Canton, New York. He graduated in 1892 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree, but remained through 1893 to take a graduate course.[2]

 
Vail's 1899 book Principles of Scientific Socialism was one of the standard introductions to the subject during the first two decades of the 20th century. A translation was published by Finnish-American socialists in Oregon in 1911.

In August 1888, Vail married Mary C. Ellis of Owasco, New York, but his wife fell ill and lived only a short time.[2] He was married a second time in July 1892 to Niva Bedell of Geneva, New York, a classmate from divinity school and fellow graduate of the class of 1892.[2]

Vail's first pastorate was in Albany, New York, where he spent a year at All Souls Church. He then moved to the First Universalist Church of Jersey City, New Jersey, remaining in that post for the next seven years.[2]

Political career edit

Although raised as a Republican, Vail's political opinions shifted fairly rapidly, turning to socialism. In 1898 Vail and his second wife, Nina Bedell Vail, herself an ordained Universalist minister, were both designated deputy organizers of the Brotherhood of the Cooperative Commonwealth, an organization which was attempting to establish socialist colonies in Washington state.[3]

At the end of 1900, Vail resigned his pastorate and accepted a job as the National Organizer of the Social Democratic Party of America, forerunner of the Socialist Party of America.[2] In this capacity, Vail toured the United States speaking on various socialist topics for seven of the first nine months of 1901, traveling over 14,000 miles and visiting 19 states.[2] He was accompanied by his wife Nina, who often shared the platform with him.[2]

On January 1, 1901, Vail was nominated by the Social Democratic Party of New Jersey as its candidate for Governor of New Jersey.[2] He stepped down from his position as pastor of the First Universalist Church in Jersey City to pursue this political office,[4] with the position filled by his wife Nina, amidst much publicity and comment on the novelty of a husband and wife team occupying a single pulpit.[5]

After resting for the month of September, Vail hit the campaign trail. In the immediate aftermath of the August assassination of President William McKinley by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist, Vail faced hostile crowds and suffered cancelled meetings by those who confused the doctrines of socialism and anarchism.[2] Vail refused to bow to intimidation and delivered 29 addresses during the course of the 1901 campaign.[2] By the end of the year, Vail had toured 25 states and delivered 241 public lectures.[2]

Return to the pulpit edit

 
Vail's Christian socialist aphorisms continued to be printed in the radical press into the 1920s.

During the first decade of the 20th century, Vail served in a succession of Universalist pastorates, including positions at Richfield Springs and Albion, New York.[6] He would later accept a position at the Church of Good Tidings in Brooklyn.[7]

Vail continued to preach until his final years, serving as half-time pastor of a congregation in the small town of Merom, Indiana during the early 1920s.[8]

Death and legacy edit

Charles H. Vail died at his home in Auburn, New York on June 16, 1924.[1]

Works edit

  • National Ownership of Railways. New York: Humboldt Library, 1897.
  • Modern Socialism. New York: Commonwealth Co., 1897.
  • Principles of Scientific Socialism. New York: Commonwealth Co., 1899; Reissued by Kerr, 1908.
  • The Industrial Evolution. New York: Commonwealth Co., 1899.
  • Mission of the Working Class. Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co., 1899.
  • The Trust Question: Its Political and Economic Aspects. Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co., 1900.
  • The Socialist Movement. Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Co., 1902.
  • Socialism and the Negro Problem. New York: Comrade Publishing Co., 1902.
  • The Ancient Mysteries and Modern Masonry. New York: Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Co., 1909.
  • The World's Saviors: Analogies in their Lives Examined and Interpreted: A Study in Comparative Religions. London: Fowler, 1913.
  • Militant and Triumphant Socialism. Chicago: Co-operative Printing Co., 1913.

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b "Rev. Charles H. Vail Dies at Auburn, N.Y." The Chat. June 21, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved March 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Life of Charles H. Vail," The Socialist (Seattle), whole no. 108 (August 31, 1902), pg. 2.
  3. ^ "Organization Department," Industrial Freedom [Edison, WA], vol. 1, no. 29 (November 19, 1898), pg. 3.
  4. ^ "To Advance Socialism," Gloversville Daily Leader, January 18, 1901, pg. 3.
  5. ^ See, for example: "The Newest Woman of the Century," Philadelphia Times, magazine section, January 6, 1901, pg. 1.
  6. ^ "Rev. C.H. Vail Accepts Call to Albion," Buffalo Evening News, vol. 51, no. 103 (February 12, 1906), pg. 4.
  7. ^ "Universalist," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 5, 1917, pg. 8.
  8. ^ "From the Field," The Herald of Gospel Liberty [Dayton, OH], vol. 114 (December 28, 1922), pg. 1241 (17).

Further reading edit

  • Dan McKanan, Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Convocation, October 2010.

December 05, 2023
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Charles Henry Vail April 28 1866 June 16 1924 was an American Universalist clergyman and Christian socialist political activist and writer Vail is best remembered as the first National Organizer of the Socialist Party of America and as a candidate of that party for Governor of New Jersey Charles H Vail as he appeared in 1900 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early years 1 2 Political career 1 3 Return to the pulpit 1 4 Death and legacy 2 Works 3 Footnotes 4 Further readingBiography editEarly years edit Charles Henry Vail was born in Tully New York on April 28 1866 1 He attended public school in Tully and learned the trade of barrelmaker upon completion working with his father for several years in that field 2 Vail also showed considerable aptitude in the field of music and so he went to New York City to study under Dr H R Palmer a course which he completed in 1885 2 Thereafter he taught large classes in both vocal and instrumental music throughout New York City In addition to group lessons Vail conducted private lessons in voice banjo guitar clarinet and organ 2 In 1887 he moved to Syracuse New York where he continued to teach music for the next two years 2 Although raised as an orthodox Protestant in the Disciple Church Vail came to question some of its fundamental teachings and he turned to Universalism ironically spurred to this belief by an anti Universalist book purchased by his parents to dissuade him from that belief system 2 Vail became an enthusiastic adherent of Universalism and came to consider the propagation of its message to be his life mission Vail enrolled in the Theological School of St Lawrence University at Canton New York He graduated in 1892 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree but remained through 1893 to take a graduate course 2 nbsp Vail s 1899 book Principles of Scientific Socialism was one of the standard introductions to the subject during the first two decades of the 20th century A translation was published by Finnish American socialists in Oregon in 1911 In August 1888 Vail married Mary C Ellis of Owasco New York but his wife fell ill and lived only a short time 2 He was married a second time in July 1892 to Niva Bedell of Geneva New York a classmate from divinity school and fellow graduate of the class of 1892 2 Vail s first pastorate was in Albany New York where he spent a year at All Souls Church He then moved to the First Universalist Church of Jersey City New Jersey remaining in that post for the next seven years 2 Political career edit Although raised as a Republican Vail s political opinions shifted fairly rapidly turning to socialism In 1898 Vail and his second wife Nina Bedell Vail herself an ordained Universalist minister were both designated deputy organizers of the Brotherhood of the Cooperative Commonwealth an organization which was attempting to establish socialist colonies in Washington state 3 At the end of 1900 Vail resigned his pastorate and accepted a job as the National Organizer of the Social Democratic Party of America forerunner of the Socialist Party of America 2 In this capacity Vail toured the United States speaking on various socialist topics for seven of the first nine months of 1901 traveling over 14 000 miles and visiting 19 states 2 He was accompanied by his wife Nina who often shared the platform with him 2 On January 1 1901 Vail was nominated by the Social Democratic Party of New Jersey as its candidate for Governor of New Jersey 2 He stepped down from his position as pastor of the First Universalist Church in Jersey City to pursue this political office 4 with the position filled by his wife Nina amidst much publicity and comment on the novelty of a husband and wife team occupying a single pulpit 5 After resting for the month of September Vail hit the campaign trail In the immediate aftermath of the August assassination of President William McKinley by Leon Czolgosz an anarchist Vail faced hostile crowds and suffered cancelled meetings by those who confused the doctrines of socialism and anarchism 2 Vail refused to bow to intimidation and delivered 29 addresses during the course of the 1901 campaign 2 By the end of the year Vail had toured 25 states and delivered 241 public lectures 2 Return to the pulpit edit nbsp Vail s Christian socialist aphorisms continued to be printed in the radical press into the 1920s During the first decade of the 20th century Vail served in a succession of Universalist pastorates including positions at Richfield Springs and Albion New York 6 He would later accept a position at the Church of Good Tidings in Brooklyn 7 Vail continued to preach until his final years serving as half time pastor of a congregation in the small town of Merom Indiana during the early 1920s 8 Death and legacy edit Charles H Vail died at his home in Auburn New York on June 16 1924 1 Works editNational Ownership of Railways New York Humboldt Library 1897 Modern Socialism New York Commonwealth Co 1897 Principles of Scientific Socialism New York Commonwealth Co 1899 Reissued by Kerr 1908 The Industrial Evolution New York Commonwealth Co 1899 Mission of the Working Class Chicago Charles H Kerr amp Co 1899 The Trust Question Its Political and Economic Aspects Chicago Charles H Kerr amp Co 1900 The Socialist Movement Chicago Charles H Kerr amp Co 1902 Socialism and the Negro Problem New York Comrade Publishing Co 1902 The Ancient Mysteries and Modern Masonry New York Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply Co 1909 The World s Saviors Analogies in their Lives Examined and Interpreted A Study in Comparative Religions London Fowler 1913 Militant and Triumphant Socialism Chicago Co operative Printing Co 1913 Footnotes edit a b Rev Charles H Vail Dies at Auburn N Y The Chat June 21 1924 p 1 Retrieved March 9 2020 via Newspapers com a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Life of Charles H Vail The Socialist Seattle whole no 108 August 31 1902 pg 2 Organization Department Industrial Freedom Edison WA vol 1 no 29 November 19 1898 pg 3 To Advance Socialism Gloversville Daily Leader January 18 1901 pg 3 See for example The Newest Woman of the Century Philadelphia Times magazine section January 6 1901 pg 1 Rev C H Vail Accepts Call to Albion Buffalo Evening News vol 51 no 103 February 12 1906 pg 4 Universalist Brooklyn Daily Eagle May 5 1917 pg 8 From the Field The Herald of Gospel Liberty Dayton OH vol 114 December 28 1922 pg 1241 17 Further reading editDan McKanan The Three Faces of Charles H Vail Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Convocation October 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles H Vail amp oldid 1160760098, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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