Thomas Reese
Thomas Reese was a Presbyterian minister born in Pennsylvania in 1742. He received a classical education and graduated from the College of New Jersey, now known as Princeton University. In 1773, he became the pastor of Salem Church in Black River, South Carolina, where he served for nearly twenty years while also teaching and providing some medical assistance. Reese's ministry was significantly impacted by the Revolutionary War, particularly after violent incidents involving his congregation. In response to the chaos surrounding the war, he wrote a notable sermon titled "An Essay on the Influence of Religion, in Civil Society," which emphasized the importance of Christianity and education as foundations for morality and societal stability. This sermon gained considerable recognition, earning him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the College of New Jersey. Later in life, Reese served as minister to several other churches until his death in 1796. His writings reflect a blend of scholarship and rational thought, positioning him as a prominent advocate for Christian rationalism during a tumultuous period in American history.
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Thomas Reese
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- Born: 1742
- Birthplace: Pennsylvania
- Died: 1796
Biography
Thomas Reese was born in Pennsylvania in 1742, the son of David Reese and Susan Polk Reese. He received a classical education under the tutelage of Reverend Joseph Alexander and a Mr. Benedict in Mecklenberg County, North Carolina. Reese graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and was licensed as a Presbyterian minister in 1773. That same year he married Jane Harris and accepted a position as pastor at the Salem Church in Black River, South Carolina. Reese remained the pastor at Salem Church for nearly two decades. In addition to his ministry, he taught at a classical school and a school for slaves, and he also provided limited medical services.
The violence surrounding the Revolutionary War intensified in South Carolina following the British invasion of Charleston in 1780. Two members of Reese’s congregation were murdered, and Reese sought safety in neighboring North Carolina. Reese’s involvement with the violence surrounding the war prompted him to write the sermon An Essay on the Influence of Religion, in Civil Society, for which he is best known. This essay proposed that Christianity and education were the foundations of morality and, as such, were the only solutions to social lawlessness. The sermon also declared that the success of the new nation was dependent on the morality of its citizens. The sermon was originally published in Charleston in 1788 and was reprinted in American Museum two years later. The popularity of this work prompted the College of New Jersey to award Reese an honorary doctor of divinity degree.
In 1792, Reese moved to the Pendleton district of South Carolina where he served as minister to the Hopewell-Keowee and Carmel churches until his death in 1796. During this time, he only published three additional sermons. One of these sermons, The Character of Haman, was published in Philadelphia in the journal The American Preacher. Reese’s writings illustrate his scholarship and rational thinking. During the turbulent times of the American Revolution, he called for devout and orderly support of both religion and nation. As such, Reese is remembered as a staunch patriot and as a spokesperson for Christian rationalism during the war.