| Historical Books |
Autobiography of Peter Cartwright the Backwoods Preacher
Distributed by Larry
Harrison, Christian Book Gallery
Main location this book deals with: United
States of America
Historical period: 1800s prior to the Civil War.
High school or above. Students should be well grounded in sound doctrine, especially in the areas of Baptism and end times, the present Brownsville/Toronto chaos, and the strange doings in the KJV Bible believing Baptist churches.
This book is excellent for a view of life on the frontier prior to the Civil war. Of particular interest in the book is the view of a godly man during this period of turmoil in our country. He does not take sides with either the Abolitionists nor the slave owners, but rather, holds to the saving of souls through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the only solution. How tragic that America didn't listen to men like this!
This book is written from an old time Methodist point of view, so it is best for students that are well grounded in what they believe about baptism and the end times. This book might be an excellent starting point for a paper on immersion and/or why we do not baptize babies. (Note: Cartwright held a different view of baptism than the Baptists and is inclined to be a little rough on them and also to dwell more on the ones that claimed to be Baptists and yet were not right doctrinally and/or spiritually.) Please Note: There are some parallels between the things that happened in some of the Methodists meetings and the present movements among the Charismatics! Cartwright saw the "trembling" as a judgment from God and not a "blessing" but he also mistook other things that showed up in their meetings for the work of God. Therefore, this book may be better for selected reading only. Otherwise, it may be useful for the college age students. The camp meetings and some other meetings also bear a close look as some of the strange and unbiblical things that are now showing up in Charismatic and Bible Believing Baptist churches are seen here. This book might be an excellent resource for a paper on the source of the goofy antics in the KJV Baptist churches.
There are also long passages on the general conferences of the Methodist church. The book starts while Bishop Asbury was still alive. You might want to either mark these sections for your child so that he/she does not have to read them, or let them read them and then discuss or have them write a paper on how this method of church governing measures up to the Bible. (Especially notice how much of the preachers' time was used up by these meetings.) [Read excerpts from the book.]
Autobiography of Robert Flokhart The Street Preacher
Baker
Book House (out of print)
Main location this book deals with: Great
Britain, India, Scotland
High school and above. May include younger
students at the parents discretion.
This is the story of a British soldier who found freedom from the heavy sin that bound him while serving Queen Victoria in India. When he returned to Scotland he began to preach the gospel to his fellow soldiers and consequently was persecuted and imprisoned in a crude cage. After leaving the military, he took up street preaching in a time when it simply "wasn't proper." His greatest persecutors were not the lost but his own pastor who had him committed to a mental institute because of his "strange" and unheard-of zeal to preach to the lost in public. He recounts his exciting escapes from this persecution as well as his great zeal for prayer. This book is a curious and unusual look at a truly godly man struggling to live a Bible centered life in the allegedly wonderful Victorian era (which is not all that enamored ladies today make it out to be).
A refreshing difference in this book is that Robert Flokhart relates spiritual lessons he learned and lapses into really useful devotional writing from time to time. This is not a "dry" book, but a truly heartfelt outpouring of his life story. If you can find a copy, it will be worth your money to get it.
Cherry the Missionary; or The Church In the Wilderness
Author Unknown, American Sunday School Union (out of print)
Main location this book deals with: California, USA
Historical
Period: The gold mining era.
Junior High and above. This book will bless any real saint and provoke to love and good works, Hebrews 10:24.
This is the true story of Mary Sedley, otherwise known as "Cherry" a girl of "about ten years old." It follows her sad but courageous trip west to find her father who is her only living relative. She ends up staying with some kindhearted folks in a mining camp in northern California. How God uses her there to bring souls to Christ, her patient waiting to find her beloved father and her simple practice of the things taught her by her dear, departed mother is a beautiful story of childlike faith. The theme verse of this book could be said to be Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
This book also gives a realistic view of what life in the old mining camps was really like. It was not exciting or else the excitement was the wrong sort. This book presents the men there as many no doubt were in reality, men that were far from the love and Biblical standards of their early life and yet in some or many cases were tender toward those old influences if they fell under them again.
This book my be somewhat difficult to locate, but it is worth it. We may eventually offer it on our CD if we ever get the time to scan it.
Paula the Waldensian
By Eva Lecomte; Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.; Bible Truth Depot
Main location this book deals with: France
Historical Period: Uncertain.
(old)
Junior high and up. Possibly lower grades.
From the back cover:
"Into the home of an interesting but self-centered family in old France comes Paula, a young orphaned cousin, from the little village of Villar, in the Waldensian Valley.
"Though living very simply, tending cows and goats and sheep and rabbits, Paula has been brought up to know and to love the Lord Jesus and to read the Scriptures. Her Lord and His Word are the center of her life, and she can no more keep this good news all to herself than she can stop breathing or eating.
"This causes a good many complications, for her cousins' home was one where "religion" was a forbidden subject, never to be mentioned, and Paula soon found herself forbidden to read her own precious Bible.
"Paula's loving obedience, her happy friendliness and charm, her overflowing love for everyone she meets, win the hearts of all, family and neighbors alike, and cause many a change in that little French village on the road from Rouen to Darnetal."
This appears to be a true biography written by Paula's own cousin. It is a beautiful, convicting story. Excellent for young people and for stirring up zeal!
There is of course the occasional incidents that is not the best since it is a true story (such as- a description of "Christmass" as it was in the Waldensian Valley), however, rest assured, there is no so-called "romance" in the story.
We recommend this especially to young adults and parents. This story is a strong encouragement that it IS worth it to bring children ...up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 A beautiful example of Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Pocahontas True Princess
By Mari Hanes
Main location: North America (the Chesapeake)
Historic period:
1600s
4th grade and up. Though it may seem somewhat young for older students, the content is nevertheless interesting and historic knowledge can be gained.
This is a historically accurate account of the life of Pocahontas, the Indian girl who sought peace and ensued it and how she eventually became a child of the Prince of peace. Follows her life more or less from the time that the whit man arrived till she went to be with her Lord in England at the tender age of twenty. It would be wise to discuss the Biblical principle of not marrying across boundaries and what doing so cost Pocahontas. This book lays to rest the disgusting lies portrayed by the Walt Dizziness rendering of the story.
The Martyr of the Catacombs
Author Unknown
Main
location this book deals with: Rome
Historical period: the persecution
of the Christians by Emperor Decius, A.D. 249-251
Junior High and up.
1Corinthians 15:32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not?...
As the Laodicean Age draws fast to a close many things seem uncertain before those of us who have determined to be faithful unto the coming of the Lord. Will we be faced with physical persecution, or will we be like Noah (as we are told in Matthew 24:37-39), mocked and outcast as we continue to condemn the world, Hebrews 11:7, by simply believing and obeying God's word (A.V. 1611)?
Whichever it may be for us, this book is a great encouragement. It gives us a good portrait of some of the ...great...cloud of witnesses... that died for the love of Christ our Lord during this terrible period of church history. They faced death in agony and torture, not with fear or even grimness, but with Triumph! They lived in unbelievable circumstances in the horrible, dark, damp Catacombs that they ... may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God... 2 Thessalonians 1:5, for which they suffered so very, very much.
Set in this time period this story tells of one man's thirst for God and the ultimate price he paid for it. It cannot help but bring to one's mind the description of those who suffered for God in that other era before the cross, Hebrews 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
The story relates events in the arena and may not be best suited for young people that are overly sensitive. These items are related with discretion, but still may be difficult for some.
By O.L. King
Main location: United States
Historical period: 1890s
Junior high and up.
The remarkable story of a young man's sacrifice and the more precious fruit that it bore. A missionary story with a different twist.
You can read this story right here on our site by clicking the link above.
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