Biography Thomas_Lake_Harris

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 mysticism , communalism
1.3 brotherhood of new life
1.4 later years

biography
early life

thomas lake harris born may 15, 1823 @ fenny stratford in buckinghamshire, england. parents strict calvinistic baptists , poor. when harris 5 years old parents emigrated england, settling in town of utica, new york. mother died when still young boy , harris forced circumstances support family age of 9.

at age of 21 harris became universalist minister, preaching congregation of fourth universalist society in city of new york.

from 1848 became minister of independent christian congregation in new york city. in church came contact young newspaper publisher horace greeley, moved 1 of harris s sermons inspired organize harris s congregation found new york juvenile asylum.

mysticism , communalism

harris turned towards spiritualism, becoming devotee of swedish mystic emanuel swedenborg. 1851 had departed new york virginia, rev. j. l. scott launched first of communal enterprises, mountain cove community of spiritualists, on pristine land claimed 1 of group s leaders actual site of garden of eden. intended there create city of refuge angels descend , ascend. experiment racked squabbling on property , personalities, , after 2 years virginia commune collapsed.

following collapse of mountain cove community, harris went native england, preached modified swedenborgian ideas london congregation several years. there began career writer , poet, publishing several books. harris s poetry well-regarded , subject of chapter alfred austin in book poetry of period.

brotherhood of new life

harris subsequently returned america, settling in town of amenia in dutchess county, new york. remain @ amenia 5 or 6 years, establishing bank, flour mill, , vineyard, , gathering around him small group of devoted religious disciples. included among approximately sixty converts 5 orthodox clergymen , 20 japanese satsuma province. community — brotherhood of new life — decided settle @ village of brocton, new york on shore of lake erie. nature co-operative rather communistic, , farming , industrial occupations engaged in followers, numbering @ 1 time 2,000 in united states , great britain

harris exacted complete surrender disciples, surrender of moral judgment. taught god bisexual, , apparently, though not in reality, rule of society should 1 of married celibacy. professed teach community change in mode of respiration visible sign of possession christ , seal of immortality.

in brocton, harris established winemaking industry. in reply objections of teetotallers, harris said wine prepared himself filled divine breath noxious influences neutralized. harris built tavern , advocated use of tobacco.

later years

harris took part of community santa rosa, california, in 1875 created fountain grove community. time in 1876 harris discontinued public activities, issued, secret circle, books of verse dwelling on sexual questions. in 1891 announced body had been renewed, , had discovered secret of resuscitation of humanity. made third marriage, , visited england intending remain there. however, harris called fire destroyed large stocks of wine, , remained in new york till 1903, when visited glasgow. followers believed had attained secret of immortal life on earth, , after death on march 23, 1906, declared sleeping. 3 months before acknowledged publicly dead.

he succeeded nagasawa kanaye, led sect until death in 1934.