Analysis of The Kingdom of Matthias

A detailed Summary of Analysis of The Kingdom of Matthias

In order to understand the ramifications of Matthias's formation of his kingdom, the social,financial, ethnic, and sexual conditions of the times must be realized as the catalysts that cause the cults to form. A whole series of evangelic congregations appeared in the early decades of the nineteenth century in order to serve the poor, the emotionally needy, those barred from the new

prosperousness, hopefulness, forbearance, personal freedom and sensible thought of the business classes. Combining good narrative skills,excellent characterization, and historic detail, Johnson and Wilentz recreate the engaging tale of a hypocritical prophet and his erroneous followers in New York during the eighteen twenties and thirties. The main motif that dominated Matthias's and Elijah Pierson's actions involves the beliefs that were instilled in them when they were young,about the natural order of men and women. The patriarchy that ruled Matthias's kingdom originated in both men's thoughts from the Calvinism that was their first doctrine as youths around eighteen hundred. Elijah's Morristown First Presbyterian Church and Mathews Coila Anti-Burhgers church enforced the dominance of men through incorporating their domestic authority into church

ritual. With Elijah men sat at the head of the pew and his father and uncles were church trustees. Even though Robert Matthew's church had an egalitarian dissolution of power and wealth , patriarchal roles were reinforced by men leading their families into church and

common belief that they all shared negated any color boundaries. This intimacy, the result of holding the same faith, and adopting of only one table for everyone, and the communal style of living, let her color become a moot point. She was both a valuable source of information for Matthias and the domestic help, while being on the same moral plane as everyone else in the house. Just as the changing times allowed a black to join a religious cult, the harsh Calvinistic principles of the late seventeen hundreds were slipping away being replaced by the accepting Evangelic principles of repentance and redemption. As the market economy grew, the small towns of subsistence farmers began to falter taking with them the grass roots fear of god philosophy. In the large city, evangelism's doctrine of helping the sinner instead of chastising them

was growing like wildfire. Matthews had tried to condemn people in Manhattan for drinking and whoring, but the expanding Evangelism had already created a standard of leniency. His preaching were unheard and annoying often causing him to lose the job. This dissolution of his childhood faith strained him until his vision at the African church finally caused him to accept the new movement in some form.The historical writings that this book is based on seem to complement

despair play such an important role in the history of the kingdom. Margaret's rejection of Matthews after his continual attempts to exert his manly dominance through beating her and punishing the children started his resentment and hatred of women. This led to his condemning of all preachy Christian women who did act subservient to their husbands. "Woman is the capsheaf of the abomination of desolation-full of all deviltry". Women also contributed a great deal to Elijah Pierson's eventual devotion to Matthias. As Elijah turned to working with female missionaries

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Approximate Word count = 1445
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History