Henry Christmas

Henry Christmas

Henry Christmas (* 1811 - March 10, 1868 in London ) was an English Anglican cleric , preacher , writer and numismatist . Shortly before his death, he took the name Noel-Fearn . The second component adopts his mother's surname, Jane Fearn, while the preceding "Noel" from the rendering of Christmas , from franz. noël , should serve.

life and work

Nothing is known about his childhood and youth. Christmas first appeared when he enrolled at St John's College, Cambridge , in 1833 . In 1837 he was awarded the Bachelor of Arts , in 1840 the Magister Artium . In 1837 he was also ordained a deacon .

From 1841 to 1849 he was the librarian and secretary of Sion College , London Wall ; however, his administration was controversial and he left in strife. In these years (1840-1843, again 1854-1858) he also published the Church of England Quarterly Review . He was also the editor of other magazines ( The Churchman ; The Britsh Churchman ; The Literary Gazette ). He lived and worked as a lecturer and preacher at St. Peter upon Cornhill, St. James Garlickhithe, St. Mildred's in the Poultry and the Verulam Chapel in Lambeth , all churches in London boroughs. He was highly regarded as a speaker and, in the ecclesiastical context, as a preacher; many of his sermons ( lectures ) have been printed and published. Christian themes, the question of the possible harmony of science and faith, and the relationship between matter and spirit play a large role in his writings. The fact that Christmas repeatedly pleaded for the abolition of the death penalty caused a particular stir.

As his writings show, Christmas also had a soft spot for pagan myths, spirit teachings and esoteric sciences (astrology, mesmerism , alchemy , oneirology ) throughout his life . When he published an English translation of Calmets Dissertations sur les apparitions des Anges, des démons et des esprits , which deals with apparitions, witchcraft, obsession and vampirism, in 1850 , he met with incomprehension or amazement from many. He also had a strong interest in antiquarian books, which led him in particular to the field of numismatics . He made a name for himself as a historian of Anglo-Saxon coin history and a collector of antique silver and copper coins. For a short time he was also secretary of the Numismatic Society in London, but did not keep this position for long because he very rarely attended the Society's meetings. His own coin collection was auctioned off at Sotheby's four years before his death for over £ 1,260.

Christmas mastered several languages ​​(French, Spanish and German) and translated from them, namely works by Alphonse de Lamartine and Dom Augustin Calmet from French, and The History of the Abderites by Christoph Martin Wieland from German.

From 1855 to 1859 he was Professor of British History and Archeology at the Royal Society of Literature . His trilogy of biographies of contemporary rulers was also created during this time : Tsar Nicholas I , Sultan Abdülmecid I and Emperor Napoleon III. They were among the main actors who played a role in the prehistory of the Crimean War , and it is perhaps no coincidence that Christmas' volumes appeared just in the years 1854–1855, when the Crimean War was at its height.

Christmas was married to Eliza Jane Fox since 1838, at Glendearg Cottage in 1846 . A Tale Concerning Church Principles published, to which her husband contributed the preface. The couple had a son and three daughters. He died of a stroke in London during a carriage ride and was buried in Norwood Cemetery.

Mediterranean trip

Christmas went on an extended trip to the Mediterranean for several months with a friend. He reported on the essential stages in his three-volume work The Shores and Islands of the Mediterranean (1851).

He crossed France by train heading south and then took a ship to the Balearic Islands . The description of his stay in Mallorca , Menorca and Ibiza takes up the entire first volume of his travelogue. From the Balearic Islands he first traveled to Barcelona , then (via Girona and Bayonne ) to Marseille and on to Genoa . This was followed by a tour of several Italian cities ( Livorno , Florence , Bologna , Padua , Venice ), which finally brought him to Trieste . From there he took a steamer to reach the Ionian Islands , which at that time were still under British administration. Via Athens and some Greek islands he finally reached Constantinople , where he stayed longer. The last section of his journey took him to Smyrna (now İzmir ) and western Turkey to visit the so-called " Seven Churches of Asia ". a. stand in Ephesus and Pergamon ; The third and last part of his travel description is dedicated to these "Seven Churches". Christmas does not say which way he took on his return home. It is likely that he traveled via what is now Bulgaria and the Danube to Austria and from there on to England.

In modern literature on the subject, it is commonly assumed that Christmas began his journey in 1851. This is impossible if only because the foreword to his travelogue is dated May 29, 1851 and he himself states in the third volume that he was in Constantinople in October. Unfortunately, his work hardly contains any other dates, which is why it remains unclear how long Christmas was on the road and in what year. It is obvious to assume that his trip took place in 1850 - perhaps as early as 1849.

Reception in Germany

Henry Christmas was not known to a large audience in German-speaking countries, especially since none of his works had been translated into German. In 1861, when the writings that had made Christmas famous in England had long been published, the Leipziger Illustrirte Zeitung announced the publication of Christmas' translation of Wieland's history of the Abderites . From the brief note it can be seen that the English author was not familiar in Germany: "A Mr. Henry Christmas [!] Recently published an English translation of Wieland's Abderites under the title" The Republic of Fools "". As far as can be ascertained, the English works of Christmas were neither reported nor discussed in the German-language press. Christmas's three-volume travelogue (1851) and his historical biographies from the time of the Crimean War (1854–55) were only received sporadically in interested circles (war correspondents, geographers, etc.).

Memberships

• British Archaeological Association
• Camden Society
• Numismatic Society (London) (since 1843)
• Royal Society (London)
• Société impériale des antiquaires de France
• Society of Antiquaries of London (since 1839)
• Real Academia de la Historia (Madrid)

Fonts

Articles and lectures

• 1841: The Fairy Mythology, No. II-IV. In: The Churchman: A Magazine in Defense of Church and Constitution. Volume V (July-December 1844), London: William Edward Painter, pp. 440-445; 514-519; 593-596
• 1854: The State and Prospects of Turkey and Mohammedanism. In: The Signs of the Times: Containing the First Six Lectures Delivered on Behalf of the Church of England's Young Men's Society, at the National School-Room, Borough-Road, Southwark. Volume I. London: Wertheim & Macintosh, pp. 213-232
• 1860: A Classical and Philosophical Novel. In: The Eclectic Review. Born 1860, New Series Volume IV, pp. 269-284
• 1862: Irish Coins of Copper and Billon. In: The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Numismatic Society. New series Volume II (London 1862), pp. 278–299
• 1862: Discovery of Anglo-Saxon Coins at White Horse, near Croydon. In: The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Numismatic Society. New series Volume II (London 1862), pp. 302–304
• 1866 (as Henry Noel-Fearn): A Classical and Philosophical Novel. In: North Lonsdale Magazine, and Lake District Miscellany (edited by JP Morris), Volume I, No. 2 (Aug 1866), pp. 33-43; No. 3, pp. 73-83; No. 4, pp. 121-133
• 1866 (as Henry Noel-Fearn): A Philosophical Romance. By a philosopher. In: North Lonsdale Magazine, and Lake District Miscellany (Ed. JP Morris). Volume I, No. 5 (November 1866), pp. 155-159; No. 6, pp. 198-205

Monographs

• 1833: The Voyage: a Poem. London: Longman & Co.
• 1838: Universal Mythology; an Account of the Most Important Mythological Systems, and an Inquiry into their Origin and Connexion. With Remarks on the Koran and the Talmud. London: John W. Parker
• 1846: Capital Punishments Unsanctioned by the Gospel and Unnecessary in a Christian State. A Letter to the Rev. Sir John Page Wood, Bart. BCL by the Rev. Henry Christmas. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• 1848: A Concise History of the Hampden Controversy, from the Period of its Commencement in 1832 to the Present Time. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• 1848: The World of Matter, and its Testimony: An Attempt to Exhibit the Connection between Natural Philosophy and Revealed Religion. A Course of Six Lectures, Delivered at Verulam Episcopal Chapel, Lambeth. London: JM Robeson
• 1849: The Cradle of the Twin Giants, Science and History. 2 volumes. London: Richard Bentley
• 1850: Echoes of the Universe: From the World of Matter and the World of Spirit. London: Richard Bentley
• 1850: Scenes in the Life of Christ. A Course of Lectures. Second edition. London
• 1851: The Shores and Islands of the Mediterranean, Including a Visit to the Seven Churches of Asia. 3 volumes. London: Richard Bentley
• 1854: Nicholas I. Emperor and Autocrat of all the Russians: A Brief Memoir of his Life and Reign, with Notices of the Country, its Army, Navy, and Present Prospects. London: John Farquhar Shaw
• 1854: The Sultan of Turkey, Abdul Medjid Khan: A Brief Memoir of His Life and Reign, with Notices of the Country, Its Army, Navy, & Present Prospects. London: John Farquhar Shaw (this work dedicated Christmas to Miss Julia Pardoe )
• 1855: A Brief Memoir of the Life, Reign, and Policy of Napoleon III. Emperor of the French. London: John Farquhar Shaw
• 1855: A Letter on the Present Condition and Future Prospects of the Society of Antiquaries of London. Addressed to the Rt. Hon. The Earl Stanhope. President of the Society. By the Rev. Henry Christmas, Fellow of the Society. London: Partridge, Oakey & Co.
• 1855: Christian Politics; an Essay on the Text of Paley, in Three Books. London: Hope & Co.
• 1858: Preachers and Preaching in Ancient and Modern Times , London: Ward, Lock & Co.
• 1861: Sin: Its Causes and Consequences. An Attempt to Investigate the Origin, Nature, Extent, and Results of Moral Evil. A Series of Lent Lectures. London: WH Allen
• 1866 (as Henry Noel-Fearn): The Money Market: What it Is, What it Does, and How it is Managed. London: Frederick Warne & Co.

Translations and edited works

• 1835: Specimen of a New Translation of the Luciad of Camoens. Cambridge
• 1839ː The Poetical Meditations of M. Alphonse de la Martine. Translated into English Verse by the Rev. Henry Christmas . Londonː JW Parker
• 1841: The Works of Nicholas Ridley, DD, Sometime Lord Bishop of London, Martyr, 1555. Edited for the Parker Society by the Rev. Henry Christman. Cambridge: University Press
• 1844: Anecdotes of the English Language; Chiefly Regarding the Local Dialect of London and its Environs; (...) In a Letter from Samuel Pegge, Esq. (...) The Third Edition, Enlarged and Corrected. Edited by the Rev. Henry Christmas. London: JB Nichols & Son
• 1846: Glendearg Cottage. A Tale Concerning Church Principles. By Miss Christmas. With a Preface by the Rev. Henry Christmas. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• 1849: Select Works of John Bale DD, Bishop of Ossory. Containing the Examinations of Lord Cobham, William Thorpe, and Anne Askewe, and the Image of Both Churches. Edited for The Parker Society by the Rev. Henry Christman. Cambridge: University Press 1849
• 1849: The Emigrant Churchman in Canada. By A Pioneer of the Wilderness. Edited by the Rev. Henry Christmas. 2 volumes. London: Richard Bentley
• 1850: The Phantom World: or, The Philosophy of Spirits, Apparitions, & c. By Augustine Calmet. Edited with an Introduction and Notes by the Rev. Henry Christmas. 2 volumes. London: Richard Bentley. American edition (with slightly different secondary titles) in 1 volume: Philadelphia: A. Hart, late Carey & Hart 1850.
• 1853: The Poetical Remains of Peter John Allan, Esq., Late of Fredericton, New Brunswick. With a Short Biographical Notice. Edited by the Rev. Henry Christmas. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• 1861: The Republic of Fools: Being the History of the State and People of Abdera, in Thrace. Translated from the German of CM Wieland. 2 volumes. London: WH Allen & Co.

literature

• The Rev. H. Christmas (Obituary). In: The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review (London). New Series Volume V (Jan. – May 1868), p. 681 ANNO (single page view)
• Charles Roach Smith: Retrospections, Social and Archaelogical. Volume II. London 1886, pp. 156-158
• Henry Christmas . In: Dictionary of National Biography . Volume X, 1887, p. 292

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Charles Roach Smith: Retrospections, Social and Archaeological . tape II . . Bell & Sons, London 1886, p. 156 .
2. ^ Adrian Room: Dictionary of Pseudonyms . 5th edition. Jefferson 2010, p. 351 .
3. ^ Ernest Harold Pearce: Sion College and Library . Cambridge 1913, p. 316-330 .
4. ^ David N. Livingstone: Adam's Ancestors. Race, Religion, and the Politics of Human Origins . Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore 2008, pp. 87 .
5. ^ Catalog of the Extensive & Valuable Collection of English Coins, Formed by the Rev. Henry Christmas, MA, FRS, (Discontinuing the Pursuit): Comprising Many Extremely Rare & Valuable Specimens in the Anglo-Saxon Series; many Very Interesting Coins in the English Silver and Copper Series (...) Which Will be Sold by Auction, by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge (...) on Monday, 1st February 1864 . J. Davy and Sons, London.
6. ^ Notes of the Month . In: The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Review . June 1855, p. 278 .
7. ↑ John Pemble: The Mediterranean passion. Victorians and Edwardians in the South . Clarendon Press, Oxford University Press, New York 1987.
8. ↑ Reinhold Schiffer: Oriental Panorama. British Travelers in 19th Century Turkey . Editions Rodopi BV, Amsterdam 1999.
9. ^ The Shores and Islands of the Mediterranean . tape III . Richard Bentley, London 1851, p. 30 .
10. ^ Gereon Motyka: Venice in the mirror of Victorian travel literature. A collection of sources (=  Forum Anglicum 17 ). Peter Lang, Frankfurt a. M. 1990, p. 167 .
11. ↑ (press and book trade) . In: Illustrirte Zeitung . tape 36 , no. 930 . Leipzig April 27, 1861, p. 290 .
12. ↑ Review: Translations of Camoen's Luciad . In: The Gentleman's Magazine . NS IV, 1835, p. 51 .
13. ^ "The Poetical Meditations of M. Alphonse de la Martine" . In: Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country . tape 20 , no. 120 , December 1839, p. 763 .