Basil Manly Sr. facts for kids
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Basil Manly Sr. (born January 28, 1798 – died December 21, 1868) was an important American preacher and leader. He was known for helping to create the Southern Baptist Convention. This group formed partly because of disagreements over slavery in the United States.
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Early Life and Education
Basil Manly Sr. was born in Pittsboro, North Carolina, on January 28, 1798. His parents were Captain Basil Manly and Elizabeth Maultsby. In 1816, he went to the Bingham School. That same year, he was baptized at the Baptist Church of Christ in Rocky Springs, North Carolina.
Becoming a Preacher
On April 26, 1818, Basil Manly Sr. was given permission to preach. This was from the Baptist Church of Christ in Rocky Springs. He then received help from the "Southern Education Society." The next day, he gave his first main sermon in Beaufort, South Carolina.
In December 1819, he joined the senior class at South Carolina College. This college is now known as the University of South Carolina. Basil graduated at the top of his class on December 3, 1821. He became an ordained minister on March 10, 1822. After this, he served as a pastor at Little Stevens Creek Church until 1825. He also pastored the Edgefield Village Baptist Church during this time. Later, he became the pastor of Charleston Baptist Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Family Life
On December 23, 1824, Basil Manly Sr. married Sarah Murray Rudolph. She was from Edgefield, South Carolina. Sarah was born on August 1, 1806, and passed away on September 12, 1894. They had eight children together. Their children included Basil Manly Jr., who also became a well-known Baptist leader.
Leading in South Carolina and Alabama
In 1826, Basil Manly Sr. officially became the minister at Charleston Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He preached there for eleven years. Also in 1826, he helped start Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.
In 1837, his family moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. There, Manly became the president of the University of Alabama. He held this important position until 1855. Manly owned 40 enslaved people and strongly supported the practice of slavery.
Helping to Found Important Groups
Manly played a key role in starting many important organizations. In 1838, he helped found the Judson Female Institute in Alabama. This school later became Judson College.
In May 1845, he was a main leader in creating the Southern Baptist Convention. This group was formed when Southern Baptists separated from Northern Baptists. The main reason for this split was the issue of slavery. Manly also helped create many religious schools in the South. These schools offered alternatives to those in the North.
In 1850, he founded the Alabama Historical Society. This group works to protect the history of the state. In 1858, he was the first chairman of the board for the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
In 1855, Manly left his job as president of the University of Alabama. He then went back to preach at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1859, he returned to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to work as a State Evangelist.
On February 18, 1861, in Montgomery, Alabama, Basil Manly Sr. served as a chaplain. He gave the opening prayer for the inauguration of Jefferson Davis. Davis became the President of the Confederate States of America. Manly also served at the First Baptist Church in Montgomery in 1861. In 1863, he left that church and returned to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Basil Manly Sr. passed away on December 21, 1868, in Greenville, South Carolina. He was buried at Springwood Cemetery.
His Writings
Manly is well known for writing the Alabama Resolutions. These writings were part of the argument for creating the Southern Baptist Convention. They were based on the idea of supporting slavery. His son, Basil Manly Jr., also became a famous Baptist leader.
In 1892, Manly created a hymnal. A hymnal is a book of hymns or songs used in church. It was called "Manly's Choice."
Role in the Confederacy
Manly was very involved in the creation of the Confederate States of America. In 1861, he was chosen as the chaplain for the Alabama Secession Convention. He gave the opening prayer, which was printed on the front page of a newspaper. He was named an official chaplain for the Confederacy. In his prayers, he asked for God's protection for the Confederacy.
He was present when the Confederate Constitution was written. He is given credit for adding a part that mentioned "the favor of almighty God." Jefferson Davis chose Manly to give the prayer at his presidential inauguration. Manly was the only person to ride with Davis and Vice President Alexander H. Stephens at the front of the inauguration parade.
During the Civil War, Manly was a very public religious leader. He often gave prayers at public events. He also wrote to defend the rebellion and led many funerals.
His Views on Slavery
Basil Manly Sr. was one of the most active religious voices who supported slavery. He wrote many papers defending slavery. He often debated with people from the North who wanted to end slavery.
Manly believed that slavery was not just a practical matter. He thought it was right because he believed God had ordered it. To Manly, God gave white people the right to own and sell enslaved people. He gave sermons that said there was a "divine order." This order meant that people had different jobs. Some were meant to work, and some were meant to lead others. He believed that African people were meant to be in a state of servitude.
Manly taught that if everyone followed their role in this "divine order," the system would work well. He believed it would bring rewards in this life and forever. He even compared the relationship between white people and African people to certain types of ants that take other ants as slaves. Manly openly supported practices like whipping enslaved people and breaking up families by selling them. He believed that enslaved African people should be thankful to be enslaved by American Christians. He thought that Christianity made slavery less cruel.
