Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadelphia: Two Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Class Authority and Leadership

by Edward Digby Baltzell

Explores the distinct differences between the Boston Brahmin and the Proper Philadelphian

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction, Sociology, Christianity, American, 20th Century

585 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Edward Digby Baltzell was an American sociologist, academic and author. He became an Emeritus Professor of History and Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, and was credited with popularizing the acronym WASP. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can not fault the man for thoroughness, though I did fault several of his ideas quite harshly, at times.

Bonus points for giving me the quote:
"It is one of the anomalies of history that when the Puritan hanged the Quaker, both were happy." - Mark Sullivan, Atlantic Monthly, 1901

[Fred R · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "The Protestant Establishment," Baltzell praised the 60's upheaval for opening up the insular WASP upper-class to deserving Jews, Irish, and Blacks. He believed this loosening of caste structure would lead to more honest and effective government, staving off decline of the kind anatomized in de Tocqueville's "The Old Regime and the Revolution." A few decades later, he was shocked to discover that what was actually accomplished by the counter-culture revolution was the creation of a plutocratic and irresponsible elite, bereft of authority or any sense of duty. Although it stays mostly in the 18th and 19th centuries, "Puritan Boston and Quaker Philadelphia" is his attempt to figure out what went wrong.

In egalitarian Philadelphia, "the private city," the elite has no sense of class authority, and, removing themselves from the public sphere, they expend their energy in money-making or private collections. In Puritan Boston, by contrast, the elite feels quite keenly its responsibility as moral and political leaders of the community.

Compare the lives of two men: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and John Graver Johnson. Baltzell writes: "the contrasting careers of Johnson and Holmes are excellent symbols of the Quaker ethic of privacy and success, on the one hand, and the Puritan inclination toward public authority, leadership, and fame, on the other."

Both were eminent lawyers, but at every stage in their careers, Holmes took the public route, Johnson the private. Johnson saw no active service in the war, Holmes volunteered early and saw action on many battlefields. Johnson refused all positions of public authority, including a place on the Supreme Court, Holmes of course is one of the most famous members of that body. Holmes was aristocratic in manner, and came from a distinguished family, Johnson rose up from obscurity, and was the pure democrat, making no distinction between his rich and poor clients. From this Baltzell concludes: "the members of the upper classes in egalitarian societies that lack a clear hierarchy of values recognized by all classes tend to avoid positions of authority and to protect themselves from the masses behind a high wall of wealth. Aristocracies, in contrast to plutocracies, are led by a class whose authority is recognized by all, which lessens the need for the protection of pure wealth. Johnson died a wealthy man; Holmes was only comfortable."

So far so good, but as to the question of how one tradition gains ascendancy in America over the other, Baltzell has simply nothing to say. He seems vaguely to believe it's cyclical, although the Puritan ideal of class authority doesn't seem to have held much sway since the Federalist party collapsed...

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

E. Digby Baltzell has written what is in 2020, in my opinion, a timely clarion call for leadership and class authority in what he believes will be an ultimately destructive egalitarian society.

I found the book both professorial and captivating, but also, at times, a bit dull. The repitition could have been minimized. What kept me intrigued was that through his writing his earnestness is clear. However, he portrays his concern as more of a sociological examination rather than a desperate call for change. Which I can certainly admire.

Extra stars for the footnotes and extensive appendices.

[Laurabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating comparison between two communities and how their religious ideas and convictions from their founding have shaped their leadership styles today.

I found out about this title through Aaron Wrenn's podcast. The first few chapters of the book captured my interest, while the rest of it is simply a deep dive into various sectors for both Boston and Philadelphia to back up the author's initial claims. If you are an East Coast history nerd, this is a feast.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative yet very tough to read, this reads likee someone's thesis. Very long and drawn out otherwise I might have given it 4 stars

[Paul Curley · Rating 1 out of 5]

A failed attempt to compare Boston and Philadelphia. Would not recommend.

[M C · Rating 5 out of 5]

E book. His best book.