Evangelical Mind: Nathanael Burwash and the Methodist Tradition in Canada, 1839-1918

by Marguerite Van Die

By discussing the nature and practices of late nineteenth-century Methodism, Van Die focuses attention on the theological assumptions which allowed serious young Methodists to accept the critical thought of the period while retaining the basic tenets of their evangelical religion. She emphasizes that the position taken by Burwash and his students allowed religion to remain a vital component of early twentieth-century Canadian society during a time historians have generally viewed as an era of religious decline.

296 pages, ebook

First published August 1, 1989

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever been to Burwash Hall at UofT? Well, it was named after the subject of this biography. It shows Burwash as a complicated, devoted Methodist. The book is just as interesting as an examination of the birth of Canada's United Church, and the liberal yet experiential bias of some of its first leaders. As a side note and former Cobourg resident, it also chronicled the move of Cobourg's Victoria College to the UofT campus. Interesting stuff (especially since I used to live in Cobourg just down the street for the still standing original Victoria College.