Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dark Jedi · 02-18-2003, 10:40 PM

Washington, that is...

I read something many moons ago that showed Sparks making a retraction of his book on Washington. Does anyone have this source? I am looking for it to back an arguement with a "Christian Nation" fellow who likes to quote Sparks' book.

Ref: "Life of Washington" - Jared Sparks

Toto · 02-19-2003, 12:54 AM

Jared Sparks (1789-1866) is in no position to retract anything, unless you can get John Edwards to conjure up his spirit. But he appears to have been a major source for David Barton. (see Barton on Sparks), and Barton has been forced to admit that some of his sources were unreliable.

The Infidels Library contains this about Sparks' Life of Washington:

http://www.infidels.org/library/hist...residents.html

Quote:

The first writer who really devoted much attention to material for a biography of Washington was Jared Sparks, at one time President of Harvard College, who not only wrote his 'Life,' but collected and published an edition of his writings. In doing this, as well as in his other efforts in American history, Dr. Sparks has placed future generations under great obligation. He was a pioneer in historical investigation. Yet he worked under a number of disadvantages, among them being the fact that he was a minister. Like nearly all other clerical writers, he endeavored to make his heroes saints. He corrected Washington's spelling and grammar, well known to have been poor. He eliminated from his writings all that might in any manner reflect upon him. Instead of a man of flesh and blood, Dr. Sparks gives us a beautifully chiseled statue. More conscientious and careful than his predecessor Weems, he yet follows him in some of his errors.

It appears that Sparks is just not a reliable source. From the link above:

Quote:

Sparks did a great service to American history in bringing some of these to light, even though he was prejudiced in his ideas, and imperfect in his method. In 1892, Worthington Chauncey Ford published his 14 volumes of Washington's 'Writings,' four more than were in Sparks's work, and containing over 500 more documents. Speaking of Sparks's methods of depicting Washington, Mr, Ford says:

"In spite, however, of all that can be said in praise of Mr. Sparks's work, it must be admitted that his zeal led him into a serious error of judgment, so common to hero-worshipers, not only doing his own reputation, as an editor, an injury, but what is of greater moment, conveying a distorted idea of Washington's personal character and abilities -- an idea that was, rapidly developing into a cult, from which it is still difficult to break away, and in which it is dangerous to express unbelief. Not only did the editor omit sentences, words, proper names, and even paragraphs without notice to the reader', but he materially altered the sense and application of important portions of the letters. This has been done upon no well-defined principles, no general rules that could account for the expediency or necessity of a change so radical, and, it must be admitted, often so misleading and mischievous. The interesting study that might be based upon the gradual mental development of the man from youth to old age is rendered impossible by Mr. Sparks's methods of treating the written record, and consequently the real character of Washington as a man is as little known today as it was to the generation that followed him." (preface to Writings of George Washington, vol. 1, pp. 18 and 19.)

Dark Jedi · 02-19-2003, 11:31 PM

Hmm, I thought Sparks had recanted while he was still alive.

Do you have a source for Barton's admission of Spark's unreliability?

02-18-2003, 10:40 PM	#1
Dark Jedi Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Afghanistan Posts: 4,666	George W.'s religion ? Washington, that is... I read something many moons ago that showed Sparks making a retraction of his book on Washington. Does anyone have this source? I am looking for it to back an arguement with a "Christian Nation" fellow who likes to quote Sparks' book. Ref: "Life of Washington" - Jared Sparks

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02-19-2003, 11:31 PM	#3
Dark Jedi Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Afghanistan Posts: 4,666	Hmm, I thought Sparks had recanted while he was still alive. Do you have a source for Barton's admission of Spark's unreliability?

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