but is the "Preserved" silent?

[ricardienne]

The noted American historian, Preserved Smith. Equally interestingly, his father (Henry Preserved Smith) was "tried for heresy by the Presbytery of Cincinnati." In 1882. I didn't know they *did* that.

Comments

[traboule.livejournal.com]

I have a copy of his book on the English Reformation! And it cracks me up too. I got it because of the name, although I did try for a few weeks to convince myself that I was passionately interested in Cranmer and Norfolk.

Although I've always thought Cotton Mather was actually a sillier name than Preserved...Maybe.

[ricardienne.livejournal.com]

I guess "Cotton" is sillier, but I think that Cotton Mather figured so much in all the history I got in grade school that it doesn't seem like a weird name anymore.

[decollete.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed that a presbytery anywhere ever did anything. (I'm Presbyterian, of course.)

[ricardienne.livejournal.com]

I know! (I'm not Presbyterian, but they never seemed like the types to run a heresy tribunal.)