Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
1787 “DISCOURSE BEFORE THE HUMANE SOCIETY”
June 12, 1787-Dated Post Revolutionary War Imprint titled, “DR. LATHROP’S DISCOURSE BEFORE THE HUMANE SOCIETY.”, Boston, Printed by E. Russell, Choice Very Fine.
Original rare Imprint Pamphlet containing 34 pages plus a 13 page appendix, stiched, measuring 8.75” tall x 5.5”wide, well printed and clean. Doctor John Lathrop was a Preacher from Connecticut who was asked, “To deliver a Discourse upon a Medical Subject, would be out of the line of my profession; But as the Trustees of the Society have signified their pleasure, that an Institution of so intersesting a nature, be introduced with a Religious Exercise, and that the first Discourse be rather on the general object of the Society, than confined to the Medical Science, I chearfully obey their order; relying on the patience and candour of this respectable assembly.”

This compelling 18th century treatise was written by John Lathrop and printed by E. Rusell, Boston. Author was a Connecticut born preacher and fervent American Patriot. Lathrop once preached to the Indians and during the American Revolution. His Boston congregation was called "a nest of hornets" by the British forces. This Rare booklet remains in very nice condition, bound in its original printed wraps; spine stitched as issued, some edge wear, scattered minor foxing, couple of small closed marginal tears, one page repair, a few paged edges still uncut, etc., clean internally. Quite a find on a rarely encountered topic, and a very worthy acquisition indeed.

During the 18th century, the Humane Society was an organization based in England which recognized bravery in the saving of human lives and the restoration of life by resuscitation. The present treatise mainly concerns the revival of victims from near-death experiences, such as drowning, suffocating, fainting, strokes of lightning, strangling, etc. Included are references to the writings of Priestley and Lavoisier along with a brief sketch of the development of humane societies. At the end is an appendix containing an account of the Massachusetts Humane Society, and "the method of treatment to be used with persons apparently dead from drowning." Also provided is a list of the Society's members. See: Evans 20450; Austin 1125; Sabin 39187; Garth Huston, Resuscitation, 75.
"For some months after his graduation (John Lathrop) was engaged as an assistant teacher with the Rev. Dr. Wheelock in Moor's Indian Charity School at Lebanon, Conn... After he received approbation to preach, he worked for a short time as a minister among the Indians, and in 1767 was invited to settle at Taunton and Reading, both of which invitations, however, he declined. Shortly after, he preached as a candidate at the Second or Old North Church in Boston, from which he received a unanimous call, and was ordained May 18, 1768.

In 1775, when Boston was in possession of the British army, he set out to find a refuge in his native place; but, as he was passing through Providence on his way to Norwich, proposals were made to him to supply a destitute congregation there, to which he consented. Upon the evacuation of Boston he returned, to find that the ancient house in which he had been accustomed to preach had been demolished, and used for fuel by the British troops...

Mr. Lathrop's society accepted an invitation to occupy the New Brick Church; and after the death of Dr. Pemberton, minister of the New Brick, in the following year, the two societies united. On the 27th of June, 1779, Mr. Lathrop became their joint pastor...He was an ardent patriot. His sermons strengthened the people to resist oppression, and his church was called by the British 'a nest of hornets'." Eliot, Samuel. Heralds of a Liberal Faith. Boston: American Unitarian Society, 1910.