ANOTHER VOICE FROM THE GRAVE! or the Power of Conscience, Exemplified in the Dying Confession and Exercises of an Unfortunate Female, Who Died at Philadelphia, on Friday evening, March 19, 1819. Published according to her Dying Request

Author: [Skinner, Thomas Harvey]
Title: ANOTHER VOICE FROM THE GRAVE! or the Power of Conscience, Exemplified in the Dying Confession and Exercises of an Unfortunate Female, Who Died at Philadelphia, on Friday evening, March 19, 1819. Published according to her Dying Request
Publication: Boston: Samuel T. Armstrong, 1819
Edition: First Edition

Description: Wraps. Octavo: [24] p. Hand-stitched in contemporary plain paper wrappers. The contents are a bit toned, with some general edgewear, more so to the wrappers, which bear the ownership inscriptions of Captain Joel Ward (1748-1831) of Ashford, Connecticut to the outer panels.

This cautionary tale purports to be the deathbed confession of a woman who committed terrible sins, including adultery, prostitution, and murder. Her last words were, "Hell, hell is my everlasting doom."

Intended to scarce sinners into repentance, the pamphlet is the work of the Reverend Thomas H. Skinner (1791-1871), who served as pastor of the Fifth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia until 1823. The story was based on the testimony of a woman named Mrs. Sayre, who claimed to have witnessed the woman's last days.

Shortly after publication, it was discovered that Mrs. Sayre and another woman had fabricated the whole story. Despite the apology Skinner published in the American Sentinel, he was sternly criticized in the pamphlet A VOICE FROM THE LIVING: Addressed to the Rev. Thomas H. Skinner, By A Friend to Truth (Philadelphia, 1819). Among other things, the anonymous writer argued that it would do more harm than good to describe such terrible crimes in detail, and would be unlikely to cause any sinners to repent.

Seller ID: 76849

Subject: Americana