Librarian-Historian to Participate in Panel Discussion at Mystic Seaport

Next week, on June 1st and 2nd, the Librarian-Historian, Nick Kersten will participate in a scholarly panel discussion at the Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT, as the museum is reinterpreting part of their exhibit. The current Mystic Seaport grounds are built on what was once the SDB community of Greenmanville, a shipbuilding community founded by three Greenman brothers. On the grounds of the 'living' museum, all three brothers houses are preserved, as well as the Greenmanville Seventh Day Baptist church. Though the museum has included brief notes about the Greenman's SDB faith, they are looking to expand the Greenmanville portion of the museum to include more information about their faith and how it influenced their participation in the social issues of their day--especially the abolition movement.

The Greenmanville church, founded in 1850, was a headquarters of sorts for the abolitionist movement in that area, and included in it's statement of faith an article condemning slavery. (It reads, "11th--that Slavery is a violation of the principles of Christianity and therefore a sin against God.") The original records of the church are currently a part of the museum's library, the G.W. Blunt White Library. (A copy of the records are also a part of the Historical Society's archive.)

Please pray for successful panel discussions as Nick represents the Historical Society and Seventh Day Baptists, and that the final result of these meetings will faithfully represent both the history of Seventh Day Baptists and that of the Greenmanville community for future visitors to the Seaport!