Rare Antique Civil War And Abe Lincoln Connected Epiphany Church DC Americana For Sale

Rare antique book titled \"The Book of Common Prayer and General Commentary by Bishop Thomas Church Brownell of the Episcopal Church. Published in New York by Stanford and Sword in 1846. (gifted 1861)It is in remarkable shape.  798 pages and approx. 10.25\"×7.25\"×2.25\". Its a big book! More about the actual book contents, condition etc to follow.

This book is a piece of history that the history makers handled.

This book is connected to the Civil War by way of gift and inscription. Inside the cover in fountain pen  is written \"Mrs. S Hall from her friend H. Whittingham \" dated April 16 1861. Inside the back cover is an old note pasted in by Mrs Hall reading \"This prayer book was a present to me from Mrs. Bishop Whittington Baltimore and the history of the oldest Episcopal Church in New York is given to Dr. Hall by the Bishop we had been with them for some weeks when we left to take up our residence in Washington- parting gifts- For Eddy if he would like them\"

So Rev Dr Charles Hall and his wife had stayed with Bishop Whittingham in Baltimore. In Washington, Rev Hall was rector of the Church of the Epiphany. Jefferson Davis was a congregation member, pew 14, when he left to become President of the Confederate States of America, Edwin Stanton took over his pew. Stanton was Lincolns Secretary of War for most of the conflict. Rev Hall supported Lincoln and the Union and allowed the church to be used as a hospital. It\'s been said that as many as fifty Union generals were affiliated with the Church of the Epiphany. Bishop Whittington wrote Rev Hall because he didn\'t like the church being used by the military.

There is so much intertwined history here. A couple side notes

- Lincoln did attend at least one service at the church

- Rev. Hall owner of this book was one of four clergy officiants at Lincolns White House funeral

- After the assassination Secretary Stanton led the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth.

- Stanton was the first lawyer to use the insanity defense representing Daniel Sickle charged with killing his wife\'s lover a prominent politician named Keys in Lafayette Square in front of witnesses. He got off. The courtroom cheered.

- Daniel Sickle was  33d mason, knights templar, past master and high priest who edited a Masonic guidebook titled the Freemasons Monitor published in New york

- Lincolns replacement President Johnson was impeached for trying to replace Stanton as War secretary

-this is a fascinating rabbit hole of American History

-I\'ve added a few screenshots of the people involved but some of the people associated:

Rev Dr Charles Hall

Bishop Whittingham

Bishop Brownwell

Edwin Stanton

Daniel Edgar Sickle

Abraham Lincoln

Church of the Epiphany Washington DC

The family prayer book or the common book of prayer and administration of the sacraments and other rights and ceremonies of the church according to the use of the protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, accompanied by a generally commentary historical, explanatory, a doctrinal and practical: compiled from the most approved liturgical works with alterations and additions, and accommodated to the liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.  By Thomas Church Brownell.

I\'m not a book guy- so let the pictures be your guide. The bookboards are bound with bookbinders tape but are 95%. An older preservation. Once part of a college library - it looks well done. The first few pages back and front have some foxing and discoloration but not tons. The pages have slight yellowing, staining and fixing. Not mildewy or smelly. Remarkable condition overall. And an absolutely fascinating read. A bit of library dewy decimal in pencil on a couple pages and a library borrowing card in back. Ask if you have any concerns.

Check out the pictures and use the zoom. Some of the pics are not from the book but shown to illustrate historical connections. Read my response and ask if you have any questions -  I\'m happy to help-greg