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The Kingdom of Matthias: A Story of Sex and Salvation in 19th-Century America (Paperback)

~ (Author), Sean Wilentz (Author) "ELIJAH PIERSON WAS a supremely unlikely candidate for membership in the cult of Matthias..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Elijah Pierson, Mount Zion (more...)
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A curious 19th-century American episode is examined in this fluid, well-contextualized and dramatically detailed account. From the 1820s to the 1840s, explain historians Johnson ( A Shopkeeper's Millenium ) and Wilentz ( Chants Democratic ), the country was awash in religious revivalism, a reaction by those bypassed by the industrial revolution. In 1832 Elijah Pierson, a New York merchant and religious reformer turned self-proclaimed prophet, met Matthias, born Robert Matthews, an outcast in churches who declared his own visions. Matthias took over Pierson's pulpit, preaching an apocalypse that promised no economic oppression for the worthy who survived. Matthias, however, lived extravagantly, and stole a follower's wife. Pierson's mysterious death in 1834 led to Matthias's arrest for murder and generated much publicity in the fledgling scandal-hungry New York City penny press. Matthias, found guilty on a lesser charge, later disappeared. His story, the authors note, influenced Herman Melville, and shows parallels with other outsider religions and cults. An ex-slave who was Pierson's servant and Matthias's disciple went on to achieve lasting influence under the name Sojourner Truth. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In the 1830s in New York, Robert Matthews proclaimed himself to be the prophet Matthias. He became the center of a communal, patriarchal cult, in which his fanatical fervor captivated many respectable people. Economic and sexual surrender were demanded in patterns familiar to us from Jonestown and Waco. Matthias was eventually tried for the murder of a follower. Historians Johnson (Univ. of Utah) and Wilentz (Princeton Univ.) present a highly readable and well-researched examination of this forgotten figure of the Second Great Awakening in American religious history. Matthias is presented effectively against the backdrop of his social and economic times and brought vividly to life. Recommended for public and academic libraries with reader interest.
- C. Robert Nixon, MLS, Lafayette, Ind.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (August 3, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0195098358
  • ISBN-13: 978-0195098358
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #122,529 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Paul E. Johnson
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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ELIJAH PIERSON WAS a supremely unlikely candidate for membership in the cult of Matthias. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Elijah Pierson, Mount Zion, Ann Folger, Benjamin Folger, Isabella Van Wagenen, Sing Sing, Bowery Hill, Robert Matthews, Pearl Street, Frances Folger, Catherine Galloway, Sylvester Mills, Isabella Laisdell, Five Points, Third Street, Holy Ghost, Spirit of Truth, Fourth Street, Charles Laisdell, Margaret Matthews, North Dutch, Lord's Supper, Prophet Matthias, Sarah Pierson
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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Microcosm of the Burned-Over District, January 26, 2002
By Blah (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
In this work, Paul Johnson has taken a relatively small and unknown event and used it to illustrate not only an interesting event but also an interesting perspective on the Burned-Over District as a whole. It touches on everything from sexual corruption to radical doctrinal innovations. The Burned-Over district saw the beginning of numerous religious movements such as Mormonism, Adventism, Christian Scientists, numerous smaller religions that did not survive, and even significant political movements such as Antimasonry.

This book is the story of one of those movements. The prologue introduces Matthias as he went to Kirtland to visit with the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith. While this event occurred near the end of Matthias’ activity, it is obvious that he stole many of his ideas from Joseph Smith. Matthias initiated the practice of the washing of feet which was common to both the followers of Joseph Smith and Ellen White. He also believed that the truth of the Gospel had fallen from the earth shortly after the time of Christ another Mormon belief. In addition, he had a sword which he claimed was ancient similar to Smith’s sword of Laban, as well as naming the Priesthood after the order of Melchezidek. Likewise, his early mentor Mordecai Noah taught that the Indians were actually a branch of the Israelites which is a central idea found in the Book of Mormon. All of these ideas came out before 1830 when Matthias began his activity.

The most humorous part of this history is the anecdotes that relate to Matthias’ enemies trying to shave off his beard. Johnson has done an excellent job condensing all the most relevant information in this short work. The Kingdom of Matthias is an enjoyable read and a must for anyone interested in this interesting period in American religious history.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Proves once again that past is prologue., April 25, 1999
By A Customer
"Kingdom of Matthias" serves as proof that religious cults and their leaders are not new to this century. A fascinating account and eerily accurate reflection of what happens when successful, intelligent people look for something more from life in the wrong place. With the sex scandals, questionable financial practices, media attention, and made-to-order eccentric leader, this story is a historical mirror to today's events. Recommended.
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4.0 out of 5 stars A weird story within the Second Great Awakening, December 28, 2009
During The Second Great Awakening's religious revival of evangelicalism, Robert Matthews- the self-appointed prophet Matthias- was one of many to create and spread his own ultimately doomed religion, a patriarchal Kingdom of Truth in which Matthias sat at the head as the Father and redeemer. Matthias and his Kingdom were one of many religions developed and spread during the early 1800s, and many of Matthias' teachings were similar to those of other prophets and seers more successful in popularizing their messages. Yet Matthias and his group remained on the margins of society. Johnson and Wilentz want to explain not only the religion itself, but the reasons for its failure while other similar ones succeeded.

The authors acknowledge that their main three sources are all biased for various reasons and were considered with this in mind. Accordingly, the sources, two books written about Matthias and the Kingdom and one pamphlet by Matthias' wife about his years before the Kingdom, must be weighted against one enough to derive something as close to the truth about the events. Other primary sources used are newspaper reports, personal narratives/memory, church records, indictment papers from Matthias' trial, and lectures. A lot of the background and contextual details are taken from various books, some of which Johnson and Wilentz wrote, and journal articles.

The rich and narrative style of the story helps it flow in a way that is interesting but informative. The two were able to create a story that read easy, that is fun to read and very enjoyable. The book is a snapshot of one religious group during the early 1800s that, though being the stuff of pure entertainment, has been all but forgotten. While the book is very isolated in its focus, it expands upon the world at the time by placing Matthias and his Kingdom in the context of their time period. Not only does the book show how the world around Matthias shaped his Kingdom, but how the Kingdom was part of the larger evolving world that it existed within. Though there were many other religions around this time in development, the bizarreness of the story of Matthias illuminates best the failures of religious revival as the others exemplify success, which allows for a more complete idea of the varied nature of 19th century American religion and society.

However, the heavy use of sources that are admittedly very shaky and biased places a lot of the events into question. While no doubt everything written is based on fact and reality, and though the authors state that they have derived truth from contradicting and biased evidence to the best of their ability, there remains a matter of what is fact and exaggeration. The authors can never know what truth really is, they can only guess at it. Additionally, the book went off on tangents about people and rivalries that had no significance to the story. For example, the explanations of Matthias' brothers, and the story of the Stone and Folgers argument. They were fun to read, but ultimately had nothing to do with the story of Matthias and The Kingdom.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Read This Book!
This book had me hooked from the start. Although at times it reads like a soap opera it tells the true story of Robert Matthews also know the the prophet Matthias. Read more
Published 1 month ago by David Mireles

4.0 out of 5 stars a mixture of history and drama
Kingdom of Matthias is an exploration of the inner workings of an American cult which explored a new way of life, yet was set against an outside society that could not comprehend... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Uriah T. Stowe

3.0 out of 5 stars The Kingdom of Matthias A story of Sex and Salvation in 19th-Century America
This book was very interesting. This book offers the reader an interesting insight into American religious movements in 19th century America. Read more
Published 2 months ago by K. Macrorie

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting stuff
In the Kingdom of Matthias, the authors explain how the Second Great Awakening was corrupted by opportunists claiming to be spokesmen for God who take advantage of a society which... Read more
Published 3 months ago by An Historian

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading!
The Kingdom of Matthias, is definately worth a read. If it is for school or your personal interest you will find it worth your time. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Caitlin

5.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Journey into Americas Past
The Kindom of Matthias provides the reader with an interesting look into the past. Centered on a small religious community in upstate New York, the book tracks the way societal... Read more
Published 4 months ago by USCTROJAN00

5.0 out of 5 stars Nova! Nova! Ave fit ex Eva!
News! News! Ave is born of Eva! Well, fellow post-Judeochristians, the good news is that religious frenzy has come and gone in American history before, and it eventually burns... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Giordano Bruno

3.0 out of 5 stars The search for Prophets in Early America.
Fundamentalism whether Christian or Moslem always breaks out the nut cases. So it was with Christian Fundamentalism in the 1820s and 1830s of the United States. Read more
Published on September 3, 2005 by Kevin M Quigg

3.0 out of 5 stars Wondering About Christianity
I did too. I read this book with an amazement on how basic Bible priniples can me misused to the detriment of oneself and others around them. Read more
Published on June 7, 2001 by lawanda86

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!
This is one of the exquisite books that I have read about this time. And to the writer "Orrin Judd", how dare you be such a anti-intellectual dunce? Read more
Published on April 2, 2000

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