Thomas Smyth (June 14, 1808 - August 20, 1873)

Thomas Smyth was born in Belfast, Ireland on June 14, 1808. He was privileged to have been born into a Christian family and from his earliest year he was instructed in the Christian faith by his mother. She encouraged his love of reading which grew into full bibliomania.

Before taking up his life's work as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC, he began his studies at the Highbury College in London and finished them at Princeton Theological Seminary (1831). In 1843, he received a Doctor of Divinity degree from Princeton.

In 1832, the church in Charleston requested him to be their supply pastor. After receiving much encouragement from his professors, Samuel Miller and Archibald Alexander, he accepted the request. In December of 1834, he was installed as their pastor.

A very fine article detailing Smyth's life and ministry has been written by Barry Waugh and was published in The Southern Presbyterian Review here. I would encourage you to read it. Especially those of you who are interested in some good Southern Presbyterian church history.

The part of his biography that I enjoyed the most was the explanation of his severe case of bibliomania (go figure!). His biographer, Barry Waugh, turns our attention to Smyth's own identification of the early symptoms of his most severe case:

He wrote in 1829, "My thirst for books, in London became rapacious. I overspent my supplies in procuring them, at the cheap repositories and left myself in the cold winter for two or three months without a cent..." (Autobiography, 39)

While in Charleston he sought to establish a theological and literary library. His collection grew to the staggering number of 20,000 volumes. Waugh notes that among his prize possessions "was a Hebrew Psalter with the autographs of Jonathan Edwards, Edward's son, and Rev. Tryan Edwards, who gave it to Dr. Smyth."

Waugh also notes that Smyth's bibliomania seems to have affected his marital relationship (hmmm!). He writes, "In a letter written by Margaret to him in the summer of 1846 she informed him of the expenses they were incurring due to the addition of three rooms to their home:

I tell you all this now as a preface to a caution, not to involve yourself too deeply or inextricably in debt by the purchase of books & pictures; of the last, with the maps, we have enough now to cover all the walls, even of the new rooms; & the books are already too numerous for comfort in the Study & Library. ... But I would enter a protest not only against books & pictures, but all other things not necessary & which can come under the charge of extravagance. Do be admonished & study to be economical. (Autobiography, 384f)

As his health deteriorated he decided to sell over half of the volumes to Columbia Theological Seminary. He continued to donate other books to this collection and in a posthumous inventory, over 15,000 volumes were counted.

Not only was he an avid reader, but he was also a writer. His collected writings are contained in 10 large volumes. Areas of specific interest to him were Missions (especially generating interest in missions among the children in the church), Ecclesiology, the War, and many other theological issues. It is unfortunate that you will not see his works being reprinted for public sale due to a generous but restrictive clause in his will. However, some of his works can be read online at the PCA Historical Center.

Here is a list of the articles available online:

• Assurance-Witness of the Spirit-And the Call to the Ministry
• The Call to the Ministry-Its Nature and Evidence
• The Necessity and Importance of Controversy
• The Scriptural and Divine Right for Using Mechanical as well as Vocal Instruments in the Worship of God
• Thomas Smyth's Pastoral Charge to the Revs. James Henley Thornwell and Francis Patrick Mullally delivered May 4, 1860, upon their installation as co-pastors of the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina. [added on 6/16/07]
  

This post is dedicated to all theological bibliomaniacs.
_____________
***UPDATE (6/16/07): To my surprise, a couple of publishers have reprinted some of Smyth's works. Here's what I've found:

• The Life and Character of Calvin, The Reformer, Reviewed and Defended (Wipf & Stock, 2001). Paperback, 120 pages. $12.00 ISBN 10: 1579106897 ISBN 13: 9781579106898
• Theories of Eldership (RCM). Paperback, 190 pages.
  
• Ecclesiastical Catechism of the Presbyterian Church (RCM). Paperback, 86 pages.

David M. Lesser Fine Antiquarian Books LLC has a number of Smyth's books for sale (just in case you would like to buy one for me).

Thomas Smyth (June 14, 1808 - August 20, 1873)