Life membership certificate containing a vignette contrasting scenes of apocalyptic doom and religious salvation. Shows to the right an angel trumpeting salvation and wielding the Bible above a missionary preaching to a large group of Native Americans and a converted Black family kneeling and reaching toward the heavens; broken shackles and swords beside them. Opposite the scenes of salvation, a cross rises from the ground, bringing forth a river of redemption too late for the lost souls of a bejeweled "heathen" woman and a skull-headed man entangled by serpents. Behind them a temple, probably the Vatican, collapses to the ground. The Missionary Society, officially organized in New York in 1820, worked first to convert Native Americans and enslaved people before extending their missions to the Black inhabitants of Liberia in 1823., Issued to Eliza J. Hamilton on April 7th, 1846. Signed by John Whitman, President and Saml. Sappington, Secretary., Gift of David Doret, 2009., See variant *Philadelphia Certificates - Organizations - M [P.P.2004.46.1]., Part of digital collections catalog through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education through the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, Governor, 2013-2014., Access points revised 2021., Description revised 2021.
Creator
Sartain, John, 1808-1897, engraver
Date
[ca. 1835]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department *Philadelphia Certificates - Organizations - M [P.2009.26.1]
