Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1892, volume 3).djvu/224

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HICKS
HICKS

acknowledged minister of the society, and for more than fifty years labored with unwearied dili- gence. He travelled through almost every state in the Union, and also through Canada sev- eral times, and, not- withstanding the fact that his circum- stances were not af- fluent, he never re- ceived the least com- pensation for his ser- vices. When not en- gaged in religious service, he was dili- gently occupied with his own hands upon his farm. He was in early life deeply im- pressed with the in- justice and cruelty of keeping slaves, and

was among the first

that brought the subject frequently and forcibly before his religious society. Not only in his public discourses, but also by his pen, his views on this subject wide- ly diffused themselves throughout the commu- nity, and through his exertions, conjoined with those of other philanthropists, the state of New York was induced to pass the act that on 4 July, 1827, gave freedom to every slave within its lim- its. As a preacher he was lucid and powerful, and wielded an influence that has been scarcely attained by any other member of his society. The prominent theme of his ministry was " obedience to the light within," which he considered as the foundation of true Quakerism. In the latter years of his life he gave ground for uneasiness to some of the society by his views concerning the dogmatic opinions of theologians concerning the pre-exist- ence, deity, incarnation, and vicarious atonement of Christ. He considered that the personality of the meek, wise, majestic prophet of Galilee was overlaid with theological verbiage and technicality, which greatly impaired its practical value and au- thority as an example to mankind. Hicks's min- istry was marked by much dignity and power. Notwithstanding his pure, blameless, and upright walk among men, his doctrinal views became the cause of dissatisfaction, which led to a separation in all, or nearly all, the yearly meetings on the con- tinent, his friends and supporters in most of the yearly meetings being largely in the majority. The contest was conducted with much acrimony, which, to the credit of all concerned, is rapidly passing away. Those members of the society that adhere to the teachings of Elias Hicks are commonly known as " Hicksites," a name that was originally given in derision, but they recognize no other name than that of " Friends." Mr. Hicks pub- lished M Observations on Slavery " (New York, 1811); " Sermons " (1828) ; "Elias Hicks's Journal of his Life and Labors" (Philadelphia. 1828); and "The Letters of Elias Hicks" (1834). See also Samuel M. Janney's "History of the .Religious Society of the Friends " (1859).


HICKS, John, journalist, b. in Cambridge, Mass., about 1750; d. in Newton, Mass. His father was killed at the battle of Lexington, and it is sup- posed that the son was with him. In 1773, with Nathaniel Mills, he bought of Green and Russell the " Massachusetts Gazette and Post-Boy," which he conducted with spirit and ability in the interest of the British. As many of the articles gave evi- dence of great political knowledge and judgment, it was supposed that officers of the British army were among its contributors. He went to Hali- fax in 1776, and continued with the royal troops throughout the war. He was proscribed and ban- ished by the Massachusetts government in 1778. After the evacuation of New York he went again to Halifax, but after remaining there a few years returned and purchased an estate at Newton, Mass., where he resided until his death.


HICKS, Thomas, artist, b. in Newtown, Bucks co., Pa., 18 Oct., 1823 ; d. in Trenton Falls, N. Y.. 8 Oct., 1890. He attempted portrait-painting at the age of fifteen. He began his studies in the Pennsylvania academy of fine arts in Philadelphia, and in 1838 entered the National academy in New York, and contributed " The Death of Abel " to the exhibition of 1841. In 1845 he went to Eu- rope and studied in London, Paris, Florence, and Rome. After a visit to Venice in 1847 he returned to Rome and painted among other works a half- length figure entitled " Italia." In 1849 he re- turned to New York and began a successful career as a portrait-painter. He was elected a na- tional academician in 1851, and was presi- dent of the Artists' fund society of New York from' 1873 till 1885. Hicks painted portraits of Henry Ward Beecher, Will- iam Cullen Bryant, Edwin Booth as Iago, Hamilton Fish, Fitz- Greene Halleck, Oli- ver Wendell Holmes, Dr. Elisha Kent Kane in the cabin of the "Advance," Abraham

Lincoln, Henry W.

Longfellow, William H. Seward, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Bayard Taylor, and Gulian C. Verplanck, a notable picture containing the authors of the Unit- ed States, and another representing the governors of New York (1851-5). Mr. Hicks read before the Century club of New York city, on 26 Jan., 1858, a. eulogy of Thomas Crawford, which was printed by the club and also in an edition de luxe for private circulation (New York, 1858).


HICKS, Thomas Holliday, statesman, b. in Dorchester county, Md., 2 Sept., 1798; d. in Washington, D. C, 13 Feb., 1865. He worked on his father's farm in boyhood, received a plain education, and was constable and sheriff of his county until he engaged in mercantile pursuits in 1831. In 1836 he was elected to the state house of representatives. He became register of wills in 1838, in 1849 was a member of the Constitutional convention, and from 1858 till 1862 was governor of Maryland, strongly opposing secession. His firmness and adroit management were among the efficient means of saving Maryland to the Union He refused, in a published address, to call a special meeting of the legislature to consider an ordinance of secession, although he was formally requested to do so by a majority of the state senate, who were sympathizers with the seceding states, and, when the attack on the Massachusetts 6th regiment was made in Baltimore, he issued a proclamation declaring that all his authority would be exercised in favor of the government. He was appointed to the U. S. senate as a Republican on the death of James A. Pearce, was subsequently elected by the