The Biographical Dictionary of America/Abbott, Lyman

ABBOTT, Lyman, clergyman, was born at Roxbury, Mass., Dec. 18, 1835, the third son of Jacob and Harriet (Vaughan) Abbott. He obtained his education at the university of the city of New York, and after being admitted to the bar, practised his profession in company with his two older brothers. He soon, however, decided to relinquish the law and to study theology under the instruction of his uncle, John S. C. Abbott. In 1860 he was ordained a minister of the Congregational church, and began his work in Terre Haute, Ind., where he continued to preach until 1865. The work he was doing did not, to his mind, show that he was greatly benefiting his people, so he resigned his pastorate and became secretary of the American Union (Freedman's) commission in New York city. Some time afterward he visited his former parish at Terre Haute, and was greatly encouraged to find that his labors there had not been in vain, and that the effects of his teachings were becoming apparent. This decided him to re-enter the ministry, and he became pastor of the New England church in New York city. He also conducted the "Literary Record" of Harper's Magazine, and edited the Illustrated Christian Weekly. He resigned the latter work to become associated with Henry Ward Beecher in editing the Christian Union, and upon the death of Mr. Beecher he became editor-in-chief of that paper. In 1891 he changed the name of the periodical to The Outlook. In October, 1887, he succeeded Henry Ward Beecher as pastor of Plymouth church, Brooklyn, which he resigned Nov. 27. 1898. During the seasons of 1891-92, 1899-1900 and 1900-01, he lectured before the Lowell Institute of Boston, Mass., his subjects being 'Evolution of Christianity" and "Life and Literature of the Ancient Hebrews." He was married Oct. 14, 1857, to Abby F., daughter of Hannibal Hamlin of Boston, Mass. He received the degree D.D. from the University of the City of New York in 1879; from Harvard in 1891, from Yale in 1903, and LL.D. from Western Reserve in 1900. Mr. Abbott became an exponent of what is termed liberal theology. He edited two volumes of Henry Ward Beecher's sermons; contributed to magazines and wrote many valuable books, the first of which was "Jesus of Nazareth" (1869). In 1870 he published "Old Testament Shadows of New Testament Truths;" and in 1872 a 'Dictionary of Religious Knowledge" in collaboration with Thomas J. Conant. In 1875 he began a series of commentaries on the separate books of the New Testament; and in 1880, in conjunction with James R. Gilmore, he wrote "The Gospel Commentary." His other publications include: "A Layman's Story," "How to Study the Bible," "Hints for Home Reading" (1880); "How to Succeed" (1882): "Henry Ward Beecher" (1883); "Study in Human Nature"(1886); "In Aid of Faith" (1886); "Illustrated Commentary of the Gospel According to St. John" (1888); "The Epistle of Paul to the Romans," with notes (1888); "Signs of Promise" (1889); "The Evolution of Christianity" (1892); "Life of Christ" (1894); "Christianity and Social Problems" (1896); "The Theology of an Evolutionist" (1897); "The Life and Epistles of Paul the Apostle" (1898); "The Life that Really Is" (1899); "Problems of Life" (1900) ; "Life and Literature of the Ancient Hebrews" (1901), and "The Rights of Man" (1902).