The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Abbott, Lyman

ABBOTT, Lyman, American clergyman and editor, third son of Jacob: b. Roxbury, Mass., 18 Dec. 1835. He was graduated at the University of the City of New York in 1853; studied law, and went into partnership with his brothers Austin and Benjamin in 1856; but feeling more inclined to the ministry studied theology with his uncle John Stephens Cabot, and was ordained in 1860. Till 1865 he was pastor at Terre Haute, Ind.; 1865–68 secretary of the Freedmen's Commission, residing in New York, also becoming pastor of the New England Church there; in 1869 resigned his pastorate for journalism and literature. He was successively editor of the “Literary Record” department of Harper's Magazine, and at the same time chief editor of the Illustrated Christian Weekly; then associate editor with Henry Ward Beecher of the Christian Union, now the Outlook, of which he became chief editor on Mr. Beecher's death in 1887, succeeding him also in the Plymouth Church pulpit, which he resigned in 1899 to devote himself wholly to literary work. Since that time he has devoted himself to the editorship of The Outlook, other occasional contributions to literature, and to preaching in various pulpits during seven or eight months of the year, generally in colleges. He has taken an active part in social and industrial reform and in the religious and theological movements of the time. His earliest works were two novels written in collaboration with his brothers Benjamin and Austin Abbott (see Abbott, Austin) published under the nom-de-plume, composed by the three first syllables of their names, “Benauly.” The following is a list of his published volumes: ‘Commentary on the New Testament. Mathew to Romans’ (1875); ‘In Aid of Faith’ (1886); ‘Evolution of Christianity’ (1892); ‘Plymouth Hymnal’ (1893); ‘Christianity and Social Problems’ (1896); ‘The Theology of an Evolutionist’ (1897); ‘Life and Letters of Paul’ (1898); ‘Life and Literature of the Ancient Hebrews’ (1901); ‘The Rights of Man’ (1901); ‘The Other Room’ (1903); ‘Life of Henry Ward Beecher’ (1903); ‘The Great Companion’ (1904); ‘The Christian Ministry’ (1905); ‘The Home Builder’ (1908).