ROBERT WILLIAM DALE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/10/1891 - HFSID 172035

ROBERT WILLIAM DALE
The British congregational minister known for his liberal ideas in the late 1800s signs this letter regarding another letter of note, mysteriously not described in detail
Autograph letter signed "R W Dale". 2 pages, 4½x7, 1 sheet, front and verso.Jan 10, 1891. Addressed to W. H. Dawson, Esq. In part: "The open letter raises questions much too large to be denounced as a [illegible] letter & I have no wish to write a long one." The word "private" is written in the upper right corner of the first page. Robert WilliamDale (1829-1895) was a Congregationalist minister in Birmingham, England. Dale was a nationally-recognized non-conformist in the Church of England who called for the church's disestablishment, saying that hierarchy and authority impaired Christianity. Although non-political, he was also a strong Liberal who worked with other reformers in Birmingham (although he did oppose Irish Home Rule in 1886), and advocated social improvements, recognizing trade unions, increasing the number of people who could vote and understanding links between poverty and crime. He also advocated, with George Dawson, a "civic gospel", saying that working to help Birmingham on the town council was a moral and religious work. Dale also advocated free public education and was a member of the Birmingham school board and chairman of council at Oxford's Mansfield College, which he worked to move to the university. His Manual of Congregationalist Principles and lecture The Atonement are still in print. Lightly toned and creased. Light show-through on both sides, which touches handwriting and signature. Page was torn neatly from a notebook or pad on left edge. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise, fine condition.