As President Obama struggles with a possible path for peace in the Middle East, I thought about Sam May’s own path to his work with peace. Growing up he would have been introduced to such ancients as Homer, Plutarch, Ovid, and Seneca who all argued for peace. There are, of course, comments about peace and avoiding war in both the Old and New Testaments, but Sam’s early connections with religion would have shown that this often was a bit hypocritical with Popes, Kings, and the Crusaders frequently using war as a means of settling various differences.
His actual involvement with peace probably began when he heard of Rev. William Channing’s sermons or it may have been when as a Harvard student he became aware of the recently established Massachusetts Peace Society. He father, Joseph May, became a member of that Society in 1816, right when Sam was studying at Harvard and beginning to think about many things and becoming acquainted with many people. One was a college friend, Gorham Parsons, who was a neighbor of Rev. Noah Worcester. Noah printed around the same time a famous peace tract entitled, The Solemn Review of the Custom of War. Upon being introduced to Rev. Worcester during a visit to Gorham’s home, Sam later talked about how inspired he was during this meeting and thus began a long friendship with Rev. Worcester.
Soon after Sam became an officer in the Windham County Peace Society and within a short time published his very first of what would be many tracts, entitled the Exposition of the Sentiments and Purposes of the Windham County Peace Society. From that point he began accelerating his work through publications, attendance at peace movement meetings, and various sermons in his first pastorate. These latter created some problems for him as many in that congregation objected to a minister who was so vocal on a complicated issue.
Thus began the ridicule that Sam was to face throughout most of his remaining life for his strong stands on societal issues. Not only did he face criticism within his own church, but within his community of Brooklyn, Connecticut, and increasingly throughout much of the east. His views on peace were greatly enhanced when in 1827 he met William Ladd, who was known at the time as the “Apostle of Peace.” William then enlisted Sam to help form a national peace organization, what would become the American Peace Society.
That beginning led naturally to Sam’s work with injustice of any sort and the abolitionist movement. When he was considering the move to Syracuse, he let our ancestors know exactly what his views were on peace, slavery, and the injustices he saw even in his initial visits to our community. Knowing all of this, our forbearers eagerly invited him to continue his ministry here and the rest is history. It is no wonder that May Memorial has had such a long and rich involvement with social justice issues. Thanks, Sam! To read more about Sam’s path to peace advocacy read the biography, God’s Chore Boy at http://history.mmuus.org/galpin-may.html
Rog Hiemstra, Chair, History Committee
Written November 15, 2009
