Bibliography of the
Lyman Beecher Lectureship on Preaching

Yale Divinity School
New Haven, Connecticut

INTRODUCTION

The Lyman Beecher Lectureship on Preaching at Yale Divinity School was established April 12, 1871 by a gift of ten thousand dollars from Henry W. Sage, esq. in memory of Lyman Beecher (1775-1863), a member of the Yale College class of 1797. Beecher was a Presbyterian and Congregationalist minister who held pastorates in East Hampton, Long Island, New York, Litchfield, Connecticut, and Boston, Massachusetts. He was also the first President of Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio and served the Second Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati for ten years.

Henry W. Sage, the donor of funds for the establishment of the lectureship, was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church of Brooklyn, N.Y., where Henry Ward Beecher, son of Lyman Beecher, was pastor for forty years. Sage was a prosperous businessman and one of the chief benefactors of Cornell University, where he served on the Board of Trustees.

In accordance with the wishes of Mr. Sage, his gift to Yale was devoted by the Yale Corporation to the establishment of a foundation to be designated as, "The Lyman Beecher Lectureship on Preaching" to be filled from time to time, upon appointment of the Corporation, by a minister of the Gospel, of any evangelical denomination who has been markedly successful in the special work of the Christian ministry. With the authorization of the donor, the Corporation voted in May, 1882, "that henceforth the Lyman Beecher lecturer shall be invited to lecture on a branch of pastoral theology or in any other topic appropriate to the work of the Christian ministry." In December 1893, the donor authorized the Corporation, "if at any time they should deem it desirable to do so, to appoint a layman instead of a minister to deliver the course of lectures on the Lyman Beecher Foundation."

Biographical sketches of each lecturer and analysis of the lectures from 1871 to 1951 are found in the The Royalty of the Pulpit by Edgar Dewitt Jones (N.Y., Harper, 1951, WQ4/J714r). A study of the Lyman Beecher Lectures from the perspective of homiletics is available in The Heart of the Yale Lectures by Batsell B. Baxter (N.Y., Macmillan, 1947, WQ4/B333h).

In the Divinity School Library collection, many of the Lyman Beecher Lectures published before 1970 have call numbers beginning with WQ4 and a second line consisting of the year in which the lectures were given. Since about 1970, the published lectures have been classified separately in the Library Congress system. Lectures which have not been published are so indicated in this bibliography.

* = Available on cassette tape or CD: pre-1993-1994 from the Divinity Library; otherwise, available from the Yale Divinity School Bookstore. The price is $12 for each individual lecture on cassette or CD, $32 for a full set. Contact the Divinity Library to check availability by email or telephone (203-432-5289). To check what is available at the YDS Book Store either call (203) 432-6101 or go to the web page.

• 1871-72 Beecher, Henry Ward, Yale Lectures on Preaching, first series: "Personal Elements in Preaching." N.Y., J. B. Ford and Co., 1872.
• 1872-73 Beecher, Henry Ward, Yale Lectures on Preaching, second series: "Social and Religious Machinery of the Church." N.Y., J.B. Ford and Co., 1873.
• 1873-74 Beecher, Henry Ward, Yale Lectures on Preaching, third series: "Methods of Using Christian Doctrines in Preaching." N.Y., J. B. Ford and Co., 1874.
• 1874-75 Hall, John, God's Word Through Preaching. N.Y., Dodd and Mead, 1875.
• 1875-76 Taylor, William M., The Ministry of the Word. N.Y., Anson D.F. Randolph and Co., 1876.
• 1876-77 Brooks, Phillips, Lectures on Preaching. N.Y., E. P. Dutton, 1877.
• 1877-78 Dale, R.W., Nine Lectures on Preaching. N.Y., Anson D.F. Randolph and Co., 1878.
• 1878-79 Simpson, Matthew, Lectures on Preaching. N.Y., Anson D.F. Randolph and Co., 1879.
• 1879-80 Crosby, Howard, The Christian Preacher. N.Y., Nelson & Phillips, 1880.
• 1880-81 Duryea, J.T.; Harris, George; Herrick, Samuel; Bevan, Llewelyn David; Burton, Nathaniel J., (Not published.)
• 1881-82 Robinson, E.G., Lectures on Preaching. N.Y., Henry Holt & Co., 1883.
• 1882-83 (No lectures.)
• 1883-84 Burton, Nathaniel J., Yale Lectures on Preaching, and Other Writing. N.Y., C.L. Webster, 1885.
  Reprinted by Macmillan, 1925, In Pulpit and Parish. (1880-81 lecture contained in both, but not designated.)
• 1884-85 Storrs, H.M., "The American Preacher." (Not published.)
• 1885-86 Taylor, William M., The Scottish Pulpit. N.Y., Harper & Bros., 1887.
• 1886-87 Gladden, Washington, Tools and the Man. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1893.
• 1887-88 Trumbull, Henry Clay, The Sunday School. Philadelphia, John P. Wattles, 1888.
• 1888-89 Broadus, J. A., "Preaching and the Ministerial Life." (Not published.)
• 1889-90 Behrends, A.J.F., The Philosophy of Preaching. N.Y., Scribners, 1893.
• 1890-91 Stalker, James, The Preacher and His Models. N.Y., A.C. Armstrong, 1891.
• 1891-92 Fairbairn, A.M., The Place of Christ in Modern Theology. N.Y., Chas. Scribners Sons, 1893.
• 1892-93 Horton, Robert F., Verbum Dei. N.Y., Macmillan, 1893.
• 1893-94 (No lectures.)
• 1894-95 Greer, David H., The Preacher and His Place. N.Y., Scribners, 1895.
• 1895-96 Van Dyke, Henry, The Gospel for an Age of Doubt. N.Y., Macmillan, 1896.
• 1896-97 Watson, John (Ian Maclaren), The Cure of Souls. N.Y., Dodd Mead, 1896.
• 1897-98 Tucker, W. J., The Making and the Unmaking of a Preacher. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1898.
• 1898-99 Smith, George Adams, Modern Criticism and the Old Testament. N.Y., A.C. Armstrong, 1901.
• 1899-00 Brown, John, Puritan Preaching in England. N.Y., Scribners, 1900.
• 1900-01 (No lectures.)
• 1901-02 Gladden, Washington, Social Salvation. N.Y., Houghton Mifflin, 1902.
• 1902-03 Gordon, George A., Ultimate Conceptions of Faith. N.Y., Houghton Mifflin, 1903.
• 1903-04 Abbott, Lyman, The Christian Ministry. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1905.
• 1904-05 Peabody, Francis G., Jesus Christ and the Christian Character. N.Y., Macmillan, 1905.
• 1905-06 Brown, Charles R., The Social Message of the Modern Pulpit. N.Y., Scribners, 1906.
• 1906-07 Forsyth, P.T., Positive Preaching and the Modern Mind. N.Y., Hodder and Stoughton, 1907.
• 1907-08 Faunce, William Herbert Perry, The Educational Ideal in the Ministry. N.Y., Macmillan, 1908; reprinted, 1919.
• 1908-09 Henson, H. Hensley, The Liberty of Prophesying. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1910.
• 1909-10 Jefferson, Charles E., The Building of the Church. N.Y., Macmillan, 1910.
• 1910-11 Gunsaulus, Frank W., The Minister and the Spiritual Life. N.Y., Fleming H. Revell, 1911.
• 1911-12 Jowett, J.H., The Preacher: His Life and Work. N.Y., G.H. Doran, 1912.
• 1912-13 Parkhurst, Charles H., The Pulpit and the Pew. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1913.
• 1913-14 Horne, Charles Sylvester, The Romance of Preaching. N.Y., Revell, 1914.
• 1914-15 Pepper, George Wharton, A Voice from the Crowd. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1915.
• 1915-16 Hyde, William DeWitt, The Gospel of Good Will. N.Y., Macmillan, 1917.
• 1916-17 McDowell, William Fraser, Good Ministers of Jesus Christ. N.Y., Abingdon, 1917.
• 1917-18 Coffin, Henry Sloan, Preaching in a Day of Social Rebuilding. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1918.
• 1918-19 Kelman, John, The War and Preaching. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1919.
• 1919-20 Fitch, Albert Parker, Preaching and Paganism. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1920.
• 1920-21 Williams, Charles D., The Prophetic Ministry for Today. N.Y., Macmillan, 1921.
• 1921-22 Merrill, William Pierson, The Freedom of the Preacher. N.Y., Macmillan, 1922.
• 1922-23 Brown, C.R., The Art of Preaching. N.Y., Macmillan, 1922.
• 1923-24 Fosdick, Harry Emerson, The Modern Use of the Bible. N.Y., Macmillan, 1924.
• 1924-25 Inge, W.R., "The Preaching of the Kingdom of God in Church History." (Not published.)
• 1925-26 Calkins, Raymond, The Eloquence of the Christian Experience. N.Y., Macmillan, 1927.
• 1926-27 Sclater, J.R.P., The Public Worship of God. N.Y., Doubleday Doran, 1927.
• 1927-28 Freeman, James Edward, The Ambassador. N.Y., Macmillan, 1928.
• 1928-29 Mouzon, Edwin DuBose, Preaching with Authority. N.Y., Doubleday Doran, 1929.
• 1929-30 McConnel, Francis John, The Prophetic Ministry. N.Y. Abingdon, 1930.
• 1930-31 Buttrick, George A., Jesus Came Preaching. N.Y., Scribners, 1931.
• 1931-32 Tittle, Ernest Freemont, Jesus After Nineteen Centuries. N.Y., Abingdon, 1933.
• 1932-33 Jacks, Lawrence P., Elemental Religion. N.Y., Harper & Bros., 1934.
• 1933-34 Day, Albert E., Jesus and Human Personality. N.Y., Abingdon, 1934.
• 1934-35 Bowie, Walter Russell, The Renewing Gospel. N.Y., Scribners, 1935.
• 1935-36 Park, John Edgar, The Miracle of Preaching. N.Y., Macmillan, 1936.
• 1936-37 (No lectures.)
• 1937-38 Sperry, Willard Learoyd, We Prophesy in Part. N.Y., Harper, 1938.
• 1938-39 Morrison, Charles Clayton, What is Christianity? Chicago, Willett-Clark, 1940.
• 1939-40
  • Buttrick, George Arthur, "Preaching the Whole Gospel."
  • Bradford, Arthur Howe, "Preachers Must Listen."
  • Tittle, Ernest Freemont, "The Church and the Glory of God."
  • Smart, Wyatt Aiken, "Old Wine in New Bottles."
  • McKee, Elmore McNeill, "Leadership Uncensored."
  • Poteat, Edwin McNeill, "The Dilemma of Civilization."
  • Phelps, William Lyon, "The Sermon on the Mount."
  Published in Preaching in These Times. N.Y., Scribner, 1940.
• 1940-41 Sockman, Ralph Washington, The Highway of God. N.Y., Macmillan, 1942.
• 1941-42 Noyes, Morgan Phelps, Preaching the Word of God. N.Y., Scribner, 1943.
• 1942-43 Scherer, Paul, For We Have This Treasure. N.Y., Harper. 1944.
• 1943-44 Oxnam, Garfield Bromley, Preaching in A Revolutionary Age. N.Y., Abingdon-Cokesbury, 1944.
• 1944-45 Niebuhr, Reinhold, "Jesus Christ, the Same Today."
  Published as Faith and History. N.Y., Scribners, 1949.
• 1945-46 Farmer, H.H., God and Men. N.Y., Abingdon-Cokesbury, 1948.
• 1946-47 Phillips, Harold Cooke, Bearing Witness to the Truth. Abingdon-Cokesbury, 1949.
• 1947-48 Sherrill, Henry Knox, The Church's Ministry in Our Time. N.Y., Scribner, 1949.
• 1948-49 Weatherhead, Leslie, "The Minister's Responsibility to His People."
  Published in part as: Psychology, Religion and Healing. London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1957.
• 1949-50
  • *1949 Wriston, Henry M., "The Preacher as Teacher." (Not published.)
  • 1950 Sinnott, Edmund, "The Church in An Age of Science."
    Published in pamphlet form by the Edward W. Hazen Foundation in 1950 as Science and Religion - A Necessary Partnership.
  • 1950 Kenyon, Helen, Walking Together. Cornwall, Conn. : Hayloft Press, 1964.
  • Flemming, Arthur S., "The Objectives of the Local Church." (Not published.)
  • *Auden, W.H., "The Witness of the Layman." (Not published.)
  • Taft, Charles P., "The Social and Economic Program of the Churches." (Not published.)
• 1950-51 Douglass, Truman B., Preaching and the New Reformation. N.Y., Harpers, 1956.
• 1951-52 Stewart, James, A Faith to Proclaim. N.Y., Scribners, 1953.
• 1952-53 Luccock, Halford E., Communicating the Gospel. N.Y., Harpers, 1954.
• 1953-54 Kennedy, Gerald, God's Good News. N.Y., Harpers, 1955.
• 1954-55 Robinson, James H., Adventurous Preaching in a World of Change and Trouble. Great Neck, N.Y., Channel Press, 1956.
• 1955-56 Dun, Angus, The Saving Person. N.Y., Harpers, 1957.
• 1956-57 Niles, D.T., The Preacher's Task and the Stone of Stumbling. N.Y., Harpers, 1958.
• 1957-58 Horton, Douglas, "Corporate Worship: An Index to Ultimates."
  Published as The Meaning of Worship. N.Y., Harpers, 1959.
• 1958-59 Sittler, Joseph, The Ecology of Faith. Philadelphia, Muhlenberg, 1961.
• 1959-60 Soper, Donald, "An Examination of Christian Advocacy in the Contemporary Situation."
  Published as The Advocacy of the Gospel. Nashville, Abingdon, 1961.
• 1960-61 Bartlett, Gene E., The Audacity of Preaching. N.Y., Harper, 1962.
• 1961-62 Miller, Samuel H., "Faith and Secularity: the Dilemma of Modern Preaching."
  Published as The Dilemma of Modern Belief. N.Y., Harper, 1963.
• 1962-63 Barr, Browne, "A Provincial and Parochial Report."
  Published as Parish Back Talk. N.Y., Abingdon, 1964.
• 1963-64 Jenkins, Daniel, "The Man of Few Works." (Not published.)
• 1964-65 Burns, Jackson, "Preaching to the Divided House." (Not published.)
• *1965-66 Newbigin, James Edward Lesslie, Bishop, The Finality of Christ. Richmond, John Knox, 1969.
• 1966-67 Mead, Sidney, "Aspect of Lyman Beecher's Theology." (Not published.)
• 1967-68 Pruyser, Paul, "Religion and the Object World."
  Published in part in: A Dynamic Psychology of Religion. N.Y., Harper, 1968.
• 1968-69 Ramsey Paul, Patient as Person: Explorations in Medical Ethics. New Haven, Yale University Press, 1970.
• 1969-70 Illich, Ivan, "Strategy for Education." Published in Ensayos sobre la trascendencia. Cuernavaca, México, Centro Intercultural de Documentación, 1971.
• 1970-71 Multi-Media: A Presentation of Visual Material Prepared by a Group from the Divinity School on Christian Expression with Media. Directed by John W. Cook. (Not published).
• 1971-72 No lectures.
• *1972-73 Read, David H.C., Sent From God. The Enduring Mystery of Preaching. Nashville, Abingdon, 1974.
• *1973-74 Mitchell, Henry H. The Recovery of Preaching. N.Y., Harper and Row, 1977.
• *1974-75 Napier, Davie. Word of God, Word of Earth. Philadelphia, United Church Press, 1976.
• *1975-76 Taylor, Gardner C. How Shall They Preach? Elgin, IL., Progressive Baptist Publishing House, 1977.
• *1976-77 Buechner, Carl Frederic. Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy and Fairy Tale. San Francisco, Harper and Row, 1977.
• *1977-78 Craddock, Fred B. Overhearing the Gospel. Nashville, Abingdon, 1978.
• *1978-79 Claypool John R. The Preaching Event.. Waco, TX, Word Books, 1980.
• *1979-80 Coffin, William Sloane, "Preaching in the Eighties." (Not published.)
• *1980-81 Ahlstrom, Sydney E. "The Preacher-Theologian in the American Tradition." (Not published.)
• *1981-82 Trible, Phyllis, "Texts of Terror: Unpreached Stories of Faith."
  Published as: Texts of Terror: Literary Feminist Readings of Biblical Narratives. Philadelphia, Fortress Press, 1984.
• *1982-83 Smith, Kelly Miller. Social Crisis Preaching.. Macon, GA. Mercer University Press, 1984.
• *1983-84 Stendahl, Krister, "The Art of Preaching." (Not published.)
• *1984-85 Muehl, William. Why Preach? Why Listen? Philadelphia, Fortress, 1986.
• *1985-86 Forbes, James. The Holy Spirit & Preaching. Nashville, Abingdon, 1989.
• *1986-87 Allen, Horace T., Jr. "Preaching in a Christian Context-Scripture and Sacrament." (Not published.)
• *1987-88 Coburn, The Rt. Rev. John B. "Prayer for the Preacher."
  Published as Grace in All Things. Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications, 1995.
• *1988-89 Brueggemann, Walter. Finally Comes the Poet: Daring Speech for Proclamation. Minneapolis, Fortress, 1989.
• *1989-90 Proctor, Samuel D. How Shall They Hear: Effective Preaching for Vital Faith. Valley Forge, PA : Judson Press, c1992.
• *1990-91
  • Farley, Margaret. "Universal Morality, Particular Reality: The Feminist Challenge." (Not published.)
  • Malherbe, Abraham J. "Paul: Pastor to Recent Converts." (Not published.)
  • Bartlett, David. "Preaching on the Passion in Mark." (Not published.)
  • Childs, Brevard. "Karl Barth: The Preacher's Exegete." (Not published.)
  NOTE: Leander Keck was originally scheduled to deliver the 1990-91 lectures. Unfortunately, he was injured in an automobile accident shortly before the lecture date, and was unable to do so. His lectures were rescheduled for 1991-92. Four of his colleagues from the Yale Divinity School filled in on short notice with the lectures listed above. The Divinity School Faculty honored them as the official Beecher Lecturers after the fact. However, no publication of these lectures is anticipated.
• *1991-92 Keck, Leander. "Toward the Renewal of 'Mainline' Protestantism."
  Published as: The Church Confident. Nashville, TN : Abingdon Press, c1993.
• *1992-93 Hoyt, Thomas. "The Church's Preaching in Pluralistic and Ecumenical Contexts." (Not published.)
• *1993-94 Burghardt, Walter J. "The Christian Pulpit and the Just Word."
  Published as: Preaching the Just Word. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996.
• *1994 Way, Peggy Brainard. "Pastoral Epistemology: Method, Metaphor, Metatheology." (Not published.)
• *1995 Adams, Harry. "Preaching: The Burden and the Joy; The People, Lord, The People."
  Published as Preaching : the Burden and the Joy. St. Louis, Mo.: Chalice Press, 1996.
• *1996 Buttrick, David G. "The New and the Now: Speaking of God's New Order."
  Published as Preaching the New and the Now Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1998.
• *1997 Taylor, Barbara Brown. "Famine in the Land: Homiletical Restraint and the Silence of God."
  Published as: When God is Silent. Boston, MA : Cowley Publications, 1997.
• *1998 Gomes, Peter. "The Texture of Biblical Preaching: Songs, Letters, and Stories." (Not published.)
• *1999 Lischer, Richard "The End of Words: Preaching the Gospel in a World Come of Age."
  Published as The End of Words: the Language of Reconciliation in a Culture of Violence. Grand Rapids, Mich. : William B. Eerdmans Pub., 2005.
• *2000 Lundblad, Barbara K. "Marking Time: Stories Remembered at the River's Edge." Published as Marking Time: Preaching Biblical Stories in Present Tense.Nashville : Abingdon Press, 2007.
• *2001 Bartlett, David L. "What's Good About This News?"
  Published as What's good about this news? : preaching from the Gospels and Galatians. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 2003.
• *2002 Shepherd, J. Barrie."Poetry, Parables and Preaching or Whatever Happened to Delight?" Published as Whatever Happened to Delight? : Preaching the Gospel in Poetry and Parables. Louisville, Ky. : Westminster John Knox Press, 2006.
• *2003 Davis, Ellen. "The Art of Astonishing: Preaching From the Old Testament." (Not published.)
• *2004 Moss, Jr., Otis "Preaching As Prophetic Ministry." (Not published.)
• *2005 Stout, Harry S. "Preaching Morality in America's Civil War." (Not published.)
• *2006 Long, Thomas G., Preaching From Memory to Hope. Louisville, Ky. : Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
• *2007 Hawkins, Peter S. "The Preacher's Divine Comedy." (Not published.)
• *2008 Weems, Renita J., "Preaching from the 'Underside' of the Book of Jeremiah: Gods, Goddesses and Matters of Gender." (Not published.)
• *2009 Lowry, Eugene L., "Keeping Time with the Word: The Sound of the Sermon." (Not published.)
• 2010 Hilkert, Mary Catherine, "Words of Spirit and Life." (Not published.)

* = Available on cassette tape or CD: pre-1993-1994 from Divinity Library (203) 432-5289, thereafter from YDS Book Store (203) 432-6101 (http://www.yale.edu/divinity/sbs/Books.ConvTapes.shtml)

Beecher lectures from 2005-2009 may also be viewed online at Yale Divinity School: Webcasts.

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