Early Career 1860-1882
Gladden was ordained as a minister in 1860 and started his career working in New York City. In his 1909 autobiography Recollections, Gladden wrote that he wanted to practice as a minister "a religion that laid hold upon life, and proposed first and foremost, to realise the Kingdom of God in this world." He married Jennie Cohoon in 1860 and the couple had three children. Although not being recognized by males, she was looked up to as a female leader since she offered support to fellow women about loyalty to one's husband, keeping faith through hardships, and working unto the Lord.
In 1866, Gladden moved to North Adams, Massachusetts, serving as pastor until 1871. His first significant book, Plain Thoughts on Being a Christian, was published in 1868. He was the religious editor of the New York Independent between 1871 and 1875. As acting editor of the Independent in this period, he was involved in exposing the corrupt organization of Boss Tweed.
In 1875, Gladden became the Congregationalist pastor in Springfield, Massachusetts. He published Working People and their Employers in 1876, which advocated the unionization of employees; Gladden was the first notable U.S. clergyman to approve of unions. Gladden did not support socialism or laissez faire economics, advocating instead the application of "Christian law" to issues. He was a charter member of the American Economic Association.
Read more about this topic: Washington Gladden
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