William D. McCrackan

William D. McCrackan
Frontispiece from The Rise of the Swiss Republic
Born(1864-02-12)February 12, 1864
Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria
DiedJune 12, 1923(1923-06-12) (aged 59)
New York City, US
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William Dennison McCrackan (February 12, 1864 – June 12, 1923) was an American journalist and author of books on history and travel. In 1900, he converted to Christian Science and became a Christian Science practitioner, teacher and lecturer. In 1919, he was involved in the founding of the Jerusalem News, the first English-language newspaper published in Palestine.

Life

McCrackan was born in Munich on February 12, 1864, then part of the Kingdom of Bavaria.[1] His great-grandfather was Scottish and immigrated to New Haven, Connecticut around the time of the French and Indian War.[2] He graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire[3] and Trinity College in Hartford in 1885,[4] afterward traveling to Europe to continue his education at the Heidelberg University in Germany.[2][5] He lived in Europe for several years before returning to the United States.[6] His only brother John H. McCrackan was an Episcopal clergyman who died sometime before 1922.[7]

He lectured, particularly in New York, and became known for his books on history and travel.[2][3] Politically progressive, he was well known in literary circles, was a member of the Authors' Club in New York City[8] and was friends with Hamlin Garland, Henry George and Lord Bryce.[5] He also served as President of the Manhattan Single Tax Club in 1899 and 1900.[1]

McCrackan converted to Christian Science in 1900[9] and became active with the church organization, first serving as Committee on Publication for the state of New York for three years.[2] In that function, he wrote two articles for the North American Review addressing articles they had recently published by Mark Twain, which had ridiculed Christian Science. He sent his articles to Twain, which Twain replied he had read "with admiration and with profit". McCrackan later called on Twain, and though they remained in disagreement regarding religion, they developed a cordial relationship.[10][11] The last time McCrackan met with Twain, his wife was very ill and Twain, who wrote numerous articles critical of the religion, told McCrackan that he would gladly ask McCrackan to pray for her, except that his wife would rather die.[12]

McCrackan, a Christian Science practitioner and teacher, began lecturing on the religion in 1904 and was elected First Reader of The Mother Church in 1905.[3][13] He later became an associate editor of the Christian Science Sentinel.[13]

During World War I, McCrackan helped organize relief committees to distribute aid across Europe which The Mother Church collected as part of its war relief operations.[14]

In 1919, McCrackan had a major role in founding the Jerusalem News, the first English-language newspaper published in Palestine, and was a major contributor to it while in Jerusalem.[15]

McCrackan was an critic of the slogan "a land without a people for a people without a land". He said, "We used to read in our papers the slogan of Zionism, 'to give back a people to a Land without a People,' while the truth was that Palestine was already well-peopled with a population which was rapidly increasing from natural causes."[16]

He died suddenly in New York City on June 12, 1923 while visiting friends following his attendance of the Centennial celebration for his alma mater, Trinity College.[1][17]

Published work (partial list)

Articles

Books

References

  1. 1 2 3 Miller, Joseph Dana, ed. (1923). "William Dennison McCrackan". Single Tax Review. XXIII (4): 105.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "A Lecture On Christian Science" The Cambridge Chronicle (March 18, 1905), p. 10. Retrieved June 22, 2013
  3. 1 2 3 "The Readers of The Mother Church" Christian Science Journal (July 1905). Retrieved June 22, 2013 (subscription required)
  4. ↑ 1901 Trinity College yearbook The Ivy, p. 102. Retrieved June 22, 2013
  5. 1 2 Peel, Robert, Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Authority (1977), p. 193
  6. ↑ Flower, B. O., "Reckless and Irresponsible Attacks on Christian Science" The Arena, Vol. XXXVII, January to June (1907). The Brandt Press, Trenton, N.J., U.S.A., p. 59. Retrieved June 22, 2013
  7. ↑ McCrackan, William Denison (1922). The New Palestine. London: Jonathan Cape. p. 298.
  8. ↑ "Club News and Gossip" The New York Times (January 24, 1904), p. 46. Retrieved June 22, 2013
  9. ↑ Gottschalk, Stephen. Rolling Away The Stone (2006) Indiana University Press. pp. 56-57.
  10. ↑ Peel, Robert (1977), pp. 202-205
  11. ↑ "Samuel L. 'Mark Twain' Clemens - Autograph Letter Signed 01/14/1903" mentions McCrackan History for Sale. Retrieved June 22, 2013
  12. ↑ Gottschalk, Stephen. (2006), p. 86.
  13. 1 2 "A Historical Perspective" Christian Science Sentinel (May 28, 2012). Retrieved June 22, 2013 (subscription required)
  14. ↑ Christian Science War Time Activities. Christian Science Publishing Society. 1922. p. 26.
  15. ↑ McCrackan, William Denison (1922). The New Palestine. London: Jonathan Cape.
  16. ↑ Muir, Diana. "A Land without a People for a People without a Land" Middle East Forum, republished from the Middle East Quarterly (Spring 2008). Retrieved June 15, 2013
  17. ↑ "W. D. McCrackan, Trinity, '85, Dies". Hartford Courant. June 15, 1923. p. 21. Retrieved December 30, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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