Joseph John Jefferson

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Joseph John Jefferson[1] (1795–1882[2]), usually referred to as John Jefferson, was a British Congregationalist minister[2] and advocate for Christian pacifism.

Biography[]

Historian Martin Ceadel asserts that Jefferson's pacifist position was most likely inspired by one of his congregants named John Scott.[2] Scott died in 1832 and as minister for the Independent Meeting House at Stoke Newington, Jefferson delivered the eulogy.[3] Jefferson was elected as secretary of the London Peace Society on 11 August 1840.[4] In 1845, he spoke publicly in a series of lectures in London sponsored by the Society along with George Thompson, Henry Richard, and John Scoble. The lecture series was attended by a total of 64,000 people. Jefferson hoped they would spread Christian pacifism, specifically opposition to all wars as a Christian principle.[5] In 1846, he was one of the first sixty signers of the League of Universal Brotherhood Pledge, along with Joseph Sturge and James Silk Buckingham.[1] He retired suddenly as secretary of the Peace Society on 4 January 1848 due to poor health, but shortly afterwards in May 1848 he was made vice-president of the Society.[4] He lived for another 34 years and remained an inactive vice-president until his death in 1882.[6][4]

Jefferson served as the minister for Abney Park Chapel and cemetery in Stoke Newington for more than a quarter of a century.

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