Clara Barton: A Centenary Tribute to the World's Greatest Humanitarian / Founder of the American Red Cross Society, Author of the American Amendment to the International Red Cross Convention of Geneva, Founder of the National First Aid Association of America

by Charles Sumner Young

WHAT WAS HER RELIGION?

Was Clara Barton a Church woman? Of herself she says: “There are few people who have memories of harder Church work and better Church love than I; I have never lost my love for the old Church of my Fathers, my family and my childhood.”

Was she a Mormon? A friend of the Mormons, and one of the biggest receptions ever tendered to her was in the tabernacle at Salt Lake City, by the Mormons of Utah. Was she a Mohammedan? She was most cordially received by the Mohammedans, and decorated by the Sultan of Turkey. Was she a Spiritualist? She attended spiritualistic meetings, studied the cult, consulted mediums, and mingled with spiritualists. Commenting on the fact, claimed, that spiritual communications occur between those of this world and those of the other world, she said: “I am more and more filled with wonder how these things can be” but—“I hope so.”

Was she a Catholic? She frequently attended the Catholic Church, and counted among her friends Sisters of Mercy, Priests, Bishops, and Archbishops. Was she a Congregationalist? She attended that Church at times. Several Congregational ministers officiated at the funeral, and a beautiful Clara Barton window is preserved in the Congregational Church at Oxford. Was she a Methodist? She attended the Methodist Church, and the Methodists now use Clara Barton leaflets, and other Clara Barton literature, in their Sunday Schools throughout the country.

Was she a Christian Scientist? She said: “I do not know enough to be one, nor to understand it,” but she also said: “I cannot see why Universalists should not become Christian Scientists.” She attended the Christian Science Church for three years, but a leading scientist editor said: “We do not claim her, nor do I think any other Church can claim her.” Was she a Universalist? She was reared a Universalist, and in her youth attended the Universalist Church where the famous divine, Hosea Ballou, was pastor and she also requested a Universalist pastor to assist in officiating at her funeral.

She attended other Churches, and ministers of several denominations officiated at her funeral. Clara Barton says: “I am not what the world denominates a Church woman; I was born to liberal views, and have lived a liberal creed.”

But really what was her religion? “Perplexed in faith but pure in deeds,” Clara Barton, to the annoying question so often asked by the curious, answered: “I am a well disposed pagan.”