I have asked colleagues who specialize  in American religious and early repub-
lic history to read Laura Schmidt's paper.  One response has been from Peter
Williams, professor of religion and director of American studies.  He likes the
article but says that it is   less novel than it might appear and that it over-
simplifies the theology involved.  He suggests as a supplement chs. 25 and 26
of Sydney Ahlstrom, RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.  Williams also
questions calling it a "religious" interpretation; in fact it focuses on cleri-
cal politics rather than on religion itself.
 
David Fahey (Miami Univ., Oxford, OH 45056, USA)
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