While living in Hartford CT Samuel Clemens attended, but may not have
actually joined the socially prominent Asylum Hill Congregational Church [by
prior agreement the Congregational Church was de facto the Presbyterian
Church in New England] where the Rev. Joseph Twichell, one of Twain's
neighbors, a former Civil War chaplain [71st NY Infantry - there is a famous
story of Twichell driving his former commander Sickles in a wheel chair
around Gettysburg at the now famous reunion ], and a protégé of Horace
Bushnell, was Pastor.

Twain and Twichell had a mixed relationship, though for the most part
positive, and though Twain attended worship at Asylum Hill, and Twichell
presided at more than one family funeral, including Twain's, there is debate
as to whether they viewed religion in the same light, or for the sake of
friendship agreed to disagree.  Twichell seems to have had some literary
connection or influence over Twain, appearing in at least one of his works.
There are stories about Twichell introducing Twain to a bicycle; others that
suggest Twain did not take Twichell very seriously, and may even have
treated him in an insulting manner.

See the doctoral dissertation by Leah S. Strong: Joseph Hopkins Twichell:
Mark Twain's Friend and Pastor that explores among other things Twain's
religious outlook and involvement.  See also Steven Courtney's "To the
Tower" in Twain's World. Essays on Hartford's Cultural Heritage which
recalls Twain's and Twichell's hikes to Heublien Tower that is still
reenacted annually. Twichell's papers are at Yale.

There are also some possibly apocryphal stories of Twain's involvement with
other churches and religious events in Hartford.

Rev. Russell H. Allen



"D. Terrell Dempsey" wrote:

> Regarding Clemens and Presbyterianism, did he ever have a formal
> association with a Presbyterian Church? I have gone through the session
> minutes of First Presbyterian in Hannibal and there is no record of his
> joining -- just Jane and Pamela.  Did he subsequently associate anywhere
> else?  If so, where?  If he did associate elsewhere, what was the
> "persuasion" of the church with which he affiliated?  Old School?, New
> School? Regional affiliation?
>     Thanks, Terrell Dempsey
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Huffman <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Friday, June 29, 2001 11:26 AM
> Subject: Re: Quote about Presbyterians
>
> >Thank you very much for the rapid response.  No wonder we couldn't find
> it
> >since Twain never said those exact words.  I'll pass it along to the
> >minister asking about it, giving you full credit for solving his
> question.
> >
> >John Huffman
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: James S. Leonard <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Friday, June 29, 2001 9:56 AM
> >Subject: Re: Quote about Presbyterians
> >
> >
> >> John Huffman wrote:
> >>
> >> > We have a request for which I have been unable to find an answer.
> What
> >place was Twain referring to when he made the comment about there being
> so
> >many saloons and dance halls, and some thought of building a church,
> that
> >"it was no place for a Presbyterian, and I did not remain one for
> long."  I
> >would also like to know the source for this quote.
> >> >
> >> > Best regards,
> >> >
> >> > John Huffman
> >> > Mark Twain Birthplace SHS
> >>
> >> The place is Virginia City, and the source is, more or less,
> "Roughing
> >It," chapter XLIII.  I say "more or less" because the version you're
> quoting
> >is actually from Hal Holbrook's "Mark Twain Tonight" (Twain's version
> >doesn't include the part about being a Presbyterian).  Here's the
> paragraph
> >from "Roughing It":
> >>
> >> Virginia had grown to be the "livest" town, for its age and
> population,
> >that America had ever produced. The sidewalks swarmed with people -- to
> such
> >an extent, indeed, that it was generally no easy matter to stem the
> human
> >tide. The streets themselves were just as crowded with quartz wagons,
> >freight teams and other vehicles. The procession was
> >> endless. So great was the pack, that buggies frequently had to wait
> half
> >an hour for an opportunity to cross the principal street. Joy sat on
> every
> >countenance, and there was a glad, almost fierce, intensity in every
> eye,
> >that told of the money-getting schemes that were seething in every
> brain and
> >the high hope that held sway in every heart. Money
> >> was as plenty as dust; every individual considered himself wealthy,
> and a
> >melancholy countenance was nowhere to be seen. There were military
> >companies, fire companies, brass bands, banks, hotels, theatres,
> >"hurdy-gurdy houses," wide-open gambling palaces, political pow-wows,
> civic
> >processions, street fights, murders, inquests, riots, a whiskey mill
> >> every fifteen steps, a Board of Aldermen, a Mayor, a City Surveyor, a
> City
> >Engineer, a Chief of the Fire Department, with First, Second and Third
> >Assistants, a Chief of Police, City Marshal and a large police force,
> two
> >Boards of Mining Brokers, a dozen breweries and half a dozen jails and
> >station-houses in full operation, and some talk of building
> >> a church. The "flush times" were in magnificent flower! Large
> fire-proof
> >brick buildings were going up in the principal streets, and the wooden
> >suburbs were spreading out in all directions. Town lots soared up to
> prices
> >that were amazing.
> >>
> >> --Jim Leonard
> >>