James Davenport, whose popular sermons denounced Old Light clergy as corrupt and worldly, was one of the more controversial New Light ministers. Throughout the early 1740s, his behavior became increasingly erratic, culminating in a public book burning in New London, Connecticut, in 1743. After leading his audience in the burning of what he termed “immoral books,” Davenport then urged them to throw luxury items and clothing into the fire. In the excitement of the event, Davenport even took off his own pants and threw them into the fire. His actions, and the ensuing controversy, caused even New Light ministers to turn against Davenport, and by 1744 he issued a public apology for his extreme behavior. The following selection from a Boston newspaper describes the incident in New London.
Multitudes hasten’d toward the Place of Rendezvous, directing themselves by the Clamor and Shouting, which together, with the ascending Smoak [smoke] bro’t them to one of the most public Places in the Town, and there found these good People encompassing a Fire which they had built up in the Street, into which they were casting Numbers of Books, principally on Divinity, and those that were well-approved by Protestant Divines, viz. . . . Mr. Russel’s Seven Sermons, one of Dr. Colman’s, and one of Dr. Chauncy’s Books, and many others. Nothing can be more astonishing than their insolent Behaviour was during the Time of their Sacrifice, as ’tis said they call’d it; whilst the Books were in the Flames they cry’d out, Thus the Souls of the Authors of those Books, those of them that are dad [dead], are roasting in the Flames of Hell; and that the Fate of those surviving, would be the same, unless speedy Repentance prevented: On the next Day they had at the same Place a second Bonfire of the like Materials, and manag’d in the same manner. Having given this fatal Stroke to Heresy, they made ready to attack Idolatry, and sought for Direction, as in the Case before; and then Mr. [Davenport] told them to look at Home first, and that they themselves were guilty of idolizing their Apparel, and should therefore divest themselves of those Things especially which were for Ornament, and let them be burnt: Some of them in the heighth of their Zeal, conferred not with Flesh and Blood, but fell to stripping and cast their Cloaths [clothes] down at their Apostle’s Feet; one or two hesitated about the Matter, and were so bold as to tell him they had nothing on which they idoliz’d: He reply’d, that such and such a Thing was an Offence to him; and they must down with them. One of these being a Gentleman of Learning and Parts ventur’d to tell Mr. [Davenport], that he could scarce see how his disliking the Night-Gown that he had on his Back, should render him guilty of Idolatry. However, This carnal Reasoning avail’d nothing; strip he must, and strip he did. . . . Next Mr. [Davenport] pray’d himself; and now the Oracle spake clear to the Point, without Ambiguity, and utter’d that the Things must be burnt; and to confirm the Truth of the Revelation, took his wearing Breeches, and hove them with Violence into the Pile, saying, Go you with the Rest.
Source: “Religious Excess at New London,” The Boston Weekly Post-Boy, March 28, 1743, in The Great Awakening: Documents on the Revival of Religion, 1740–1745, ed. Richard L. Bushman (New York: Institute of Early American History and Culture, 1970), 51–52.