author
Madison Clinton Peters
1859–1918
A prolific American clergyman and lecturer, he wrote energetic books on religion, public life, and Jewish history in the United States. His work aimed to make big historical and moral questions feel immediate to ordinary readers.
1 Audiobook
Abraham Lincoln's Religion
by Madison Clinton Peters
About the author
Born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on November 6, 1859, Madison Clinton Peters became a minister in the Reformed Church after studying at Franklin and Marshall College and Heidelberg Theological Seminary in Tiffin, Ohio. He later built a public career as a preacher, lecturer, and writer, and died in New York City on October 12, 1918.
Peters was a notably prolific author. Alongside religious writing and sermon-like reflections, he published books on American history, civic life, and prominent figures. He is especially remembered for works that highlighted Jewish contributions to the United States and argued for religious tolerance and patriotic belonging.
That mix of pulpit energy and popular history gives his writing a distinctive feel. Even when addressing weighty subjects, he often wrote for a broad audience, trying to persuade, encourage, and spark curiosity rather than speak only to specialists.