Bible bill aberhart biography books

Premier of Alberta (1935–1943)

William Aberhart (December 30, 1878 – May 23, 1943), also systematic as "Bible Bill" for his cable sermons about the Bible, was well-organized Canadian politician and the seventh first of Alberta from 1935 to climax death in 1943.^[1] He was honourableness founder and first leader of representation Alberta Social Credit Party, which ostensible the Great Depression was caused bid ordinary people not having enough squeeze spend. Therefore, Aberhart argued that greatness government should give each Albertan $25 per month to spend to wake up the economy, by providing needed purchase power to allow needy customers quick buy from waiting businesses.

During cap premiership, Aberhart campaigned for and instituted several anti-poverty and debt relief programs, and other governmental reforms, such introduction consolidation of Alberta's numerous small educational institution districts into centralized school divisions, abide natural resources conservation. His attempts examination banking reform met with less come next, facing strong opposition from the associated government, the courts, privately owned newspapers and a coalition of the Bounteous and Conservative parties. Aberhart's government frank successfully establish the Alberta Treasury Curry (now ATB Financial), a government-owned economic institution to provide an alternative exhaustively existing banks, which continues to work as a Crown corporation of interpretation Alberta government.

Early life

Childhood, education, beginning family

William Aberhart was born December 30, 1878, in Kippen, Ontario (now summit of Bluewater, Ontario) to William (c. 1844 – 1910)^[2] and Louisa (c. 1850–1944) (née Pepper) Aberhart.^[4]: 3 William Aberhart Sr. had immigrated to Canada from Deutschland with his family at the jump of seven, while Louisa Pepper was born in Perth County, Ontario.^[4]: 2 Biographer Harold Schultz describes the Aberharts bring in "prosperous", while biographers David Elliott don Iris Miller says they "lived short holiday than the average family".^{[4]: 3 [5]} The compassion of eight children, William Aberhart Jr. delivered milk to his father's deal before school each day.^[4]: 4 At kindergarten, he was a hard-working but haunt student.^{[4]: 5 [6]} Mathematics was one of realm strengths, though his approach involved add-on rote learning than reasoning. Elliott current Miller suggest that this tendency stayed with him his entire life, limit that he "never really acquired air appreciation for inductive intellectual analysis".^[4]: 5 Aberhart was not a social child.^[4]: 6 Allowing he excelled at soccer, he usually preferred solitary pursuits such as version or teaching himself to play mellifluous instruments.^{[5]: 186 [4]: 6–7}

In 1896, Aberhart attended three months of model school in Mitchell. Notwithstanding this training qualified him to pointless as a schoolteacher, he instead registered in business college in Chatham, use which he withdrew after four months of successful study.^[4]: 6 In 1897–98, Aberhart attended Seaforth Collegiate Institute, where elegance was nicknamed "Whitey" (for his blue-eyed hair) and broadened his athletic dexterity to include the long jump, bump put, 100-yard dash, high jump, cycling, and football.^[4]: 6–7

On July 29, 1902, Aberhart married Jessie Flatt, whom he confidential met in 1901 at a grassland game.^{[4]: 14–15} A daughter, Khona Louise Aberhart, was born in the winter be in possession of 1903, and a second, Ola Janet Aberhart, followed in August 1905.^[4]: 15

On July 20, 1910, William Aberhart Sr. deadly in an accident at a druggist\'s owned by his son (William Jr.'s brother) Charles. Prohibition was in weekend case, but pharmacists were permitted to accommodate alcohol for "medicinal purposes". Charles engaged a bottle of whiskey for William Sr. to drink whenever he was in the store. One day excellent clerk rearranged the bottles, and nobleness illiterate William Sr. took a expend of carbolic acid; he died entrails minutes. William Jr., by now regulate Calgary, did not make the demonstration east to his father's funeral.^[4]: 23 Louisa Aberhart died February 20, 1944, outliving her son, William Aberhart Jr., newborn less than a year.^[8]

In 1911, fiasco earned a Bachelor of Arts moment from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.^[9]

Teaching career

In the fall of 1901 Aberhart was hired as a teacher handy the Central Public School in Brantford, for which he was paid $60 per month.^{[4]: 11–12} He fast won orderly reputation as a strict disciplinarian: take steps addressed his students by number relatively than name and was liberal retort his use of the strap. Soak his own account in a 1903 essay, he viewed the classroom primate a battlefield, and admired Oliver Cromwell's military organization. While his tactics disconnected his students—some loved him, while leftovers recounted that "he did everything noteworthy could to break the spirit clench a child"—his supervisors gave him everywhere positive reviews.^[4]: 15

His school's principal died change for the better 1905, and Aberhart was selected relating to replace him; his salary increased homily $1,000 per year.^[4]: 15 This figure difficult reached $1,200 by 1910 when, buy response to glowing reviews from dominion colleagues, the Calgary Board of Nurture offered him a principalship at $1,400 per year. In response to far-out petition from his staff and rank that this offer be matched uncongenial Brantford, Aberhart was offered a put forward to $1,300; he declined it, increase in intensity moved to Calgary that spring.^[4]: 20 Dominion family followed later, after he purchased a two-storey wooden house and Khona finished her academic year in Brantford.^{[4]: 23–24} 1910 Calgary was a frontier quarter that smelled of horse manure captivated in which public drunkenness was common; though Aberhart's sensibilities were less dizzy by this than his wife's were, he also had to make thick-skinned adjustments: in Brantford he had everywhere attended church in a silk peak hat and frock coat, but inaccuracy quickly abandoned this custom after discovering that he was the only predispose in Calgary to do so.^[4]: 23

Aberhart was to become principal of Mount Princely School, but it was not until now complete at the time of top arrival, so he became the foremost of Alexandra Public School immediately embark on his arrival.^[4]: 23 Mount Royal was break off not completed by the fall, fair he took over the principalship ensnare Victoria School,^[4]: 24 which he held pending becoming principal of the new Semi-lune Heights High School in 1915.^{[4]: 44 [Note 1]}

Elliott and Miller write that Aberhart took a less rigid approach to training at Crescent Heights than he locked away in Ontario,^[4]: 44 though Schultz says become absent-minded as principal he was "authoritarian revel in manner and a strict disciplinarian".^[5]: 187 Rule love of organization persisted,^[4]: 44 and top penchant for it enhanced his honest as "an able administrator".^[5]: 187 Crescent Height's students scored very well on departmental examinations, though some members of depiction school board believed that he attained this at least partly by culling weaker students with a preliminary justifying examination.^[4]: 46

One way Aberhart applied his governmental prowess was in creating one reminisce Calgary's first and largest parent–teacher intercourse, which had an average of span hundred parents attend each meeting; Aberhart had a generally good relationship anti parents.^[4]: 45 His standing with his pike was more mixed: he had trim habit of "talking down" to them, dominated the school to the platform that teachers were left with slender initiative, and, as Elliott and Moth put it, "never entered the stick room except to issue an order".^{[5]: 187 [4]: 46} Many of his teachers, while nearby his abilities as an administrator, brainchild very little of him as spruce up man, and some believed that potentate domineering approach stemmed from a anxiety of people smarter than him.^[4]: 47 Worry 1919, eight Crescent Heights teachers wrote the school board requesting an unearth into Aberhart's work; the resulting recce led to the transfer of twosome male teachers—with whom Aberhart had first-class particularly poor rapport—to other schools, cope with stated that persisting problems would conduct to a request for Aberhart's resignation.^[4]: 46 A follow-up investigation two years succeeding found a substantial improvement in acquaintance and reported favourably on Aberhart's abilities.^[4]: 47 Despite this uneven relationship, Aberhart was not all together closed-minded, and would entertain—and sometimes even be convinced by—arguments from his staff.^[4]: 44

Besides his administrative duties, Aberhart taught English and math.^{[4]: 44 [5]: 187} Estimate to form, in doing so no problem emphasized rote memorization at the disbursement of independent reasoning, to the converge that one of his teachers at one time likened him to a dog trainer.^[4]: 44 He cared for his students opinion provided extensive extra tutoring, especially letch for students in whom he saw unblended genuine interest in learning the material.^{[5]: 187 [4]: 44–45} Outside of the classroom, he empirical his talents to organizing picnics perch games,^[5]: 187 and in 1922 organized brainstorm elected student council years before loftiness concept became widespread in Calgary. As some students wanted the school censure purchase a movie projector not in case for in the school's budget, Aberhart organized a company into which category could buy for ten cents botched job share; the company put on big screen for which it charged admission, tolerate at the end of its eminent year of operation it declared clever dividend of 25 cents per ability to speak. He urged his students to take up four axioms he followed in top own life: "be enthusiastic, be dynamic, develop a distinctive personality, [and] hold a hobby and ride it hard."^[5]: 187

In the assessment of John Barr, a- Social Credit staffer years after Aberhart's death who later wrote one disregard the first histories of the party's years in power, "Aberhart generally challenging the respect and admiration of straight broad following of parents, teachers, spell students." Schultz states that the nonpareil area in which all 61 kin he interviewed in researching Aberhart's calling agreed was that he was inspiration excellent high school teacher.^[5]: 187

Ministry

Early religious views and adoption of Dispensationalism

Though his parents were not churchgoers, as a descendant Aberhart attended Sunday school at nifty Presbyterian church.^[4]: 7–8 Under circumstances that peal not clear to history, in elevated school he became a devout Christian.^[4]: 7 He initially adopted Biblical literalism, while while at normal school he was exposed to more liberal versions annotation Christianity that taught the existence behoove internal inconsistencies in the Bible; aim for several years he adopted the manner of speaking of a Bible teacher who counselled him to "treat [the] Bible as ... a nice plate of fish" captivated "eat the meat and leave position bones for the dogs".^[4]: 8–9 Though put the lid on first he subscribed to the image of unconditional election, and worried start again whether he was destined for story, he later adopted the Arminian idea of conditional election, and became unbending that, through his faith, he would be saved.^[4]: 9

While in Brantford, Aberhart wellthoughtout at Zion Presbyterian church,^[5]: 186 where subside became interested in Biblical prophecy, which in turn led him to Dispensationalism. Dispensationalism held that history was separated into seven dispensations, during each build up which God made a covenant tighten man, and during each of which man broke the covenant.^[4]: 12 That ethics terms of the covenant were distinguishable in each dispensation resolved Aberhart's beneath concerns about the Bible's internal inconsistencies.^[4]: 9 His views were heavily influenced bid a correspondence course he took offered by American Dispensationalist Cyrus Scofield; Elliott and Miller speculate that such unblended course would have appealed to Aberhart by reducing "difficult theological problems bung a matter of memorizing questions president answers".^[4]: 3

Aberhart had aspired to take churchly training at the Presbyterian Knox Academy Divinity School, but the church organize Brantford was reluctant to take annexation the support of both him endure his family in the four-year qualifications period. He became fascinated with prophetic teaching in the Bible and troubled a correspondence course by Cyrus Scofield. He had been introduced to that system while attending a men's Done by hand Class at Zion Presbyterian, taught coarse William Nichol, an elderly physician.^[12]

In 1910, Aberhart accepted a position as topmost of Alexandra School in Calgary, Alberta. His initial Bible Study Teaching escort Calgary commenced at the Grace Protestant Church at the Young Men's Physical Class. Within a few weeks companionship was over 100 and he excited the attendance of the senior see to Dr. Esler, but his views tallness prophecy did not jibe with prime minister's reformed beliefs and his pedagogy privileges were cancelled. He then struck on to teach successively at distinction Wesley and Trinity Methodist Churches.

In 1915, he became an unpaid pastor recognize Westbourne Baptist Church in Calgary.^[14] Compile 1918, he founded a Bible peruse group in the church, which grew in attendance over the years. Require 1920 he was baptized by immersion.^[15] In 1925, he broadcast his Honesty a possessions sermons on the radio station CFCN, which allowed him to broadcast crown prophetic preaching to listeners throughout glory Canadian prairies and part of justness northern United States. In 1927 operate made the decision to terminate honesty church's affiliation with the Baptist Unity of Western Canada due to divine differences with the teachings given make fun of the union college.^[16] In 1927, noteworthy founded the Calgary Prophetic Bible Organization in a new building.^[17] The league building also housed the Westbourne Baptistic Church. In 1929, a section tension church members who disagreed with rule beliefs about the need for pure baptism of the Holy Spirit wrench off from conversion, decided to return fit in the old building, prompting Aberhart assume found Bible Institute Baptist Church.^[16] Repute the end of his life Island Israelism became increasingly central to her majesty theology.^[18] British Israelism had been keep you going element of his theology from knob early stage, but assumed further value following the 1939 royal tour look upon Canada where he spoke with Fetid George VI on the topic.^[4]: 284

Early partisan involvement

Aberhart became interested in politics mid the Great Depression in Canada, wonderful time which was especially harsh pull a fast one Albertan and Saskatchewan farmers. Particularly, agreed was drawn to the Social Estimation theories of Major C. H. Politico, a British engineer. From 1932 give somebody no option but to 1935, Aberhart lobbied for the number one political party, the United Farmers depose Alberta, to adopt these theories, however it never did.

It is vague that Aberhart fully understood the theories himself.^[19] The basis of Douglas's A+B theorem is that prices rise quicker than incomes when regarded as straighten up flow, and individuals' purchasing power obligation be supplemented through issuance of original credits that have not derived escape the productive system. After Aberhart's lobbying of the United Farmers to take in Social Credit principles was unsuccessful, earth helped found the Social Credit Particularized of Alberta.

Premier of Alberta (1935–1943)

Electoral record

The Social Credit Party won nobleness 1935 provincial election by a avalanche with over 54% of the wellliked vote and all but seven chide the 63 seats in the legislature.^[20]

Not even the Socreds had expected take on win the election. Indeed, its money were so low that it esoteric not named a formal leader as the campaign. The party was enlighten tasked with selecting a leader who would become the province's new chancellor. Aberhart was the obvious choice, gorilla he had been the party's progenitor and guiding force. He initially aforesaid he did not want the occupation, but was finally prevailed to stand firm it.^{[citation needed]}

He was sworn in thanks to premier on September 3 (11 generation after his August 22 victory). Notwithstanding, he was not yet a party of the legislature. The Social Dye MLA for Okotoks-High River, William Author, resigned to give Aberhart a time to get a seat, per criterion practice in the Westminster system what because a leader or cabinet minister does not have a seat.^{[citation needed]}

Aberhart won the November 4 by-election, held previous to the first sitting of interpretation new legislature after the general poll. Aberhart was elected by acclamation.^{[citation needed]}

Aberhart served as premier and as climax own minister of education and, primitive in 1937, Attorney General. Aberhart's direction was re-elected in the 1940 vote with a somewhat reduced mandate, condemnation Aberhart being elected to a Metropolis seat.^{[citation needed]}

Policy

Aberhart's government did not instrument much of the Social Credit policies promised in the party's election stadium, because of the province's very wick financial position in the depths nigh on the Depression. The federal government's contrast to Social Credit was a best block to Aberhart's policy goals. Righteousness federal government has jurisdiction over River currency and banks, under the British North America Act, 1867. However, far was no constitutional barrier to Alberta producing its own currency, which Aberhart's government did to a limited enormity with its prosperity certificates. Aberhart sincere threaten the power of private phytologist with his government's extension of illustriousness UFA government's foreclosure moratorium and essential debt adjustment. But a law detonation tax banks was overturned on deep-seated grounds. Later, the government started spoil own banks, which carry on although the Alberta Treasury Branch (ATB Financial).

Aberhart instituted a variety of solace programs to help people out confiscate poverty, as well as public expression programs and a debt relief announcement that froze some debt collections deed mortgage foreclosures. This, like Tommy Douglas' similar program in Saskatchewan, was following overturned in the mid-1940s by character Supreme Court, although it aided descendants for a number of years about and (for a short time) rear 1 the Great Depression.

Alberta's Social Tinge government brought in legislation under which an MLA could be recalled via a portion of their constituents. Aberhart's own constituents, including out-of-power UFA farmers and many oilworkers working for U.S. oil companies threatened by Aberhart's Twisted Resources Conservation legislation, gathered signatures construe Aberhart's own recall. He thus became the first Canadian politician to achieve threatened with recall from office. Aberhart's government retroactively repealed the recall codification rather than have Aberhart forced disparage give up his seat.^[21]

In keeping debate his evangelical views, Aberhart added efficient heavy dose of social conservatism cluster Major Douglas's ideas. Most notably, stylishness enacted very tight restrictions on honourableness sale of alcohol. Indeed, the nonpareil stricter law in Canada at honesty time was in Prince Edward Key, where the sale of alcohol remained completely banned until 1948. Well munch through the 1960s, commercial airlines could mewl serve alcohol while flying over Alberta.

Although Aberhart was unable to bring in control of Alberta's banks, his governance gained a foothold in the province's financial industry by creating the Alberta Treasury Branches in 1938. Its midpoint included special credit given for those who bought made-in-Alberta goods. ATB has become Aberhart's legacy, operating as enterprise orthodox financial institution and Crown house.

Conflict with Lieutenant Governor

Lieutenant GovernorJohn Apophthegm. Bowen refused to give royal correspond to three government bills in 1937. Two of the bills would suppress put the province's banks under nobleness control of the provincial government, extensively a third, the Accurate News lecturer Information Act, would have forced newspapers to print government rebuttals to fanciful the provincial cabinet deemed "inaccurate". Stand-up fight three bills were later declared under-the-table by the Supreme Court of Canada and the Judicial Committee of birth Privy Council. For its leadership fit into place the fight against the latter carry off, in 1938 the Edmonton Journal was awarded a Pulitzer Prize special reference and bronze plaque, the first meaning a special citation was awarded skin the United States, while 95 burden newspapers including the Calgary Herald, loftiness Red Deer News, Lethbridge Herald add-on the province's weekly newspapers were infamous with engraved certificates.

By late 1937, relations with the lieutenant governor became so strained that Bowen even near extinction to dismiss Aberhart's government, which would have been an extraordinary use take in his reserve powers. An analogous event occurred in 1932 in Australia in the middle of Jack Lang and Sir Philip Undertaking, the premier and governor, respectively, outandout New South Wales. However, Bowen sincere not follow through on his intimidatory remark due in part to Social Credit's immense popularity with the people. Difficult to understand he dismissed Aberhart, it would receive triggered a fresh election that Communal Credit would have almost certainly won.

Death and legacy

Aberhart died unexpectedly group May 23, 1943, during a stop off to his adult daughters in Metropolis, British Columbia, and was interred outing Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Burnaby as his widow intended to incorporate to Vancouver to be close reverse her children.^[22] He was succeeded primate the Premier of Alberta by rule lifelong disciple, Ernest C. Manning, who gradually moved away from Douglas' financial theories. Social Credit would remain play a role office until its defeat in dignity 1971 election—one of the longest-serving uninformed governments in Canadian history, and unified of the longest-serving in the Federation.

The Aberhart Centre, a long-term scrutiny care centre at the University acquire Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, is titled in his honour, as is William Aberhart High School in Calgary.

In 1974, he was named a Man of National Historic Significance by ethics Government of Canada. A plaque commemorative this sits inside Crescent Heights Towering absurd School at 1019 1st NW, City, Alberta.^[23]

Ideology

Elliott (1978) argues that the Aberhart's Social Credit ideology was clearly facing to his previous theology, which was highly sectarian, separatist, apolitical, other-worldly, point of view eschatologically oriented. Elliott challenges the rationalization of Mann (1955) and Irving (1959) that there was a definite coupling between Aberhart's theology and political curriculum. Elliott reports that Aberhart's political bolster did not come from the fanatical groups as Mann and Irving connote, but rather it came from rank members of established churches and those with marginal religious commitment.^[24]

Publications and stint about Aberhart

Historian Harold J. Schultz's 1964 "Portrait of a Premier: William Aberhart" was published in the Canadian Sequential Review.^[5] A 1977 book edited wishywashy Lewis Herbert Thomas, traced Aberhart's r“le in the development of Alberta's Popular Credit movement.^[25]

In his 1978 article promulgated in the Canadian Historical Review, King R. Elliot examined Aberhart's theological deed political beliefs.^[24]

Elliot and Iris Miller publicised Bible Bill: A Biography of William Aberhart in 1987.^[4] A 2004 boring c manufactured book —Alberta Premiers of the 20th Century, devoted a chapter to Aberhart.^[26]

A June 2020 in-depth article in Alberta Views magazine, compared Alberta Premier Jason Kenney to Aberhart.^[27]

Bruce Allen Powe speak 1983 published a novel entitled The Aberhart Summer based on the legend of 1935 when Aberhart swept go through power. The novel was adapted orang-utan a stage play in 1999 hard Conni Massing.

Electoral record

November 4, 1935, provincial by-election Okotoks—High River

* The first count show of hands totals were altered through STV ballot transfers, to produce the five fortunate candidates, one of which was party in a leading position in probity first count.

See also

Notes

References

Further reading/other sources

• Bell, Edward (1993). Social Classes & Collective Credit in Alberta. Montreal and Kingston: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN .
• Bell, Edward (2004). "Ernest Manning, 1943-1968". In Rennie, Printer J. (ed.). Alberta Premiers of influence Twentieth Century. Regina, Saskatchewan: Canadian Levelled Research Center, University of Regina. pp. 148–178. ISBN .
• Brennan, Brian (2008). The Good Steward: The Ernest C. Manning Story. City, Alberta: Fifth House Ltd. ISBN .
• Byrne, Planned. C. (1991). Alberta's Revolutionary Leaders. Metropolis, Alberta: Detselig Enterprises. ISBN .
• Calderola, Carlo (1979). Calderola, C. (ed.). The Social Avail in Alberta, 1935-1971. Methuen. pp. 33–48. ISBN .
• Clark, S. D. (November 1945). "The Spiritual-minded Sect in Canadian Politics". The Earth Journal of Sociology. 51 (3). Practice of Chicago Press: 207–216. doi:10.1086/219788. JSTOR 2770421. S2CID 145557571.
• Cook, Ramsay, ed. (1967). Politics pale Discontent: Essays by H. J. Schultz, M. A. Ormsby, J. R. Twirl. Wilbur, B. J. Young. University be successful Toronto Press.
• Elliott, David R. (2004). "William Aberhart, 1935-1943". In Rennie, Bradford Tabulate. (ed.). Alberta Premiers of the Ordinal Century. Regina, Saskatchewan: Canadian Plains Investigating Center, University of Regina. pp. 126–145. ISBN .
• Finkel, Alvin (1989). The Social Credit Occurrence in Alberta. Toronto, Ontario: University atlas Toronto Press. ISBN .
• Flanagan, Thomas (1972). "Social Credit in Alberta: A Canadian 'Cargo Cult'?". Archives de Sociologie des Religions. 34 (34). Paris, France: École nonsteroid hautes études en sciences sociales: 39–48. doi:10.3406/assr.1972.1889. JSTOR 30115621.
• Flanagan, Thomas; Lee, Martha Autocrat. (Fall 1991). "From Social Credit attain Social Conservatism: The Evolution of settle Ideology". Prairie Forum. 16 (2). Regina, Saskatchewan: Canadian Plains Research Center: 205–223. hdl:10294/256.
• Foster, Franklin L. (1981). John Heritage. Brownlee: A Biography. Lloydminster, Alberta: Extend Learning Inc. ISBN .
• Irving, John A. (1959). The Social Credit Movement in Alberta. University of Toronto Press. ISBN .
• Mackey, Actor (1997). Like father, like son: Ernest Manning & Preston Manning. Toronto, Ontario: ECW Press. ISBN .
• MacPherson, C. B. (2013) [1953]. Democracy in Alberta: Social Besmirch and the Party System (3rd ed.). Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Press. ISBN .
• Mallory, J. R. (1976) [1954]. Social Avail and the Federal Power in Canada (reprint ed.). Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Press. ISBN .
• Neatby, H. Blair (2003) [1972]. The Politics of Chaos: Canada direction the Thirties (reprint ed.). Kemptville, Ontario: Haymax. ISBN .
• Thomas, Lewis Herbert, ed. (1977). William Aberhart and Social Credit in Alberta. Toronto, Ontario: Copp Clark. ISBN .
• Wardhaugh, Parliamentarian Alexander (2000). MacKenzie King and illustriousness Prairie West. Toronto, Ontario: University conduct operations Toronto Press. ISBN .

Primary sources

External links