Rev. Moore Sanborn

Various articles regarding the background of Rev. Moore Sanborn who served as pastor of  the Unitarian Church of Atlanta in 1905.

The Insurance Monitor (1905)

Moore Sanborn Retires.

Not only the agents of the Security Trust & Life, but many other men in the field, or in one way or another connected with life insurance, will regret to learn that Mr. Moore Sanborn, third vice-president and manager of agencies of the Security Trust & Life, has been compelled, on account of the state of his health, to give up active field work indefinitely, perhaps permanently.

Mr. Sanborn has been through a great deal during the past year, and at one time lay at the point of death. His strong constitution pulled him through, but he has been for many years a very hard and incessant worker, and there are limits to any man’s endurance.

Mr. Sanborn for the present will rest at his summer home in Paxton, Mass. He has made no definite plans for the future, but indicates in his farewell to the agents of the Security Trust & Life that he feels a call to the ministry. Mr. Sanborn is a man of large body, large mind and large heart. His methods have always been fair and square and clean, and he will carry with him the respect of all who have known him during the years he has devoted to life insurance work.

Source:  The Insurance Monitor found in Google Books  May, 1905, Volume 53, Page 211

The Christian Register (1905)

In Atlanta the Unitarian church has apparently experienced a genuine revival. Last July Rev. C. M. Langston resigned, and almost immediately afterward announced his intention of entering the Episcopal Church. Indeed, he is now serving as curate at one of the Episcopal churches in Atlanta. His change of heart caused a considerable sensation in the city, and seemed a hard blow to the Unitarian society which had struggled there so hard. But the effect was to infuse new life into the church. Its fighting blood was roused.

The week after Mr. Langston’s announcement a certain member, who had not been very regular or hearty in his support, met one of the trustees of the church. “I tell you What I’ll do, Mr. ,” he said, “I’m coming down on Sunday, and I’ll sweep the floor, or blow the organ, or preach a sermon, or do anything else I can to help.” Throughout the summer the church maintained lay services, with a better attendance than for several months previously.

In September the services of Rev. Moore Sanborn were obtained. Mr. Sanborn was originally in the Presbyterian ministry, but left it some years ago to go into business. He has proved to be a very popular speaker, and under his ministry the church attendance has gone up by leaps and bounds. For the past few months it has averaged three or four times larger than ever before in the history of the church.

In February the experiment was tried of holding Sunday evening services in the Opera House. The experiment proved more successful than the most sanguine ventured to hope, for the Opera House was filled to overflowing. The notable success of Mr. Sanborn has been a very valuable help to the church at just this time, for it has emerged from a seriously threatening crisis with heightened prestige in the community, and with in creased confidence in and enthusiasm for the cause of liberal Christianity.

Source:  The Christian Register found in Google Books  April 12, 1905, Volume 85, Page 415-416

The Indicator Devoted to the Interest of Insurance (1907)

MOORE SANBORN LOCATES IN OHIO.

Rev. Moore Sanborn, recently pastor of a church in Atlanta and formerly superintendent of agents of the Security Mutual, has made a connection with the Inter-State Life as field man in Ohio, with headquarters at Cleveland.

Source:  The Indicator found in Google Books  Jan 21, 1907, Volume 32-33, Page 30

The Adjustor (1909)

Some of my readers will be glad to know that Moore Sanborn is still in the land of the living. “The Western Underwriter” has located him as general manager of the Home Watchmen of the World, (this world) located at Erie, Pa. No more sweet-tempered, honest, genial gentleman lives than Moore Sanborn.

When last heard of, in 1905, he had severed his connection with the Security Trust & Life and re-entered the ministry. I have not much confidence in fraternal organizations as an insurance proposition, but if Moore Sanborn says that the Home Watchmen are all right, they are all right.

Source:  The Adjustor found in Google Books  May 1909, Volume 38, No. 5, Page 147

American Home Watchmen (1924)

This secret fraternal beneficiary society was established by the Rev. Moore Sanborn, D.D., a Presbyterian minister, and incorporated under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, in 1909. Its objects are:

• “To unite fraternally, without reference to creed, politics, or nationality, all white persons not less than sixteen nor more than sixty years of age, who believe in a Supreme Being, and in life and precept maintain and defend the honor and dignity of the home and womanhood; …
• To improve its members socially, morally, and intellectually, giving all the moral and material aid in its power to members and those dependent upon them;
• To extend aid and relief to sick and distressed members;
• To provide homes and help for its aged and invalid members and for their orphans and helpless beneficiaries;
• To care for the living, bury the dead, and perpetuate their memories by erecting suitable monuments over their graves;
• To collect such sums as may be needed to establish and maintain benefit funds, from which members of the Order, who have complied with the lawful requirements, may receive or have paid to their beneficiaries such benefits as are provided by the Constitution and by-laws of the Order.”

These benefits, as Dr. Sanborn informs us, “are not large, and they are not stressed in securing recruits.” The secret work, according to the same authority, “teaches by dramatic ritual the lessons of the Triple H/ or Honor, Hope, and Help, with two degrees, the Watchmen and Scout Degrees.” The Order has about 2,000 members and is organized only in the western counties of Pennsylvania. Its lodges are known as “Forts.” The “Supreme Fort” is located at 65 Chalfont Ave., West View, Pittsburg, Pa. The Society publishes an official organ, called The Scout.

Letter from Dr. Moore Sanborn, dated 7 Aug, 1923-— Constitution and Laws of the American Home Watchmen, 1922-24 Edition.— Fraternal Monitor, Feb., 1920, Vol. XXX, No. 7> P- UK A P r -> WZ>. Vol. XXXII, No. 9, P 12.

Source:  A Dictionary of Secret and Other Societies in Archive.org  1924, complied by Arthur Preusss