Richard Irving Stanton
Richard Irving Stanton was born on November 2, 1864 in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the eldest of four children of Amos and Mary Stanton. Richards father was a dry goods merchant, who also owned a small farm in Lancaster County.
Richard attended the local public school in Omaha before he attended St. Johns High School in Dresden. After high school, Richard studied at the University of Omaha and graduated with a degree in philosophy in 1883. After his studies, Richard spent a year in Europe where he studied theology intensively.
Upon his return to the United States, Richard was ordained as an Episcopalian priest in 1884. He began his ministry in Omaha. Later that year, Richard became the rector at Trinity Episcopal Church. His tenure as rector was highly successful and he quickly became one of Omahas most popular and respected priests.
From his pulpit, Richard often took positions that contradicted the stance of the Episcopal Church. He was an outspoken critic of slavery, stating that there was no “real slavery in Christianity.” Throughout the remainder of his ministry, Richard worked to address social issues such as poverty and racism. Richard was also a vocal proponent of individual religious freedom and the separation of church and state.
In 1889, Richard left Omaha and went to Washington, D.C. where he had been appointed as the Chaplain of the House of Representatives. In this role, he preached weekly sermons in the Capitol and wrote a book of prayers. Richard also wrote several articles on various religious and social topics.
In 1901, Richard left Washington to become the rector of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Savannah, Georgia. He held this post until his retirement in 1918. During his tenure in Savannah, Richard became involved in civil rights activism. He regularly gave speeches in support of full civil rights for African Americans, as well as for womens suffrage. His activism earned him several accolades from organizations such as the NAACP and the League of Women Voters.
At the age of 54, Richard retired from preaching and returned to Omaha, where he continue to work on civil rights issues. He was active in the Omaha branch of the NAACP and was frequently consulted by the City Council on issues related to poverty and segregation. In 1924, Richard served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
Throughout the remainder of his life, Richard preached in Omaha and in other cities in Nebraska and Iowa but he was best remembered for his long service in Congress and his activism in the African American civil rights movement. In 1936, Richard was awarded the Order of Merit from the Episcopal Church for his lifelong dedication to social justice. Richard Irving Stanton died on April 26, 1937.
