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Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1997

Cowboys and Clerics

Thursday, September 1, 2016
5:30 pm6:30 pm
Smoky Hill Museum Lobby

In the days when Wild Bill Hickok might ride his horse into your church service—it happened in Junction City—the life of a minister was a rowdy affair. Join John Burchill as he looks into the early years of Kansas clergy and the colorful characters that made up our early faith communities, such as Pastor Gay of Mulvane who faced a gunman in church—and then converted him. Later, this converted gunman used his jail cell to preach to passersby in Winfield. Other congregations met in butcher shops, saloons, dugouts, and by the side of rivers. He’ll also discuss how abolitionists, early missions and the temperance movement all played a role in the lives of religious leaders in Kansas. John is an author, popular speaker and criminal justice historian who is associate professor at Kansas Wesleyan University. This presentation is made possible by the generous support of the Kansas Humanities Council.

This free presentation is offered by the Smoky Hill Museum on Thursday, September 1, from 5:30-6:30.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

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