Confession of Faith

About the Book

Elise Wærenskjold, a Norwegian-Texan woman, wrote a set of intense religious and moral instructions for her sons under threatening clouds of secession and Civil War. In a class with great personal religious statements like Dante’s Inferno and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, the document is brought to the public for the first time in this book about her religious life.  Her words are powerful, forthright, original, at times controversial.

Elise Wærenskjold grew to maturity in Norway in the elite group of public servants appointed by the crown. She rebelled against restrictions imposed on women by the social customs of the time and emigrated to Texas in 1847 where she became a promotional writer for emigration and ran a prairie ranch with the help of her husband and sons.  Like her contemporary Camilla Collett, author of "The District Governor’s Daughter" that inspired Henrik Ibsen’s plays portraying the tyranny of social customs governing women’s lives, she was a strong advocate for women’s rights.

Her Confession of Faith covers an astonishing range of subjects.  In her judgment all of them were essential to the moral education of her sons – religious topics, the rot of slavery, control of sexual desire, relations between husbands and wives, angels, proper treatment of animals, evolutionary theory, spiritualism and phrenology, gambling and suicide, sobriety – all passionately addressed and blended with an exceptionally broad humanitarian outlook.  

This document is a primary source for historians, students and researchers women’s in women’s studies, and anyone seeking moral guidance whether rooted in firm religious conviction or a humane ethical outlook.

Kim Overall´s Review

My first impression of your book was how articulate and in command of the English language you were. Your writing flowed with such comprehension and exactness, it was impressive to read just for that.

As far as your notations preceding Elsie´s letter; it was not only appropriate, but enlightening upon the reader to the writer´s viewpoint. It gave me insight to your opinions and philosophy without distraction to her projected intent.

My overall impression of your book is very favorable. Even though it was not a novel for entertainment reading, it was most certainly a book that enlightened my spiritual and intellectual nature enriching me even moreso. I truly enjoyed having gotten to know her, albeit selectively through time´s momentos and your devoted research, and presented as such with your compassionate interpretation.

Money well invested.

Kim Overall

About the Author

Charles Russell, editor of this volume, holds a Ph.D. in United States History from Columbia University where he studied with historian luminaries David Donald, Richard B. Morris, and Lawrence Cremin. A former college professor and academic dean, he is author of research monographs in history and sociology, and books published by John Wiley, Facts on File, and Springer-Verlag. A resident of Houston, Texas, he is presently working on a biography of Elise Wærenskjold.