Antedating of "Nihilist"

[Joel S. Berson]

My sense of the 18th century is that Dan is probably right,
considering the quotation's list of religions.  Probably all somewhat
disreputable except for the Episcopalians.  So " of most of these
classes a considerable number are Nihilists."

A little more context would help.  Does the writer sound like a
Church of England adherent?  Is the place these classes are coming to
(my guess) Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)?

Joel

At 10/1/2013 04:44 PM, Dan Goncharoff wrote:
>Nihilist could mean one who does not believe in a religious authority.
>
>I doubt, in context, it means one who does not believe in any absolute
>moral principles, but a more extensive reading of the source material might
>prove it one way or the other.
>
>DanG
>
>
>On Tue, Oct 1, 2013 at 12:08 AM, Geoffrey Nunberg <
>nunberg at ischool.berkeley.edu> wrote:
>
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       Geoffrey Nunberg <nunberg at ISCHOOL.BERKELEY.EDU>
> > Subject:      Re: Antedating of "Nihilist"
> >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > But what could 'nihilist' mean here? Is there any reason to suppose a =
> > causal connection between this and the later senses of the word, or is =
> > it just an antedate of the form?
> >
> > Geoff
> >
> > > From: "Shapiro, Fred" <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
> > > Subject: Antedating of "Nihilist"
> > > Date: September 30, 2013 7:26:38 PM PDT
> > >=20
> > >=20
> > > nihilist (OED3 1854)
> > >=20
> > > 1823 _Eclectic Review_ Nov. 410 (ProQuest)  No common object united =
> > the immigrants, and no common character could be traced through the =
> > mass.  Of the number who finally filled up its extent, were Calvinistic, =
> > Arminian, Sabbatarian, and Separate Baptists, constituting, together, =
> > the largest class of inhabitants; Presbyterians, Episcopalians, =
> > Moravians, Quakers, and Jews.  Of most of these classes, a considerable =
> > number are Nihilists.
> > >=20
> > > Fred Shapiro
> >
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