Verbi dei minister

Verbi Dei minister (Minister of the Word of God), also verbi divini minister (Minister of the Divine Word), is a Latin religious title abbreviated V.D.M.. The term was typically appended as a post-nominal honorific style to a person's full name to denote his status as a Christian minister.[1][2][3] The title was mostly used by Protestant ministers. It was very common in usage in the 18th and early 19th century but seems to have fallen out of use as the pre-nominal honorific style "Reverend" grew more common. Yet, there are also examples where both are used such as the letter from Samuel Davies to Mr. Bellamy on the state of religion among the Protestant dissenters of Virginia where Davies' name is styled, "Reverend Mr. Samuel Davies, V.D.M."[4]

A man scatters seeds; representing the Biblical parable of the sower; here referring to the "ministry of the word", preaching. Etching by C. Murer after himself, c. 1600-1614.

The Ledger stone for Olof Parlin in the Gloria Dei Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania provides one example of the use of this title in reference to the date that he was ordained. It says, "Stop, traveller, who art thyself mortal, and drop a tear upon this receptacle of corruption. Here lies quietly and in peace, after a happy death, a man conspicuous in erudition, taught of God, the most reverend, most learned OLOF PARLIN, Provost of the Swedish-Lutheran churches which are collected by God in North America, and placed as most worthy pastor over that in Wicacoa. He was born in Sweden, A. D., 1716, ordained minister of the Divine Word, A. D., 1745, came to America in 1750, was married in 1751, and died December 22, 1757."[5]

The center stone of the lintel reads "N.G. V.D.M. 1767 P.G.C." "N.G." is Nehemiah Greenman; "V.D.M." stands for Verbi Dei Minister (minister of the Word of God); "1767" is the year of construction; "P.G.C." is Piles Grove Church which was the name of the congregation at the time of construction.

Another example is found in this inscription from a Church record book. It says, "This is to certify that the Rev Winslow Paige A.M., V.D.M. became the pastor of the united congregation of the Reformed Dutch Church in the towns of Broome, Windham and Blenheim on the 1st day of April 1820"[6] The A.M. is the Latin abbreviation indicating that he holds a Master of Arts degree and the V.D.M. means he was an ordained minister.

A third example of its usage is found in a letter from the Consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church in Raritan, New Jersey to General George Washington in 1779. The letter closes, "by order of the Consistory, Jacob R Hardenburgh, V.D.M."[7]

A fourth example of its usage and explanation of meaning is found in a biographical sketch for a man named Robert Hamilton of Adams County, Ohio. It says, "On the twentieth of July, 1825, Mr Hamilton was married to Nancy Ellison, daughter of John Ellison. She was the sister of the late William Ellison, of Manchester. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev William Williamson, who signed his name to the certificate V.D.M., (Verbi Dei Minister), which was the fashion at that time, which translated is "Of the Word of God, Minister."[8]

Other examples are the title page of an 1849 autobiography of Ashbel Green[9] and the 1767 center stone of the lintel at the Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church in Salem County, New Jersey.[10]

References
  1. The New and Complete American Encyclopædia; Or, Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences: On an Improved Plan : in which the Respective Sciences are Arranged Into Complete Systems, and the Arts Digested Into Distinct Treatises : Also the Detached Parts of Knowledge Alphabetically Arranged and Copiously Explained, According to the Best Authorities; : Containing a Digest and Display of the Whole Theory and Practice of the Liberal and Mechanical Arts, Comprising a General Repository of Ancient and Modern Literature, from the Earliest Ages Down to the Present Time ... : The Whole Forming a General Circle of Science, and Comprehensive Library of Universal Knowledge. : Illustrated with One Hundred and Seventy Copper Plates, Descriptive of the Subjects to which They Refer. John Low. 1806.
  2. Mast, Gregg (1998). In Remembrance and Hope: The Ministry and Vision of Howard G. Hageman. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 9780802846136.
  3. Farmer, John Edward (2013). Fire on Wet Wood: The Wide Gate or The Narrow Gate?...The Choice is Yours. Trafford Publishing. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-4669-8630-5.
  4. Davies, Samuel (October 2009). The state of religion among the Protestant dissenters in Virginia; in a letter to the Rev. Mr. Joseph Bellamy, of Bethlem, in New-England: / from the Reverend Mr. Samuel Davies, V.D.M. in Hanover County, Virginia. ; [Two lines from Proverbs].
  5. "Reverend Olof Parlin (1716-1757)". Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation. 2013-08-04. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
  6. Roscoe, William E. (1882). 1713: History of Schoharie County, New York, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. D. Mason & Company. p. 122. V.D.M.
  7. History of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, New Jersey: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Everts & Peck. 1881. p. 686. when did reverend replace V.D.M?.
  8. Evans, Nelson Wiley; Stivers, Emmons B. (1900). A History of Adams County, Ohio: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Including Character Sketches of the Prominent Persons Identified with the First Century of the Country's Growth ... E B. Stivers.
  9. Green, Ashbel; Jones, Joseph H. (Joseph Huntington) (1849). The life of Ashbel Green, V. D. M. Princeton Theological Seminary Library. New York : R. Carter.
  10. "Old Church and Cemetery | Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church". pittsgrovepc.org. Retrieved 2019-04-01.
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