Hess, Joeseph – Life of Joseph F. Hess. Out of Darkness Into Light. An Autobiography of Joseph F. Hess, The Converted Prize-Fighter and Saloon Keeper. 1890 expanded version

Description

Hess, Joeseph ‘Life of Joseph F. Hess. Out of Darkness into Light. An Autobiography of Joseph F. Hess, The Converted Prize-Fighter and Saloon Keeper’ 1890 306-page expanded version. Green cloth. Former owners book plate (M.B. Hering’s from Lock Haven, PA) on inside cover. The author had numerous experiences in boxing both as a competitor and trainer prior to his sobriety and work in temperance. Good condition. (Note: Despite its greater historical scarcity, the 1888 2nd edition (The Autobiography of Joseph F. Hess, the Converted Prize-Fighter) holds a slightly lower market value than the 1890 edition (Out of Darkness Into Light))

(Note: M.B. Hering was a prominent 19th-century resident of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, best remembered in local history as a founding member and the first president of the Cataract Steam Fire Company No. 1.Key historical details about him include: The “Original Twelve”: In April 1866, Hering was chosen as one of twelve men (colloquially known in town records as the “Original Twelve”) tasked with organizing a municipal fire guard.Fire Company Leadership: When the group met in the local council room, they elected Hering as their president. Under his leadership, the Cataract Steam Fire Company No. 1 was permanently organized and adopted its constitution on May 29, 1866.Death: Local historical newspaper archives (Democratic Watchman) record that he passed away in January 1900 at the age of 74.)

‘Out of Darkness into Light’ (published in 1890 by People’s Publishing Co.) is a classic late-19th-century temperance conversion memoir detailing the dramatic life transformation of its author, Joseph F. Hess.

The book is structured into three distinct phases tracking his moral downfall and ultimate redemption:

The “Darkness” (Prize-Fighting & Saloon Keeping): Hess recounts his early life in Buffalo, New York, and his descent into a world of vice. He details his violent career as an underground bare-knuckle prize-fighter and his subsequent years operating a saloon. He pulls no punches in describing the corruption, heavy drinking, street brawls, and lawlessness of the 19th-century saloon culture, expressing intense “humiliation and remorse” for the lives he disrupted. His destructive lifestyle eventually caught up with him, resulting in a stint in prison.

The Transformation (The Conversion): The turning point of the memoir chronicles Hess’s powerful religious awakening. Shaking off his alcohol addiction, he undergoes a dramatic shift toward the Christian faith. He credits his salvation with pulling him completely “out of darkness” and giving him a “right mind” to begin making spiritual reparations.

The “Light” (The Temperance Crusade): The final portion of the book focuses on his life as a reformed man. Armed with his “hard-won experience” from the streets, Hess becomes a passionate, steadfast advocate for the Temperance and Prohibition movements. Backed by an introduction from prominent New York evangelist P.A. Burdick, Hess recounts traveling extensively across North America and Canada as a public speaker, utilizing his story to warn others of the dangers of alcohol and guide them toward a life of faith and sobriety.