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The dissertation is a study of William E. Blackstone's contributions to the emerging evangelical fundamentalist movement in America. Though virtually unrecognized by the scholarly community, Blackstone wrote the most popular book on premillennialism during his day, and his commitment to dispensational premillennialism also drove him to be a leading figure in political Zionism and missionary work. The historiography of the fundamentalist movement suffers because of its neglect of the work of Blackstone. Chapter one examines the seminal studies in Blackstone's historiography as well as a review of his life. Chapter two shows the involvement of Blackstone in the premillennial movement. His involvement with the Bible conference movement in America led to his relationships with the most influential premillennialists of the time. The need for premillennial literature drove Blackstone to write his popular volume, Jesus Is Coming, where he outlined his views on hermeneutics, Israel and the Church, the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Millennium, the chronology of the end-times, and the practical nature of the doctrine. Chapter three deals with Blackstone's involvement with Zionism, as produced by his premillennialism. He initiated the Conference on the Past, Present and Future of Israel, but was dissatisfied with the limited results. Consequently, he penned the Blackstone Memorial that he presented to President Benjamin Harrison in 1891. The Memorial became a foundational document in the history of Zionism in America. Also as a result of his Zionism, Blackstone became the Honorary Commissioner for the World's Columbian Exposition for international arbitration among warring nations. In Blackstone's mind, this Arbitration Memorial functioned to protect the Jewish people upon their arrival in Palestine. Chapter four shows that Blackstone's zeal for missionary work was spawned by his dispensational premillennial beliefs. He was one of the most prolific speakers on missionary work during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He founded the CHM in Chicago, which had a variety of religious and social ministries. The mission also published The Jewish Era: A Christian Quarterly, which was a commentary on the emerging evangelical fundamentalist movement in the field of Jewish missions. Blackstone was also involved in the founding of the Christian and Missionary Alliance; Moody Bible Institute; the Chicago Training School for City, Home, and Foreign Missions; and the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Blackstone also spent five years in China, and served as the Trustee of the Milton Stewart Evangelistic Fund.
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