Religious study
Clay MacCauley studied theology at the Northwestern Theological Seminary (later known as McCormick Theological Seminary) in the hope of becoming a minister. It was in this stage of his life that MacCauley's intellectualism lead to changes in his religious devotion. He began to question some of the strict doctrines of Calvinism he was raised with. He did not question his faith in God, but rather certain Presbyterian principles. Clay MacCauley describes this period of his life in Memories and Memorials:
To my surprise, I had found among my Chicago teachers less an appearance of sympathy with differing ways of theological thinking than I had seen among the professors at Princeton.
Eventually, Clay MacCauley was considered by the Presbytery of Chicago to be given a license to preach. Although Clay MacCauley was a good student, his views were in conflict with the Presbyterians. He was given a probationary license and preached for a time in Morrison, Illinois. Clay MacCauley was later denied ordainment when he changed his belief on particular issues such as the atonement. Clay MacCauley then turned to the liberal denomination of Unitarianism. MacCauley was devoted to the Unitarian faith. As both a man of impressive faith and great intellect, Unitarianism allowed him to develop ideas and stray away from the oppressive dogmas of Presbyterianism.
MINistry Work
MacCauley was a successful Unitarian minister. He traveled all around the country and preached in many cities. MacCauley preached in Detroit for six months prior to his installation as a Unitarian minister in Rochester, New York. MacCauley also preached in Washington, D.C. During his time in Washington D.C, MacCauley preached to many senators, politicians, and even to fellow Dickinsonian Spencer Fullerton Baird.
Personal life
Clay MacCauley married Annie Cleveland Deane in 1867. The couple never had any children. Annie died in 1887. Clay MacCauley never remarried. MacCauley's wife was instrumental in his introduction to Unitarianism. Annie had a tie to a Unitarian Church in Maine, where she was from. The Minister of that church, C.C. Everett introduced MacCauley to the Unitarians in Chicago.
Travels
Clay MacCauley was a well traveled man. He spent a great deal of time studying the Seminole Indians in Florida for the Smithsonian Institute's Bureau of American Ethnology. Fellow Dickinsonian Spencer Fullerton Baird was the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at this time. Clay MacCauley traveled to Germany to study Philosophy. He wrote many works on Philosophy based off of this experience. MacCauley also traveled to Italy and Montana during times of poor health in the hope of finding a healthier climate.
sources
Clay MacCauley. Memories and Memorials; Gatherings from an Eventful Life. Tokyo, Japan: Printed by the Fukuin Printing, 1914.
Thomas E. Graham. “MacCauley, Clay.” American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press, Feb. 2000. http://www.anb.org (accessed November 19, 2016).
http://envoy.dickinson.edu:2187/articles/08/08-00903.html?a=1&n=clay%20maccauley&d=10&ss=0&q=1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithsonian_Institution
http://blogs.dickinson.edu/hist-204pinsker/files/2016/10/DownloadDocument2.pdf
https://books.google.com/books?id=Mc0fAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA114&lpg=PA114&dq=Clay+MacCauley&source=bl&ots=BPlljapVo_&sig=dslcTEGrnuqr4uXUBfU7KzADWwg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHr8rg3frQAhXngFQKHRffDXQ4FBDoAQgiMAM#v=onepage&q=Clay%20MacCauley&f=false
Thomas E. Graham. “MacCauley, Clay.” American National Biography Online. Oxford University Press, Feb. 2000. http://www.anb.org (accessed November 19, 2016).
http://envoy.dickinson.edu:2187/articles/08/08-00903.html?a=1&n=clay%20maccauley&d=10&ss=0&q=1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smithsonian_Institution
http://blogs.dickinson.edu/hist-204pinsker/files/2016/10/DownloadDocument2.pdf
https://books.google.com/books?id=Mc0fAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA114&lpg=PA114&dq=Clay+MacCauley&source=bl&ots=BPlljapVo_&sig=dslcTEGrnuqr4uXUBfU7KzADWwg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjHr8rg3frQAhXngFQKHRffDXQ4FBDoAQgiMAM#v=onepage&q=Clay%20MacCauley&f=false