Charles Henry Vail (April 28, 1866 – June 16, 1924) was an American Universalist clergyman and Christian socialist political activist and writer. Vail is best remembered as the first National Organizer of the Socialist Party of America and as a candidate of that party for Governor of New Jersey. Biography Early years Charles Henry Vail was born in Tully, New York on April 28, 1866. He attended public school in Tully and learned the trade of barrelmaker upon completion, working with his father for several years in that field. Vail also showed considerable aptitude in the field of music and so he went to New York City to study under Dr. H.R. Palmer, a course which he completed in 1885. Thereafter, he taught large classes in both vocal and instrumental music throughout New York City. In addition to group lessons, Vail conducted private lessons in voice, banjo, guitar, clarinet, and organ. In 1887 he moved to Syracuse, New York, where he continued to teach music for the next two years. Although raised as an orthodox Protestant in the Disciple Church, Vail came to question some of its fundamental teachings and he turned to Universalism, ironically spurred to this belief by an anti-Universalist book purchased by his parents to dissuade him from that belief system. Vail became an enthusiastic adherent of Universalism and came to consider the propagation of its message to be his life mission. Vail enrolled in the Theological School of St. Lawrence University at Canton, New York. He graduated in 1892 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree, but remained through 1893 to take a graduate course. In August 1888, Vail married Mary C. Ellis of Owasco, New York, but his wife fell ill and lived only a short time. He was married a second time in July 1892 to Niva Bedell of Geneva, New York, a classmate from divinity school and fellow graduate of the class of 1892. Vail's first pastorate was in Albany, New York, where he spent a year at All Souls Church. He then moved to the First Universalist Church of Jersey City, New Jersey, remaining in that post for the next seven years. Political career Although raised as a Republican, Vail's political opinions shifted fairly rapidly, turning to socialism. In 1898 Vail and his second wife, Nina Bedell Vail, herself an ordained Universalist minister, were both designated deputy organizers of the Brotherhood of the