Arthur Powell Davies
Encyclopedia
A. Powell Davies was the minister of All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, D.C.
from 1943 to his death in 1957. A prolific author of theological books and sermon collections, he came to national prominence in the U.S. through his liberal activism advocating civil rights for African-Americans and women and ethical stands against post-war nuclear proliferation
and the methods employed by the American government during the era of McCarthyism.
, England (near Liverpool) to Welsh parents, Davies was raised a Methodist. After working briefly as a clerk for a shipping company, he moved to London
as secretary to a strike leader who had been elected Labour MP. In London, he met George Bernard Shaw
, who urged him to go into politics; instead, he chose to attend Richmond Theological College, a Methodist seminary affiliated with the University of London
, and to join the Methodist ministry. While studying, he met Muriel Hannah (1906-2009), the daughter of his family's Methodist minister, and they were married in 1927.
Davies served as minister at the Becontree Methodist Central Hall in Illford, a London suburb, 1925-28, before moving to America. He headed three churches in Maine
: in Goodwin's Mills and Clark's Mills, (commuting to Boston University
for classes), and, from 1929, the Pine Street Methodist Church in Portland
. In Portland, he worked as a used car salesman for a week in order to investigate the question of whether or not it was possible to be a businessman and adhere to "Christian" honesty and integrity; he then wrote a strong critique of prevailing business practices.
Also in Portland, Davies was exposed to Unitarian ideas by Vincent Silliman, minister at the First Parish Unitarian Church there. In 1933 Davies became a Unitarian
, joining the American Unitarian Association
(AUA), and became minister of the Community Church of Summit, New Jersey which had allied itself with the Community Church movement
. He reaffiliated the church to the Unitarian
denomination, with the new name Unitarian Church of Summit, and at the same time calling for an opening up of the denomination.
While preferring non-violence, he moved his position from appeasement
of Germany in 1938 to interventionist in 1939. He thenceforth advocated Unitarian activism
in world questions, and became a leader in the reform movement, Unitarian Advance. His first book was American Destiny (1942), in which he advanced the idea that American "faith in [individual] freedom is the only faith which can unite the world." Citing the Boston minister, William Ellery Channing
http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/williamellerychanning.html (1780-1842), who had called Unitarianism
the "universal church," Davies became increasingly active in denominational affairs. He joined the Metro New York Council of Churches, where he met and befriended the Unitarian activist minister John Haynes Holmes
http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/johnhaynesholmes.html (1879-1964), and became acquainted with Margaret Sanger
(1879-1966), the founder of Planned Parenthood
.
In 1943 Davies was appointed minister of All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, D.C.
, a church which he led to national prominence through his activist and principled ethical stands. He advocated the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 and, while generally against Communism
, decried the methods and hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee
(HUAC). He championed integration in Washington and elsewhere. He actively spearheaded the creation of Unitarian churches in the area, organizing in 1950 what is now known as the Greater Washington Association of Unitarian Universalist Churches (GWA) http://users.erols.com/carlson2/gwa/gwalinks.htm and serving as its Chair, 1950-57.
Davies used his pulpit to champion liberal causes and was a friend and confidant to some of Washington's most powerful people. Chief Justice Hugo Black considered him a very good friend and it is fair to say that his ideas were influential in liberal political circles.
Davies received an honorary Doctor of Divinity
degree from the Meadville Theological School in 1947 and an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Howard University
in 1955. Following his death, his papers were bequeathed to Harvard Divinity School
.
(1946); America's Real Religion (1949); Man's Vast Future (1951); Religion in the Bible (1952); The Urge to Persecute (1953); The Language of the Heart (1956); The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls
(1956); The Ten Commandments (1956); and The First Christian (1957). See also The Mind and Faith of A. Powell Davies, ed. William O. Douglas
(1959); Without Apology: Collected Meditations on Liberal Religion (1998), ed. Forrest Church; and Five Favorites: A Collection of Popular Timely Sermons (1999).
Biographical works include: George N. Marshall, A. Powell Davies and His Times (1990); the A. Powell Davies Memorial Committee Pamphlet, "A. Powell Davies: 1902-1957" (1958); the introduction to Douglas's Mind and Faith; Laurence Staples, Washington Unitarianism (1970); William Schulz, "The Minister and McCarthyism
: A. Powell Davies and Post-War Hysteria," Alone Together (1979), edited by Peter Kauffman and Spencer Lavan; R. Stutzman, "A. Powell Davies: Some Remembrances" (1991), Greater Washington Area Minister's Study Group Paper; and George N. Marshall, "A. Powell Davies: Theological Radical," Religious Humanism (1992).
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1943 to his death in 1957. A prolific author of theological books and sermon collections, he came to national prominence in the U.S. through his liberal activism advocating civil rights for African-Americans and women and ethical stands against post-war nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation
Nuclear proliferation is a term now used to describe the spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information, to nations which are not recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the...
and the methods employed by the American government during the era of McCarthyism.
Biography
Born in BirkenheadBirkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
, England (near Liverpool) to Welsh parents, Davies was raised a Methodist. After working briefly as a clerk for a shipping company, he moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as secretary to a strike leader who had been elected Labour MP. In London, he met George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
, who urged him to go into politics; instead, he chose to attend Richmond Theological College, a Methodist seminary affiliated with the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, and to join the Methodist ministry. While studying, he met Muriel Hannah (1906-2009), the daughter of his family's Methodist minister, and they were married in 1927.
Davies served as minister at the Becontree Methodist Central Hall in Illford, a London suburb, 1925-28, before moving to America. He headed three churches in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
: in Goodwin's Mills and Clark's Mills, (commuting to Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
for classes), and, from 1929, the Pine Street Methodist Church in Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. In Portland, he worked as a used car salesman for a week in order to investigate the question of whether or not it was possible to be a businessman and adhere to "Christian" honesty and integrity; he then wrote a strong critique of prevailing business practices.
Also in Portland, Davies was exposed to Unitarian ideas by Vincent Silliman, minister at the First Parish Unitarian Church there. In 1933 Davies became a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
, joining the American Unitarian Association
American Unitarian Association
The American Unitarian Association was a religious denomination in the United States and Canada, formed by associated Unitarian congregations in 1825. In 1961, it merged with the Universalist Church of America to form the Unitarian Universalist Association.According to Mortimer Rowe, the Secretary...
(AUA), and became minister of the Community Church of Summit, New Jersey which had allied itself with the Community Church movement
Community Church movement
- Community Churches :Community churches have existed in the United States since the early nineteenth century. Small communities did not always have the population or finances to sustain churches of all denominational types, so community leaders would cross denominational lines and pool their...
. He reaffiliated the church to the Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
denomination, with the new name Unitarian Church of Summit, and at the same time calling for an opening up of the denomination.
While preferring non-violence, he moved his position from appeasement
Appeasement
The term appeasement is commonly understood to refer to a diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to another power. Historian Paul Kennedy defines it as "the policy of settling international quarrels by admitting and satisfying grievances through rational negotiation and...
of Germany in 1938 to interventionist in 1939. He thenceforth advocated Unitarian activism
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
in world questions, and became a leader in the reform movement, Unitarian Advance. His first book was American Destiny (1942), in which he advanced the idea that American "faith in [individual] freedom is the only faith which can unite the world." Citing the Boston minister, William Ellery Channing
William Ellery Channing
Dr. William Ellery Channing was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton, one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. He was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker...
http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/williamellerychanning.html (1780-1842), who had called Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
the "universal church," Davies became increasingly active in denominational affairs. He joined the Metro New York Council of Churches, where he met and befriended the Unitarian activist minister John Haynes Holmes
John Haynes Holmes
John Haynes Holmes was a prominent Unitarian minister and pacifist, noted for his anti-war activism.-Early years:John Haynes Holmes was born in Philadelphia on November 29, 1879. He studied at Harvard, graduating in 1902, and Harvard Divinity School, which he graduated in 1904. He was then called...
http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/johnhaynesholmes.html (1879-1964), and became acquainted with Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger
Margaret Higgins Sanger was an American sex educator, nurse, and birth control activist. Sanger coined the term birth control, opened the first birth control clinic in the United States, and established Planned Parenthood...
(1879-1966), the founder of Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
.
In 1943 Davies was appointed minister of All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, a church which he led to national prominence through his activist and principled ethical stands. He advocated the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 and, while generally against Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, decried the methods and hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
(HUAC). He championed integration in Washington and elsewhere. He actively spearheaded the creation of Unitarian churches in the area, organizing in 1950 what is now known as the Greater Washington Association of Unitarian Universalist Churches (GWA) http://users.erols.com/carlson2/gwa/gwalinks.htm and serving as its Chair, 1950-57.
Davies used his pulpit to champion liberal causes and was a friend and confidant to some of Washington's most powerful people. Chief Justice Hugo Black considered him a very good friend and it is fair to say that his ideas were influential in liberal political circles.
Davies received an honorary Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree from the Meadville Theological School in 1947 and an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in 1955. Following his death, his papers were bequeathed to Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
.
Published works
Davies' published works include: The Man from Nazareth (1937); The Faith of an Unrepentant LiberalLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
(1946); America's Real Religion (1949); Man's Vast Future (1951); Religion in the Bible (1952); The Urge to Persecute (1953); The Language of the Heart (1956); The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Dead Sea scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of 972 texts from the Hebrew Bible and extra-biblical documents found between 1947 and 1956 on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea, from which they derive their name...
(1956); The Ten Commandments (1956); and The First Christian (1957). See also The Mind and Faith of A. Powell Davies, ed. William O. Douglas
William O. Douglas
William Orville Douglas was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. With a term lasting 36 years and 209 days, he is the longest-serving justice in the history of the Supreme Court...
(1959); Without Apology: Collected Meditations on Liberal Religion (1998), ed. Forrest Church; and Five Favorites: A Collection of Popular Timely Sermons (1999).
Biographical works include: George N. Marshall, A. Powell Davies and His Times (1990); the A. Powell Davies Memorial Committee Pamphlet, "A. Powell Davies: 1902-1957" (1958); the introduction to Douglas's Mind and Faith; Laurence Staples, Washington Unitarianism (1970); William Schulz, "The Minister and McCarthyism
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
: A. Powell Davies and Post-War Hysteria," Alone Together (1979), edited by Peter Kauffman and Spencer Lavan; R. Stutzman, "A. Powell Davies: Some Remembrances" (1991), Greater Washington Area Minister's Study Group Paper; and George N. Marshall, "A. Powell Davies: Theological Radical," Religious Humanism (1992).
Quotes
- "The religions of the creeds are obsolescent... the basis of their claims expired with yesterday."
- "It (liberalism) causes us to put our trust in the free exertions of our own minds instead of in the dogmas of the long established churches."
- "This ancient God of miracles and interventions... is really dead. There is no longer any kindness in letting anyone cling to such a fantasy. For if that is where we put our faith, our dependence, or reliance, we shall be wiped off the face of the earth."
- "There is no God in the sky. God is in the heart that loves the sky's blueness. There is no army of angels, no hosts of seraphim and no celestial hierarchy. All this is man's imaginings."