Howard Brinton
Encyclopedia
Howard Haines Brinton was an author, professor and director whose work influenced the Religious Society of Friends
movement for much of the 20th century. His books ranged from Quaker journal anthologies to philosophical and historical dissertations on the faith, establishing him as a prominent commentator on the Society of Friends.
with Rufus Jones and graduated in 1905, obtaining a Masters degree in 1906. He taught at Olney Friends School
in Barnesville, Ohio
, and at Pickering College
in New Market, Ontario. In 1909, he obtained a doctorate in Physics from Harvard.
In 1916, Howard Brinton was appointed acting President of Guilford College
, North Carolina, at a troubled time for the college. He visited conscientious objectors imprisoned at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, who were not permitted to communicate with outside and whose location was not known to their relatives and friends.
soon after, which allowed Quakers and other pacifists to serve during wartime in nonviolent means. It also co-ordinated relief to the victims of war.
The chaotic consequences of war, that he witnessed in Upper Silesia
influenced his work as a pacifist speaker and writer in the twenties and thirties. It was during this period that he met Anna Shipley Cox (19 October 1887 - 28 October 1969), who also worked in Europe for AFSC. They married when he returned to the United States on 25 July 1921.
, while Anna taught at Mills College
. Then they moved to Earlham College
, Indiana, where both taught and their first three children were born. In 1929, they returned to California, where their fourth child was born and both taught at Mills. During this period he became involved in the case of Thomas Mooney
and Warren Billings.
In 1931, they spent a year in England at Woodbrooke Quaker College in Birmingham. In that year, Howard gave the Swarthmore Lecture
at London Yearly Meeting, with the title Creative Worship.
religious center in Wallingford, Pennsylvania.
A pen portrait of Pendle Hill in the Brinton period appeared in Time Magazine 21 June 1948. The article indicates the diversity of the students and the variety of their studies.
Brinton used this opportunity to produce over a dozen books and pamphlets dealing with Quakerism. Ironically, one of his most productive writing periods came during World War II, during which he published the widely-used "A Guide to Quaker Practice.". One of his later works, "Friends for 300 Years," was cited by Elizabeth Vining as "one of the great Quaker books of all time."
Howard Brinton died on 9 April 1973.
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Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
movement for much of the 20th century. His books ranged from Quaker journal anthologies to philosophical and historical dissertations on the faith, establishing him as a prominent commentator on the Society of Friends.
Early life
Howard Brinton was born on 24 July 1884, in West Chester, Pennsylvania to a Quaker couple, who were from different strands of the Quaker faith: his father Orthodox and his mother Hicksite.Academic career
He studied at Haverford CollegeHaverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
with Rufus Jones and graduated in 1905, obtaining a Masters degree in 1906. He taught at Olney Friends School
Olney Friends School
Olney Friends School is a small, co-educational boarding high school affiliated with the Religious Society of Friends . Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Barnesville, Ohio, the school "challenges students to grow, celebrates intellectual vigor, provokes questions of...
in Barnesville, Ohio
Barnesville, Ohio
Barnesville is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,225 at the 2000 census...
, and at Pickering College
Pickering College
Pickering College is an independent, co-educational school for children in grades from Junior Kindergarten through grade 12. It is located in Newmarket, Ontario in Canada on a 17-hectare property on Bayview Avenue...
in New Market, Ontario. In 1909, he obtained a doctorate in Physics from Harvard.
In 1916, Howard Brinton was appointed acting President of Guilford College
Guilford College
Guilford College, founded in 1837 by members of the Religious Society of Friends , is an independent college whose stated mission is to: provide a transformative, practical and excellent liberal arts education that produces critical thinkers in an inclusive, diverse environment, guided by Quaker...
, North Carolina, at a troubled time for the college. He visited conscientious objectors imprisoned at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, who were not permitted to communicate with outside and whose location was not known to their relatives and friends.
AFSC
This visit inspired him to join, in 1919, the American Friends Service CommitteeAmerican Friends Service Committee
The American Friends Service Committee is a Religious Society of Friends affiliated organization which works for peace and social justice in the United States and around the world...
soon after, which allowed Quakers and other pacifists to serve during wartime in nonviolent means. It also co-ordinated relief to the victims of war.
The chaotic consequences of war, that he witnessed in Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
influenced his work as a pacifist speaker and writer in the twenties and thirties. It was during this period that he met Anna Shipley Cox (19 October 1887 - 28 October 1969), who also worked in Europe for AFSC. They married when he returned to the United States on 25 July 1921.
Academic career (continued)
In 1925, he obtained a doctorate in Philosophy from the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, while Anna taught at Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
. Then they moved to Earlham College
Earlham College
Earlham College is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. It was founded in 1847 by Quakers and has approximately 1,200 students.The president is John David Dawson...
, Indiana, where both taught and their first three children were born. In 1929, they returned to California, where their fourth child was born and both taught at Mills. During this period he became involved in the case of Thomas Mooney
Thomas Mooney
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Mooney was an American political activist and labor leader, who was convicted with Warren K. Billings of the San Francisco Preparedness Day Bombing of 1916...
and Warren Billings.
In 1931, they spent a year in England at Woodbrooke Quaker College in Birmingham. In that year, Howard gave the Swarthmore Lecture
Swarthmore Lecture
Swarthmore Lecture is one of a series of lectures, started in 1908, addressed to Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends .The preface to the very first lecture explains the purpose of the series....
at London Yearly Meeting, with the title Creative Worship.
Pendle Hill
In 1936, Howard and Anna Brinton, became co-directors at the Pendle HillPendle Hill Quaker Center for Study and Contemplation
Pendle Hill is a Quaker study and retreat center located on a campus in suburban Wallingford, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. It was named for the hill in Lancashire, England, that the first Quaker preacher described as the site of his calling to ministry....
religious center in Wallingford, Pennsylvania.
A pen portrait of Pendle Hill in the Brinton period appeared in Time Magazine 21 June 1948. The article indicates the diversity of the students and the variety of their studies.
Brinton used this opportunity to produce over a dozen books and pamphlets dealing with Quakerism. Ironically, one of his most productive writing periods came during World War II, during which he published the widely-used "A Guide to Quaker Practice.". One of his later works, "Friends for 300 Years," was cited by Elizabeth Vining as "one of the great Quaker books of all time."
Japan
In 1949, Anna Brinton left Pendle Hill to work with AFSC. Howard continued until 1952, when he retired and the couple moved to Japan, in AFSC service.Howard Brinton died on 9 April 1973.
Publications
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- incomplete list
- A Religious Solution to the Social Problem (1934)
- Quaker Education in Theory and Practice (1940)
- Guide to Quaker Practice (1943)
- The Society of Friends (1948)
- Friends for 300 years (1952)
Pendle Hill pamphlets by Howard Brinton
- A Religious Solution To The Social Problem by Howard Brinton, Pendle Hill pamphlet #2, available as a free download as .pdf file
- The Quaker Doctrine of Inward Peace by Howard Brinton, Pendle Hill pamphlet #44, available as a free download as .pdf file
- The Nature of Quakerism by Howard Brinton, Pendle Hill pamphlet #47, available as a free download as .pdf file
- The Society of Friends by Howard Brinton, Pendle Hill pamphlet #48, available as a free download as .pdf file
- Prophetic Ministry by Howard Brinton, Pendle Hill pamphlet #54, available as a free download as .pdf file
- Reaching Decisions by Howard Brinton, Pendle Hill pamphlet #65, available as a free download as .pdf file
- How They Became Friends by Howard Brinton, Pendle Hill pamphlet #144, available as a free download as .pdf file
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External links
- Portrait of the Brinton family in the 1930s by Imogen CunninghamImogen CunninghamImogen Cunningham was an American photographer known for her photography of botanicals, nudes and industry.-Life and career:...
, photographer.