Toward the Recovery of Unity; The Thought of Frederick Denison Maurice
New York: Seabury Press, 1964. Octavo, original brick cloth, original dust jacket. Modest toning, closed tear to rear panel of unclipped jacket. A near-fine copy. Item #1596
"THE DESIRE FOR UNITY HAS HAUNTED ME ALL MY DAYS"
Toward the Recovery of Unity, selected passages from the Letters of Frederick Denison Maurice—a fine introduction to the influential thought of "the most provocative Anglican theologian of his day." Published by the Seabury Press in a dust jacket designed by Nancy H. Dale.
Born to a Unitarian minister, Maurice attended Oxford. "Rebaptized" in 1831, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1834. He is often described as the founder of Christian Socialism but "Maurice's Socialism bears no resemblance to the modern, post-Marxian variety." Maurice instead embraces a central Christology: "Maurice's steadfast insistence that God's love for all mankind be announced to men and take shape in their economic, social, political, and religious life" (Frank Magill). Arranged with a chronological Table of Contents, the letters were edited into 138 numbered passages, making the themes presented in The Kingdom of Christ (his best-known work) more accessible to the casual reader.
With a brief Preface and an extensive Introduction by the editors, John F. Porter and William J. Wolf. The editors acknowledge the difficulty of Maurice's work but emphasis his insistence on the Universality of the Church in the actuality of Christ's Kingdom.
"There are two possible forms for a universal society: one which destroys the family and national principles, the other which expands them. The first is what is called the World in Scripture; the second, what is called the Church" (Frank N. Magill). The editors have also provided footnotes and an Index. Frank N. Magill. Masterpieces of Christian Literature.
Price: $50.00