Congratulations on surviving another looooooooong weekend without Lent Madness voting to anchor your day, ground your faith, and generally infuse your soul with the will to live. The only lifeline we tossed out was a chance to win your very own life-sized cardboard cutout of 2015 Golden Halo winner Francis of Assisi. Learn how here.
Today's pairing involves two saintly souls whose lives overlapped for a period during the mid-19th century. Vida Dutton Scudder, an American laywoman and proponent of the social gospel tangles with F.D. Maurice, a British cleric and defender of Christian socialism. Both were writers and advocates for the poor and downtrodden.
On Friday, we capped off a week of blowouts with Dietrich Bonhoeffer triumphing over Athanasius 77% to 23% to advance to the Saintly Sixteen. Actually, it wasn't an entire week of lopsided results, as last Monday saw the closest battle of Lent Madness 2016 with Columba eking out a victory over Kateri Tekakwitha.
But enough of the recent past. A full week of voting is nigh upon us which will include our first foray into the Saintly Sixteen on Thursday as Helena takes on Constance. Time to vote!
Vida Dutton Scudder
Vida Dutton Scudder was an Episcopalian, educator, writer, social justice activist, feminist, social worker, and proponent of the American Social Gospel Movement. She was born on December 15, 1861, in Madurai, India, to Congregationalist missionaries. When her father died prematurely in 1862, she and her mother returned to their family’s home in Boston. She graduated from Smith College in 1884 and taught English literature at Wellesley College, becoming a full professor by 1910.
Scudder worked tirelessly for peace and for the working class, labor unions, and the downtrodden. In 1890, she founded Denison House in Boston, which provided social services and education to the poor and those in need. She withstood criticism for two controversial stands that she supported: the 1912 textile workers strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and the United States’ entry into World War I in 1917.
Over the years, Scudder joined various religious groups that combined social awareness with religious beliefs. In 1911 she was one of the founders of The Episcopal Church Socialist League and 1919 saw her founding the Church League for Industrial Democracy. She was also a Companion in the Companions of the Society of the Holy Cross (SCHC).
Scudder’s later years were dedicated to her inexhaustible writings, illustrating her vast knowledge and interest on topics centering on activism and spirituality. In addition to her autobiography, On Journey, she wrote essays in The Privilege of Age, as well as Socialism and Spiritual Progress: A Speculation; The Christian Attitude Toward Private Property; The Church and the Hour: Reflections of A Socialist Churchwoman; and Socialism and Character.
Of her lifelong dedication to Christianity and to social work, Scudder said, “If prayer is the deep secret creative force that Jesus tells us it is, we should be very busy with it.” She also noted, “Social intercession may be the mightiest force in the world.”
Vida Dutton Scudder died on October 9, 1954.
Collect for Vida Dutton Scudder
Most gracious God, who sent your beloved Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Raise up in thy Church witnesses who, after the example of your servant Vida Dutton Scudder, stand firm in proclaiming the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
F.D. Maurice
A brilliant thinker but an imperfect communicator, Frederick Denison Maurice influenced many in Victorian England and was a vigorous spokesman for Christian socialism, the idea that greed and capitalism is counter to the teachings of Jesus.
Born in Suffolk, England, in 1805, Maurice was the son of a Unitarian minister. After studying at Trinity College, Cambridge, and earning a law degree, Maurice pursued literary endeavors in London before deciding to enroll at Oxford and study to become an Anglican priest.
Appointed as chaplain to Guy’s Hospital and later assigned to Lincoln’s Inn as a priest, Maurice received a call in 1840 to become professor of English literature and history at King’s College, London. The 1853 publication of his Theological Essays was not received favorably by the principal of King’s College, who declared it theologically unsound. Despite his legitimate protestations, Maurice was found guilty and stripped of his teaching posts.
Although he had worked among society’s wealthiest and most influential members, Maurice also had a deep passion for the poor. Following his dismissal from King’s College, he founded The Working Men’s College and served as its principal from 1854 to 1872. Much of Maurice’s writings on Christian socialism come from this time period. He was also appointed a professor of moral philosophy at Cambridge in 1866.
F.D. Maurice wrote brilliantly and broadly, and his works include commentaries and a series of sermons on The Book of Common Prayer, as well as works on moral philosophy. Famed authors Alfred Lord Tennyson, Lewis Carroll, and George MacDonald knew Maurice well and were influenced by him.
Earnest, passionate, and humble, Maurice was known as a deep thinker, a generous benefactor, a powerful, prophetic voice on behalf of the poor, and a genuinely noble soul.
Collect for F.D. Maurice
Almighty God, who restored our human nature to heavenly glory through the perfect obedience of our Savior Jesus Christ: Keep alive in your Church, we pray, a passion for justice and truth; that, like your servant Frederick Denison Maurice, we may work and pray for the triumph of the kingdom of your Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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157 comments on “Vida Dutton Scudder vs. F.D. Maurice”
Making politics real by working for the poor and under served. Would that more people were called to that ideal today. By prayer let us follow Vida's example, but not leave out actually working for the poor in whatever way we can. Let us show we are Christians by our love. Vote for Vida!
Voted for Maurice in solidarity with the GTS8. It is quite strange though being related to one of the contestants in Lent Madness.
Never having heard of either of these saintly persons, I had no preconceived notion of their achievements. It was a difficult decision! I have sympathy for Maurice being unjustly fired from his job, and the remarkable life he led after that event. Scudder, however, in spite of her support of the entry into WWI, seemed to be the more active in socialist projects and thus earned my vote. Her gender most likely did not endear her to the establishment.
I wonder, was her Dennison House named in honor of F.D.?
I was persuaded by the description of Maurice as a"vigorous spokesman for Christian socialism, the idea that greed and capitalism is counter to the teachings of Jesus."
In an age when some of the most popular of Christian preachers write books prosperity theology, Maurice's dedication to the poor is moving to me.
I voted for Vida because she was a Congregationalist who switched over to the Episcopalian Church
"Social intercession may be the mightiest force in the world " Vida for me today.
This one was tough. Both Christian Socialialists - I wanted to vote for both. But in the end the Ivy League connection and her social work passion (I was educated in both and retired as a geriatric social worker) took the cake, especially as I think Vida had the tougher road overall.
So many socialists, so little time! A tough choice for sure, but my vote goes to the hometown hero, Vida.
Vida grew up in hard circumstances and achieved personal success. Many people would have stopped right there.
No fair, two socialists, how can I choose between them?
Not knowing either, I was influenced by the comment "imperfect communicator." If so, the Halo should go to one who excelled in witness and action.
I voted for Vida Dutton Scudder because parts of my young adult daughter's life seem to be paralleling (don't know if I spelled that correctly) Vida's: father's "premature" death, graduation from Smith College in literature, now doing social work ....I am proud of both of them!
I voted for Vida in part because she was exemplary, and in part because we are fellow Smith alums!
This was the difficult choice for me. Vida was obviously influenced by FD Maurice, but I had to go with Vida -- her work was done in the US, after all; which is not to say that Maurice's was less valuable, just less available to Americans in need.
Yesterday when we skyped my brother and I were discussing being a teacher and losing your job. What would you do.....I hope that we would go on like Maurice did when he found another way to contribute to society. Way to go, F D Maurice!
Inspired by Vida's insight that "prayer is the deep secret creative force that Jesus tells us it is." And her name means life.
Vida. Social awareness and religious beliefs.
So the Socialists have to battle each other in the first round. The tyrannical SEC once again forces us to make impossible choices! As a Socialist, I am naturally torn. Looking at their bios, their accomplishments seem similar, making the choice harder still. In the end, I have to once again call on my own Lenten Madness and choose Vida because she's an American. Go USA! Go USA!
Flip of a coin......they both were deep thinkers who believed in the need to devote their lives to caring for the poor and disenfranchised as well as writing theological works for scholars. Real challenges for today's bloggers.
As an alumna of the other Seven Sisters college in the Pioneer Valley (Mt. Holyoke), my vote goes to Vida in solidarity with all feminists who work for social justice.
A descendant of the Scudder missionary family, Dr. Marilyn Scudder, graduated from medical school one year ahead of me. She became an ophthalmologist and returned to India to follow several generations of her family--back to Vida I believe. Vida has a special place in my heart.
This was one of the hardest votes so far. Both people seem to have worked for justice and compassion in life-long ways.
Great to learn about two people I didn't know.
Well, pro-WWI, even if she did learn after, vs. Friends with Charles Dodgson and George McDonald...I suspect I would disagree with some of Maurice's ideas on salvation, but it sounds like he left the thinking world better for his being in it, and was perhaps a factor in making Scudder who she was.
OK, how many of us see who Oliver voted for before we place our vote?
How many of us want to hang out with him?
I, for one, check for Oliver's opinion. Luckily for me, it's often the first one in the comments. While I don't always vote the same way as he, I appreciate and enjoy his reasoning.
Go, Oliver!
The idea that Maurice was a sub-optimal communicator was off-putting. If you have the greatest ideas in the world but can't get them across to many people it doesn't help. So I'm going with Scudder. Besides, if there's a tie, go for the woman.
I learn a great deal from these postings, so want to share something perhaps not widely known by American people of faith. Maurice's writings had influence on the thinking of a Canadian Baptist minister named Tommy Douglas. He carried his faith into political activism and brought Medicare, first to the province of Saskatchewan, and then to the rest of Canada....faith lived out for the well being of vast numbers of folk. I voted Maurice.
Thank you for that bit of history. I'm learning so much from this (my first) Lent Madness.
I was not familiar with either of these, and am glad to make their acquaintance. As a retired hospital chaplain, I was drawn to Maurice, but finally had to vote for Vida, because of her strong belief in and practice of prayer. It is truly the strongest tool/weapon we have in this life on earth. I was glad to receive the information from the comments that she became a pacifist later in life.
I first became acquainted with Vida Scudder when I was in seminary. For a church history project we had to team up with another classmate, pick a name from the approved list of interesting church folks and do a presentation. Dan Linnnberg and I chose one of the only women - or maybe the only woman - on the list. Neither one of us had ever heard of Vida Scudder, but we get quite fond of her and her commitment to social justice and the struggle for equality of women. Oliver, Vida is in my heart too!
A wholehearted vote for Vida and a note to self to add her autobiography to my reading list!
This was the first time that reading about the competitors changed my mind about whom to vote for.