Maurice, Frederick Denison

Maurice, Frederick Denison

▪ British theologian
born Aug. 29, 1805, Normanston, Suffolk, Eng.
died April 1, 1872, London

      major English theologian of 19th-century Anglicanism and prolific author, remembered chiefly as a founder of Christian Socialism.

      Prevented from graduation in law at Cambridge by his refusal to subscribe to the Thirty-nine Articles, the Anglican confession of faith, Maurice reversed his position by 1830 and attended Oxford. In the interim he had worked for several years in London as a writer and an editor for literary journals and in 1834 published his only novel, Eustace Conway. That same year he was ordained and soon afterward became chaplain at Guy's Hospital in London. Elected professor of English literature and modern history at King's College, Cambridge, in 1840, he became professor of divinity and accepted the chaplaincy at Lincoln's Inn, the London academy of law, six years later. His reputation as a theologian was enhanced with the publication of his book The Kingdom of Christ (1838), in which he held the church to be a united body that transcended the diversity and partiality of individual men, factions, and sects. That view—subsequently regarded as presaging the 20th-century ecumenical movement—aroused the suspicions of orthodox Anglicans. Their misgivings were intensified in 1848, when he joined the moderate Anglicans Charles Kingsley, John Malcolm Ludlow, and others to found the Christian (Christian Socialism) Socialist movement.

      Opposition to Maurice progressed after his Theological Essays of 1853 revealed his disbelief in the eternity of hell, and that year he was dismissed from his King's College post. Combining his skill as an educator with his interest in improving the status of workers, Maurice planned and became the first principal of the Working Men's College (1854). He also organized cooperative associations among workers.

      In 1860 Maurice left the chaplaincy at Lincoln's Inn to serve St. Peter's Church, where admirers of his preaching called him “the Prophet.” Elected to the Knightsbridge professorship of moral philosophy at Cambridge in 1866, he lectured on ethical subjects and wrote his celebrated Social Morality (1869). To this position, which he held until his death, he added the chaplaincy of St. Edward's Church at Cambridge in 1870.

      After World War II, considerable interest in his work revived, and, though some critics have viewed his teachings as dated and obscure, he remains a versatile and creative source for students of Christian Socialism. Noteworthy among his numerous works are Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy (1850–62), What Is Revelation? (1859), and The Claims of the Bible and of Science (1863).

Additional Reading
Studies of Maurice's life and thought include Michael Ramsey, F.D. Maurice and the Conflicts of Modern Theology (1951); Alexander R. Vidler, F.D. Maurice and Company (1966); Olive J. Brose, Frederick Denison Maurice, Rebellious Conformist (1972); Frank M. McClain, Maurice: Man and Moralist (1972); and Torben Christensen, The Divine Order: A Study in F.D. Maurice's Theology (1973).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Maurice, Frederick Denison — (1805–72)    Theologian, Philanthropist and Educator.    Maurice was born in Suffolk, the son of a Unitarian minister. He was educated at the University of Cambridge, but was not awarded a degree because he refused to subscribe to the Anglican… …   Who’s Who in Christianity

  • MAURICE, FREDERICK DENISON —    a liberal theologian and social reformer, born at Normanstone, near Lowestoft, the son of a Unitarian minister; started as a literary man, and for a time edited the Athenæum, and took orders in the English Church in 1834; was chaplain to Guy s …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Maurice, Frederick Denison — (1805 1872)    Divine, s. of a Unitarian minister, was b. at Normanston, near Lowestoft, and studied at Camb., but being then a Dissenter, could not graduate. He went to London, and engaged in literary work, writing for the Westminster Review and …   Short biographical dictionary of English literature

  • Frederick Denison Maurice — Born 29 August 1805(1805 08 29) Normanston, Suffolk Died 1 April 1872 …   Wikipedia

  • Frederick Denison Maurice — F. D. Maurice vers 1865 Frederick Denison Maurice, plus souvent appelé F. D. Maurice (29 août 1805 à Normanston, Suffolk 1er avril 1872) était un théologien et socialiste chrétien anglais. Unitarien, il fit d abord des études de droit au Trinity… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Frederick Maurice — Maurice en 1854 retratado por Jane Mary Hayward John Frederick Denison Maurice o F. D. Maurice (Normanstone, Suffolk, 29 de agosto de 1805 Londres, 1 de abril de 1872) fue un teólogo y socialista in …   Wikipedia Español

  • Frederick Maurice — Frederick Barton Maurice, 1. Baronet GCB GCMG GCVO DSO (* 19. Januar 1871 in Dublin; † 19. Mai 1951 in Cambridge) war ein britischer General im Ersten Weltkrieg. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Leben 1.1 Aufstieg und Fall im Ersten Weltkrieg …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Maurice — is a given name used as a name or surname. It originates as a French name derived from the Roman Mauritius and was subsequently used in English speaking countries as well. It is of Latin origin, meaning dark skinned, Moorish , and might refer to …   Wikipedia

  • Maurice — Maurice, 1) (spr. morīß ) Charles, genannt Chéri, Bühnenleiter, geb. 29. Mai 1805 zu Agen in Frankreich, gest. 27. Jan. 1896 in Hamburg, spielte schon in der Jugend mit Glück auf einem Liebhabertheater, siedelte 1824 mit seinem Vater nach Hamburg …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Frederick Furnivall — Frederick Furnivall. Frederick James Furnivall (Egham, Surrey, 4 de febrero de 1825 2 de julio de 1910), filólogo y editor inglés. Hijo de un cirujano, en la Universidad de Oxford sintió un gran interés por la filología inglesa y el remo, deporte …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”