With their life spans overlapping by 20 years, today's battle sees F.D. Maurice take on Julia Chester Emery as both vie to advance to the next round. The pairing of contemporaries in Lent Madness is rare (unless they happen to be siblings) so there's that. They're also closely identified with initials: "F.D." Maurice and Julia Chester "ECW" Emery. So there's that as well.
Yesterday, Antony of Egypt failed miserably in his attempt to turn Basil the Great into pesto. Lent Madness bracketologists have determined that the loss was one of historic proportions; the worst drubbing in the history of Lent Madness -- 87% to 13%. Ouch. Basil becomes the first saint of 2014 to make it into the Elate Eight where he'll face the winner of Lydia vs. John of the Cross.
It's hard to believe we've made it through another week of the Madness! After a quick breather, we'll be back bright and early on Monday morning with Harriet Beecher Stowe tangling with Alcuin. If you encounter a Celebrity Blogger on your travels this weekend, be sure to ask for his or her autograph. It's very affirming and helps make up for the severe lack of monetary compensation.
F.D. Maurice
Frederick Dennison Maurice (1805-1872) was among the foremost theologians of 19th century England, who held as his foremost theological and practical cause the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ. This primary conviction led him to serve as a theological forerunner to modern ecumenical movement, and to deeply involve himself in social reforms of the time with the foundation of the Christian Socialist movement. His ideas and activism often led him into conflict with religious authorities of the day; he persisted nonetheless. Contrary to some assertions, he was not called Maurice for his speaking of the pompatus of love.*
On the church present and active:
We have been dosing our people with religion when what they want is not this but the Living God…we give them a stone for bread, systems for realities. -- As quoted in Life of F.D. Maurice (1885)
On the union of all of heaven and earth in the Kingdom of Christ:
All stages of our earthly life to the last are consecrated; so every beautiful spot in nature as well as all the forms of art share in the same consecration, and have that one name of ‘Father’ illuminating them all. -- from Sermons Preached in Country Churches
Christ is with those who seem to speak the most slightingly of him, testifying to them that he is risen indeed, and they have a life in him which no speculations or denials of theirs have been able to rob them of, even as we have a life in him, which our sins often hinder us from acknowledging, but cannot quench. -- from Theological Essays (1853)
On Relationships in Humanity and in God:
Human relationships are not artificial types of something divine, but are actually the means and the only means, through which man ascends to any knowledge of the divine… every breach of human relation, as it implies a violation of the higher law, so also is a hindrance and barrier to the perception of that higher law – the drawing of a veil between the spirit of a man and his God. – from The Kingdom of Christ (1838)
On the Liturgy and the Work of the Church:
I hope you will never hear from me such phrases as ‘our incomparable liturgy’: I do not think we are to praise the liturgy but to use it. When we do not want it for our life, we may begin to talk of it as a beautiful composition. Thanks be to God, it does not remind us of its own merits when it is bidding us draw near to him. -- As quoted in Life of F.D. Maurice (1885)
*41-year old Pop Cultural Reference. If you don’t get it, ask your parents, or Google it.
-- David Sibley
Julia Chester Emery
Julia Chester Emery (1852-1922) was for 40 years the national secretary of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Episcopal Church. She came from an unusual family: her father Charles was a sea captain and Episcopalian, and he and her mother Susan encouraged all of their eleven children not only to be personally pious but to actively work to further the kingdom of God. Two of her brothers were priests, and Julia and three of her sisters were missionaries or supported missionaries in the manner of Phoebe, whom Paul mentioned in the Letter to the Romans as a deacon and servant/helper to many in the church, and whom Susan Emery held up as an example to her daughters.
She was also a cousin to the four Emery sisters who were patrons of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE), the Episcopal monastic community which now offers retreat space at Emery House in Newbury, MA.
Julia visited every single diocese in the United States and helped organize branches of the Women’s Auxiliary in more than 5,600 parishes. Many of these branches continue today as the Episcopal Church Women, or ECW.
She wrote: “There are hundreds more earnest, faithful, devoted women who would be cheered if only they knew what is being done by their sisters in the church and see their offering, small and insignificant as it seems, increased and multiplied by the union with the gifts of others” (Spirit of Missions, volume XXXVII, 1872).
Emery led the charge for canonical status for the office of deaconess. She also created the United Thank Offering, represented by small blue boxes with slots for coins to encourage daily giving and thanks to God. The UTO is still under the purview of the ECW, having awarded $1,517,280 in mission grants in 2012.
Apparently, her only training for this ministry was a willingness to try it, for she possessed no special education or preparation. Her only authority was collegial, for being a lay woman, she had neither the office nor the perquisites of ordained status to buttress her leadership. Julia Emery reminds us that we all possess the resources we need to be effective missionaries, except perhaps the two most important qualities exemplified in her — a willingness to try and the commitment to stick with it, even for a lifetime. (Brightest and Best: A Companion to the Lesser Feasts and Fasts by Sam Portaro.)
Known as “Miss Julia,” Emery died in 1922 and is buried in the cemetery of St. James the Less in Scarsdale, New York, a cemetery that also contains a secret room and tunnel that was part of the underground railroad through which slaves were able to escape to Canada.
-- Penny Nash
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144 comments on “F.D. Maurice vs. Julia Chester Emery”
Ok already, yes I was mistaken about Julia Chester Emery's involvement in the underground railroad so sue me! Sheeesh. She still gets my vote
Or a fool for Christ!
Oops, meant that to go to Keith Patterson, as a compliment.
Like some others, I find it difficult to decide today. I voted for both of them in the first round. Yesterday was easy: I voted against Antony in the first round, and for Basil, so I just continued. Today... I'm amazed by Julia's efforts and accomplishments in the time that she lived, but Maurice's words resonate with me. I think I must go with him.
This has been the toughest one yet. Really believe we need an F.D. today, but had to go with Julia because of how much of our parish's outreach is through the ECW. Also, years ago were blessed with a wonderful deaconess who held our poor, little parish together.
Agonizing choice today. I totally admire them both. What Julia did for women at the time and the church is mind boggling. And to think how she managed to visit every diocese, wow. But in the end I must vote for Maurice fighting for the poor and founding the Working Men's college. Also his book 'The Kingdom of Christ" and belief 'that the church was a united body, transcending individual sects, denominations' really spoke to me.
I had to vote for Julia this time. She unleashed the power of women in the "male-dominated" world of churches. Her work to organizing women is evident today in the UTO Ingathering and the grants to churches all over the country. These grants have helped churches, big and small, in good times and sad.
I had to vote for FD today because of the quote about dosing people with religion when they are crying out for a Living God. I wish I could have voted for both because Julia's extravagant and marvelous visit to 5k plus parishes in the US is one amazing feat.
LOVE THAT YOU QUOTED SAN PORTARO, my old college priest. Although, as much as he lifted Julia, I had to vote for Maurice. His theology helped change the church, and thus the world!
My vote's for Julia "jungle Love!" All the way!
Both are strong early examples of emergence church, one working through the theological and the other through the need for more lay (and especially more female) representation in the operation of the church.
I voted for Julia because she achieved more in implementing despite the demonstrable obstacles she faced, IMO.
OT: As a bit of secular snark, maybe to help relieve LMW over the weekend, the creators of Lent Madness have imitators, I think, with the Worst Company in America bracket: http://consumerist.com/tag/wcia-2014/ You have to see their award for the "winner," down at the bottom of the page.
I thought it was obvious that Julia C. Emery deserves the Golden Halo! I can't believe this vote is so close.
I resent people accusing women of gender bias. It can work just as well the other way. Men may be voting for FD because he is a man and had the luxury of being ordained years before women could be. I believe Julia may go all the way. Raising millions through the collection of "mite box" pennies is very much akin to the loaves and fishes.
There are at least two (and I think more) Barbaras on this list, so I'm now identifying as "the other other Barbara. Thank you Patsy. I was so put off by the accusations of gender bias that I went back and read through the comments. Women (as identified by their names) appear divided today with no clear trend evident. Ditto the men. So it's not good enough to declare "chick" bias from this sample. Most voters don't comment at all. In any case, these Holy Ones would surely have approved of each other. One said we needed to live the liturgy in his theological discourse; the other did live it with a loaves and fishes (thank you Patsy) result. That's pretty good either way.
In the interests of true competition-madness, I did a quick and dirty analysis of the Round of 32: In the seven match-ups between a male and a female, the women took the prize five times, the men only twice. The percentage split was a little less lop-sided: In those seven match-ups, women received 57.3% of the votes cast, men 42.7%. Is this evidence of gender bias? As a member of the fair sex, I say nothing.
She was not a typical women of the times. She obviously was a leader and strong in her beliefs. She probably just wanted to visit the country.
I voted for F.D. Maurice because as I read his description his great interests as a theologian were the ecumenical movement and social justice which I believe are the major needs of these times. I was, of course, greatly impressed by the story of Julia Chester Emery but I suspect her exemplary life of service if typical of many women in all of the the Christian churches.
Despite my deep appreciation of Julia, I am going with FDM. His quote incl. in the bio is as close to Romans 8:38,39 as I have ever read: Christ is with those who seem to speak the most slightingly of him, testifying to them that he is risen indeed, and they have a life in him which no speculations or denials of theirs have been able to rob them of, even as we have a life in him, which our sins often hinder us from acknowledging, but cannot quench. – from Theological Essays (1853) May we always remember that Christ is always present - with everyone.
Phil....when I vote, it is after having read the bio's and my choice has everything to do with what resonates with me and what doesn't. Like I said earlier, the genitalia has nothing to do with it.
I totally agree with you Madeleine!!!!
No one said that there were not some women who considered other characteristics, but there are others who have made the same comment. Look at the comments here. I am not the only one. And significantly, there are some women who have made the same comment!
Thanks Glenis 🙂
Since leaving a comment early in the voting process this morning I have come to sense that as much as this is truly a game and an instructive one at that, we are engaged in choosing /a/ over /b/ or /b/ over /a/ at each step and using this competitive system to choose who is #1 in this Lent's Golden Halo Contest. At each stage there is a winner and a loser. We even find ourselves moving from the simple question of whether there might be a gender bias in this round (or other rounds) of voting into another level of "this OR that", along with a split among those who favor "deeds" over "words" and, I think inaccurately, apply the distinction to their choice of Emery or Maurice. As has been noted, we cannot analyze the voting patterns because most voters leave no comment or clue to identity. It all really doesn't matter to me except that our well-meaning Madness Masters have drawn us into a game of "either X or Y" - the same process we indeed daily apply to questions of gender or the value of work or political positions or a myriad other aspects of day to day living. Although most of us who make comments take pains to say that this is "just a game" we are none the less reenforcing a system of dualities that pervades our thinking and acting. O dear, I guess this perspective makes me horribly "post-modern" - but maybe it's also an expression of the Episcopal "via media," the middle road that is "both - and". Anyway, I'm hooked and I'll keep on voting, but I prefer the Dodo's approach to the caucus race in the first of the "Alice" books: "All shall wine, and all shall have prizes." [Cue a sing-along of "I sing a song of the Saints of God ... and I want to be one, too."] As my dear friend Louie says, "Joy anyway!"
That hymn has the most morbid line of any hymn I have ever seen or sung. "And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast." Really, and you want to be one too when one was slain by a fierce wild beast?
The wild beast might have been a lion in the colesium in Roman times during on of the many persecutions of Christians. The cost of discipleship.
I agree Robert, about your caution to not fall prey to dualistic thinking, yet often life presents me with dilemmas, and Lent Madness is good preparation for choosing between two good things. I know that this game has helped me learn about these saints, and to pray with the Daily Office, so that I can experience more commemorations.
I have something to say to those who feel powerless or voiceless: The Rev. Tim intended this to be fun, however, it is hard when the saint that speaks to you does not move on. How many baffling remarks have I heard about beloved saints who "didn't really do anything"? It really doesn't feel good, but disappointment is a part of life, disagreements and frustration are a part of community. Multiple disappointments can lead to a justifiable but RESPECTFUL examination of constituencies and motivations. I also don't think that there is anything wrong with calling out someone who is writing inflammatory or insulting remarks, and to hold them accountable to the community. It is well for all of us to pull back and remember that Lent Madness is a game (we are not approving these people for the liturgical calendar) with a very simple voting system (there is no voting college). We are all on the same "team" in effect, children of God who sometimes struggle, sometimes soar, in the Kingdom of God. If that is too hard, remember what Tim always says, "Participating in Lent Madness is completely optional
What Lent Madness is and becomes reflects those who participate in it, the good and the ugly.
I totally agree with you, Robert. I'm not claiming it's only a game, I would suggest rather it's a tongue-in-cheek spoof of exactly the kind of sports madness that divides everything into winners and losers and gets very tribal.
I had a tough one today. Maurice had some great things to say about the presence of God being everywhere, not merely in church. On the other hand I love our liturgy because I feel much more connected to God through it, especially when it is sung. Emery, on the other hand, accomplished a lot as a woman in a time period when women were not allowed to accomplish much in the church. I had somehow skimmed past the "pompatus of love" joke until I saw the asterisk and went back up to see the 41-year-old pop culture reference. When I went back up and saw the joke, it cemented for me that I had to vote for Maurice. He does, indeed, speak of God's love, so why can't he speak of the pompatus of love?
Does the word "pompatous" even exist??
It is amazing to notice the aura of looming hostility and folks getting really upset by real or imagined sexism in voting patterns. I thought this was a free country and people could vote as they jolly well please. Some are making themselves quite unhappy over sexism (real or imagined) showing up. Somehow, the reality of what "madness" means in the title LENT MADNESS still escapes some folk. Don't get ya knickers in a bind ! Live and let live ! Get a life ! It's supposed to be fun...remember?
I found more extensive bios in Stars in a Dark World by Fr.John Julian OJN, (Forward Movement Pub.). Maurice was important in the theology and academic communities in England. He was not always PC, for the time, & lost jobs because of that. He influnenced George MacDonald (C.S. Lewis' guiding light) to return to orthodoxy. "Lewis Carroll" , a Rev. in real life, like to hear Maurice. So, though controvercial, he had a positive effect on the CofE. (Had he lived in an earlier century, he might have been martyred.) Julia Emery was totally mission field focused. The ECW, little Blue Box and her travels brought books, supplies, clothing, curriculum, etc to world wide missions. When in her home parish, Julia taught Sunday School. She wrote a children's book: The New Sir Lancelot---about a missionary priest who died young while on a mission. So, quiet, persistent Julia has my vote and my admiration.
Does anyone else remember there was bishop of Alaska who named an AIRPLANE from UTO "The Blue Box"?
Aleathia, you are sooooo right. Thanks for helping me to "un knot" my knickers. And while I'm at it, Go Fred Rogers!!!!! Nag nag naggity nag!!
wondering why FDM is assumed to be only a thinker/writer in many of the comments and not a doer. He gets my vote today for the beauty of his writing and his impact on the church.
F. D. Maurice was brilliant, but Julia Chester Emery was brilliant AND practical. That practicality, and the fact that movements that she started still impact my life and the life of my parishioners tipped the balance for me.
Well gosh all friday, I'm glad the weekend is here so we can decompress.....yipes....
I think some folks need to either step away from the computer or watch cat videos. I'm on record as saying the Lent Madness community is unusual for its graciousness -- most online forums with open commenting are not. Let's keep it that way.
Ahhhhh...thanks for this and amen.
I totally agree with Madeleine and Elizabeth. Have a great weekend everyone. Will look forward to Monday and the new week.
You too kiddo! 🙂
Thank you, Tim, simply put is sometimes the best way to put it. Going to play with my cat now, "Esther" has been sorely neglected in the attention department. Or so she tells me . Later y'all.