~Early Modernity (Enlightenment of Mind and Heart)
George Berkeley (1685-1753), English-Irish philosopher known for his theories in Epistemology, putting forward his theses of “immaterialism,” considering the relationship between the senses and truth, or what is real. Thomas Paine (1737-1809) Author of Common Sense a highly popular essay about society that helped galvanize support for the American revolution.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) A profoundly Influential lecturer, writer, poet, and proponent of modern individualism in the US. He wrote persuasively about intellectual freedom and became a founder of the Transcendentalist movement, espousing pantheistic beliefs. His seminal works include Nature, The Over-Soul, and Self Reliance, among many others. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) 16th President of the United States. He was a key political figure in the abolition of U.S. Slavery and the preservation of the Union. He led the United States into its Civil War in 1861. His Emancipation Proclamation declared slaves free in 1863, and the war concluded in 1865. Lincoln was assassinated the same year. Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918) Theologian and Baptist Pastor attributed with the founding of the “Social Gospel” movement which began to highlight institutional injustices later influencing Martin Luther King, Jr. Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) - English social reformer, statistician and founder of modern nursing at the St, Thomas Hospital in London. Her writings go beyond nursing to
George Berkeley (1685-1753), English-Irish philosopher known for his theories in Epistemology, putting forward his theses of “immaterialism,” considering the relationship between the senses and truth, or what is real. Thomas Paine (1737-1809) Author of Common Sense a highly popular essay about society that helped galvanize support for the American revolution.
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) A profoundly Influential lecturer, writer, poet, and proponent of modern individualism in the US. He wrote persuasively about intellectual freedom and became a founder of the Transcendentalist movement, espousing pantheistic beliefs. His seminal works include Nature, The Over-Soul, and Self Reliance, among many others. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) 16th President of the United States. He was a key political figure in the abolition of U.S. Slavery and the preservation of the Union. He led the United States into its Civil War in 1861. His Emancipation Proclamation declared slaves free in 1863, and the war concluded in 1865. Lincoln was assassinated the same year. Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918) Theologian and Baptist Pastor attributed with the founding of the “Social Gospel” movement which began to highlight institutional injustices later influencing Martin Luther King, Jr. Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) - English social reformer, statistician and founder of modern nursing at the St, Thomas Hospital in London. Her writings go beyond nursing to
religion and mysticism. Her work impacted hunger relief in Nepal and India. Jane Addams (1860-1935) One of the most prominent reformers during the Progressive Era in the U.S. She was a social worker, activist, philosopher, writer, and leader in women’s suffrage movement and ardent supporter for poor immigrants in the establishment of the Hull House in Chicago, IL. Albert Einstein (1879-1955) A world renowned scientist of the 20th Century. German born of Jewish descent he left Nazi Germany in the 1930’s and became a US citizen in 1940, after Hitler barred Jews from university positions. He is credited with numerous physics breakthroughs most notably the Theory of Relativity. He won the Nobel Prize for physics. Einstein was known as an outspoken critic of war, and espoused pacifism. George Washington Carver (1864-1943), Born into slavery, later as an emancipated adult became a renowned chemist, botanist, scientist, and inventor, leading the way for successful farming for the rural poor. The first African-American student to enroll at Iowa State University.
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) Teacher, lawyer, and leader of India’s independence movement. He is one of the most important figures in the modern era for achieving social justice by non-violent civil disobedience.
~The Berkeley Community W.F. Meyer Renowned astronomer and professor at the University of California at Berkeley, Dr. Meyer was prominent in the work of Northbrae for over twenty years. In speaking of him, Rev. Cross was quoted: If one person were to be named the ‘pillar’ of our church, it would, by unanimous consent, be Dr. Meyer. His saintliness of character, his self-sacrificing service, and his simple faith, which he never felt was out of keeping with his work as a scientist, are an inspiration to all of us. Frank Brush, Presbyterian minister who founded Northbrae Community Church. Under his ministry, Northbrae Community Church grew in one decade from a handful of people meeting in a private home to a church of 500 and a Sunday School numbering 1,500. Frank Brush guided Northbrae with the idea that all the great historic creeds of Christianity could be represented in our congregation.
~The Berkeley Community W.F. Meyer Renowned astronomer and professor at the University of California at Berkeley, Dr. Meyer was prominent in the work of Northbrae for over twenty years. In speaking of him, Rev. Cross was quoted: If one person were to be named the ‘pillar’ of our church, it would, by unanimous consent, be Dr. Meyer. His saintliness of character, his self-sacrificing service, and his simple faith, which he never felt was out of keeping with his work as a scientist, are an inspiration to all of us. Frank Brush, Presbyterian minister who founded Northbrae Community Church. Under his ministry, Northbrae Community Church grew in one decade from a handful of people meeting in a private home to a church of 500 and a Sunday School numbering 1,500. Frank Brush guided Northbrae with the idea that all the great historic creeds of Christianity could be represented in our congregation.