The quiet wise spirit : Edwin W. Smith 1876-1957 and Africa / W. John Young.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Young, W. John.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Smith, Edwin William, 1876-1957.

Smith, Edwin William.

Missionaries--Biography.

Missionaries.

Primitive Methodists--Africa--Biography.

Primitive Methodists.

Anthropologists--Africa--Biography.

Anthropologists.

Africa.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xviii, 292 pages : map ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Peterborough : Epworth Press, 2002.

Summary:

When John Young first noticed Edwin Smith twenty-five years ago he soon realized that Smith was a very remarkable person. This book, the fruit of several years of research, describes how Smith's increasingly respectful attitude to Africa and Africans was expressed practically and in many scholarly and popular writings. After forty years of obscurity Smith is being noticed again by scholars. In his Foreword Kenneth Cracknell of Texas Christian University points out that this book will interest several categories of reader. Methodists and other Christians will see one who brought them honour. Missiologists will notice Smith's early affirmation of African ideas and cultures, while the wider academic community -- especially anthropologists and Africanists -- will find much of interest in the work of one who was highly respected by their forebears. As Kenneth Cracknell says. 'This book gives him back to us all.'

Contents:

1. 'They called me Zulu' 5

Primitive Methodism

John Smith and missions

Edwin's conversion and missionary call

2. Preparing to go to Africa 11

Influences, including John Smith's thinking

Livingstone College

Progress assessed

3. Lesotho (1898-1899) 18

Journey to Lesotho

Work with the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society

Influence of Jacottet

4. Aliwal North (1899-1902) 28

Marriage

The war

Work and studies at Aliwal North

5. Nanzela (1902-1907) Part 1 39

First impressions

Building and language

Smith's Handbook

6. Nanzela (1902-1907) Part 2 48

Evangelism and mission policy

Early theology of mission

7. Furlough (1907-1909) 58

Plans for Kasenga

Smith's lecture: 'The Secret of the African'

Furlough activity

8. Kasenga Part 1 (1909-1910) 67

Missions, politics and people in Central Africa

Setting up Kasenga

Cultural interactions

Problems with head office

9. Kasenga Part 2 (1910-1915) 77

Kasenga mission

Ila literature

The first Missionary Conference of Northern Rhodesia

Reflections on Edwin's missionary career

10. To the Bible Society (1915-1920) 91

The Great War: Smith enlists as a chaplain

Bible Society in Italy

Dante

The Ila-Speaking Peoples of Northern Rhodesia

11. The Making of an Africanist (1921-1925) 103

Secretary for Western Europe

Maintaining and developing contacts with African studies

Involvement in societies

Writings: articles and reviews, The Religion of Lower Races and Robert Moffat

12. The complete Africanist (1926) 113

The Golden Stool

The International African Institute

Le Zoute

13. A magic wand (1927-1929) 125

Bible Society work

Books: The Way of the White Fields in the Rhodesias, Exploration in Africa, The Shrine of a People's Soul, Aggrey of Africa, and The Secret of the African

14. Eminent anthropologist (1930-1934) 137

Tour of Palestine, Egypt and Sudan

Anthropology: Royal Anthropological Institute president

Presidential address 1934: 'Anthropology and the Practical Man'

Presidential address 1935: 'Africa: What Do We Know Of It?'

15. African Christian theology, Bible translations and travels in India (1936-1939) 149

African Beliefs and Christian Faith

Bible Society work: a pygmy Gospel of Mark; accessible Bible translation: (a) Basic English, (b) Tour of India

The Mabilles

16. Professor of African studies in the USA (1939-1944) 162

Kennedy School of Missions

Tour of Canada

The Deep South

Fisk University

17. Return to Britain. Revisiting Africa (1944-1948) 176

Return to Britain

Silver Medallist of the Royal African Society

Editor of Africa

The Frazer Lecture

First tour of southern Africa, 1946-7

Meeting prominent Africans

White opinions

Revisiting Zambia

Geoffrey Parrinder

18. The Blessed Missionaries (1948-1950) 192

Another visit to South Africa

The Phelps-Stokes Lectures: The Blessed Missionaries

African Ideas of God

19. Last years in Deal (1951-1957) 206

'An African Odyssey'

Henry Myers Lecture 1952

Death of Julia Smith

Last visit to Africa

Final writings

Death

20. Conclusion: Edwin Smith's contribution 216

Assessment of his work in religious studies, anthropology and African studies

Neglect of Edwin Smith since his death.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

071620553X

OCLC:

49238944