new church life: march / april 2014
philosopher-theologian-educator-artist-writer and poet; at least he had the
soul of a poet, in my opinion. I know little about him, though. (Was he related
to the Rev. Thomas Hartley?)
Leopold Hartley Grindon (1818-1904) was a most erudite English scholar
of the old school, and a deep thinker of the New Church, who enriched the
impressive body of New Church collateral literature with such books as Life,
Its Nature, Varieties and Phenomena. I’ve read that one, and at least one other,
The Sexuality of Plants, and found them wonderful.
He lived in Manchester, England. I assume he was a member of the Church,
which was very strong in Manchester. In 1856, referring to the book mentioned
above (Life, etc.), the London Swedenborg Society (in its New Churchman
magazine) said: “We have never had a better work written in illustration of the
philosophy of the New Church. It is full of varied and curious information,
drawn from the most multifarious sources.”
“Multifarious sources” indeed! The breadth of Grindon’s knowledge is
amazing, matched only by the depth of his insights. “The learned,” as we know,
don’t come off too well in the Writings, but more like Grindon would give
them a good name.
(WEO)
is there a religious doctor in the house?
New Church doctors – and those of any religion – walk a fine line at times
about sharing their faith with their patients. Sometimes it can help, even in an
indirect way. Some patients and families may welcome the comfort, others not
at all. So doctors have to be careful about mixing their faith with their practice.
Dr. Jim de Maine, who spoke about end-of-life issues and medical ethics at
the Boynton Beach Retreat in January, (see a summary of his presentation on
page 141), told of one doctor who asked his patients and their families to pray
with him, which clearly crossed a line.
But Jim’s own ethics and principles from his New Church faith are deeply
imbedded in who he is, whether or not his patients and their families ever
knew what guided the way he treated them.
Working for Group Health Cooperative in Seattle for 32 years he
helped to develop a practical program, “Your Life, Your Choices,” which is
offered to all patients (and their families) at age 65. He also blogs regularly
at www.endoflifeblog.com, which he calls “a personal, hopefully educational
experience.” It surely is that, and he invites readers to comment.
I highly recommend his blog as worthwhile reading. It includes such
topics as:
Cancer: How Much Time Will You Give Me?
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