Women of Hull House: A Study in Spirituality, Vocation, and Friendship FROM THE PUBLISHER
This group biography explores the lives, work, and personal relations of nine white, middle and upper-middle-class women who were involved in the first decade of Chicago's premier social settlement. This "galaxy of stars" - as they were called in their own day - were active in innumerable political, social, and religious reform efforts. The Women of Hull House refutes the humanistic interpretation of the social settlement movement. Its spiritual base is highlighted as the author describes it as the practical/ethical side of the social gospel movement and as an attempt to transform late nineteenth-century evangelical and doctrinal Christian religion. While the women of Hull House differed from one another in their theological beliefs and were often critical of orthodox Christianity, they were motivated by Christian ideals. By showing the interconnections of spirituality, vocation, and friendship, the author argues that individual actions for social changes must take place within communities which provide a level of uniting vision yet allow for diverse actions and viewpoints.
FROM THE CRITICS
Booknews
This group biography explores the lives and work of nine "galaxy of
stars"as they were called in their day: white, middle and
upper-middle-class Christian women who pioneered Chicago's social
settlement movement in the late 19th century represented by Jane
Addams' Hull House. Originating as her doctoral dissertation, Stebner
(theology and church history, U. of Winnipeg) illuminates the
accomplishments of these talented women from a spiritual rather than
more typical humanistic interpretation. Motivated by Christian
idealism to be community service-oriented, these "secular nuns"
formed the era's social safety net for poor immigrants and others.
Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
Home
