Spencer Heath Archive

Item 260

Pencil summary and critique of Brand Blanshard, Inward Light and Outward Darkness (Philadelphia, Friends General Conference, 1936), annotated by Heath inside back cover.

Early Quaker Light showed suffering and wrong — gave compassion and relief. It knew not Art — Beauty, Intellect, and rejected them. The modern Light is clear as to what is wrong and as to ends desired, but it is confused as to means. No unanimity. The Call is for Inner Light as to Intellect (Science), not feeling alone, as of yore. There must be illumination as to means; not only as to ends.

B. B.

                                        /Brand Blanshard/

It is the how, not the what that is spiritual and transcendent — creative — for, in action, means determine ends. Ends are finite — no abiding reality. Means, process, are abiding, eternal, spiritual, Real. The New Illumination will be as to the How.

S. H.

 

/Also penciled inside back cover:/

The true means to a desired end, once revealed, needs no enforcement. It invites its own adoption and cannot be refused, for it fulfills the will.

All action by way of service and exchange (voluntary and contractual) is good for all concerned.

/Blanshard, p.20:/

“All this seems to me true. Does it mean that the Christian spirit is without bearing on economic and political life? Everyone knows that that would not be true. What it means is rather that the Christian spirit exerts its influence by other means than economic programs.” /Emphasis by S.H.)/

By seeking true light — not compelling action.

In the Light, right action is spontaneous.

 

/Penciled at conclusion of essay, page 27:/

The love of the heart attaches itself to ends.

The light of the eye reveals the true means. (intellect)