The League for the Larger Life, founded in 1916, was an early

New Thought The New Thought movement (also Higher Thought) is a spiritual movement that coalesced in the United States in the early 19th century. New Thought was seen by its adherents as succeeding "ancient thought", accumulated wisdom and philosophy from ...

organization based in

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, with a chapter in

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A locally-focused organization, several of its members were influential across the United States and around the world. The League was uniquely composed of thirty

metaphysical Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality, the first principles of being, identity and change, space and time, causality, necessity, and possibility. It includes questions about the nature of conscio ...

societies in the city.

Mission and activities

The mission of the League was "to spread a knowledge of the fundamental principles that underlie healthy and harmonious living" and "to assist the individual in the solution of personal problems". The League operated Sunday services, classes throughout the week, and provided lecturers and teachers with places to provide their services at its headquarters, 222 W. 72nd Street in New York City. The League's classes focused on

The Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...

, health and music, and provided a daily Prosperity Fellowship. It was also identified as an

antiwar An anti-war movement (also ''antiwar'') is a social movement, usually in opposition to a particular nation's decision to start or carry on an armed conflict, unconditional of a maybe-existing just cause. The term anti-war can also refer to pa ...

organization in the 1920s.

Notable members

Orison Swett Marden Dr. Orison Swett Marden (1848–1924) was an American inspirational author who wrote about achieving success in life and founded ''SUCCESS'' magazine in 1897. His writings discuss common-sense principles and virtues that make for a well-rou ...

, an early New Thought writer, was the first president of the League. Dr. Julia Seton and many others were involved in the League, as well. Eugene Del Mar, a noted chess champion, was a leader in the League at one point.

Fenwicke Holmes Fenwicke Lindsay Holmes (1883–1973) was an American author, former Congregational minister, and Religious Science leader. The brother of Ernest Holmes, Fenwicke is widely recognized for being an important factor in the establishment of Religio ...

, the influential brother of the

Religious Science The Religious Science movement, or Science of Mind, was established in 1927 by Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) and is a spiritual, philosophical and metaphysical religious movement within the New Thought movement. In general, the term "Scie ...

founder

Ernest Holmes Ernest Shurtleff Holmes (January 21, 1887 – April 7, 1960) was an American New Thought writer, teacher, and leader. He was the founder of a spiritual movement known as Religious Science, part of the greater New Thought movement, whose spir ...

, was heavily influenced by his stand speaking at the League at the behest of Dr. Seton.

History

Founded in 1916, the League held its first conference that year. According to ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', more than 1,000 people were at the Forty-eighth Street Theatre. Several organizations were represented at the conference, including The Vedanta Society led by

Swami Bodhananda Bodhananda (1883–1928) was an Indian Hindu philosopher. He was the disciple and the nominated successor of his guru, called Narayana Guru Narayana Guru, , (20 August 1856 – 20 September 1928) was a philosopher, spiritual leader an ...

, the Higher Thought Centre led by W. Frederic Keeler, the

First Church of Divine Science The First Church of Divine Science, also called The Church of the Healing Christ, was founded in New York City, New York, in 1906. Affiliated with the Divine Science denomination of the New Thought movement, the church has been home to many notable ...

where W. John Murray was pastor and the Freedom Fraternity headed by Miss Mary Allen. The organization had disbanded by 1959.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:League of the Larger Life Religion in New York City Christian organizations established in 1916 New Thought organizations Religious organizations based in Washington, D.C. Supraorganizations 1916 establishments in New York (state)