Correspondence between Carl Heath and Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury

This section contains correspondence exchanged between Carl Heath and Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury. The letters relate to the Friends' Service Committee and Taylor Cadbury's and Heath's views concerning the role of pacifism within Quakerism which had become central in religious debate following the outbreak of the Second World War.

Finding number: MS 466/163/23-25

Biographical information about Carl Heath taken from Frederick J. Tritton, 'Carl Heath: Apostle of Peace' (London: Friends Home Service Committee, 1951).

Carl Heath (1869-1950) was prominent both within the Religious Society of Friends and beyond through his religious and social writings and most notably through his work promoting international peace. Following his appointment as Secretary of the National Peace Council in 1909, Heath exerted an influence over the activity of the Council, organising and attending national and international conferences and publishing pamphlets relating to pacifism. Throughout the First World War Heath was involved in Quaker relief work through the Friends' Emergency Committee and the War Victims Relief Committee. Frederick J. Tritton refers to Heath's 'wide and extensive service' for world peace, describing Heath's belief that peace was only achievable through 'the expression of spiritual life in vital practice'. This belief contributed to the development of Heath's ideas for 'Quaker Embassies' and the subsequent formation of the Council for International Service in 1919. After retiring from the Friends Service Council in 1935, Heath and his wife Effie spent a year at Woodbrooke before travelling to India where Heath published numerous articles in 'The Friend', the journal of the Society of Friends, opposing the growth of fascist power in Germany.

Heath appealed to Quakers through spoken addresses and written articles, encouraging Friends to oppose war through 'a deep spiritual effort' reaching 'to the peace of human freedom.' Reflecting Delamont's description of Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury's 'strong, practical and active' Quaker faith, Heath's religious faith is described by Tritton as 'one that expressed itself in active service.' Like Heath, Elizabeth Taylor Cadbury was publically active in endeavours supporting international peace, particularly through her work with the International Council of Women.