| AdminHistory | Born in South China, Maine, Rufus Jones was educated at a Friends' boarding school before attending Haverford College in Pennsylvania. Jones was active in philanthropic work becoming president of the Young Men's Christian Association (Y.M.C.A.) and contributed to Quaker publications as editor of both the 'Friends' Review' and 'The American Friend'. After teaching at Quaker schools in New York and New England, Jones was appointed to teach at Haverford College in 1893 where he remained until his retirement in 1934 teaching the Bible and courses in psychology and ethics. Rufus Jones wrote extensively on mystical religion and the history of spiritual reformers. He was attributed with being one of the first writers to interpret the works of early mystics in the English language and was awarded thirteen honorary degrees throughout his career. Alongside his teaching work, Jones established the American Friends' Service Committee and was awarded the Roosevelt Medal for Citizenship in 1942. Jones died aged eighty five in 1948, bequeathing his extensive collection of books on mysticism to Haverford College. |