They're on the Way by Samuel M. Shoemaker - First Edition from 1951 - ODJ
They’re On The Way by Samuel M. Shoemaker. This is a First Edition published in 1951 and has its original dust jacket.
THEY'RE ON THE WAY
Modern Spiritual Experiences
Do you have a sense of feeling lost in this modern world?
Dr. Samuel Shoemaker has written this simple, forthright and sincere book of modern spiritual experiences, out of his own years of counseling and his knowledge of the effect upon widely diverse lives of the acceptance of Christ.
These personal accounts are of people of various ages and backgrounds and Dr. Shoemaker has set many of them down in the exact words of the particular individual. You will meet the college student who found a cause to challenge all his powers; the seventy-five-year-old widow who became aware of the fact that self-indulgence in tragedy can become a sin; the Southern woman who, in her revolt against social injustice, became a Communist, only to find that the Party structure denied its members the basic creative spirit that God alone can give to man. There is also a minister among this highly representative group of human beings. The minister was one who was exposed to the temptation of allowing church politics and church social activities to take the place of the Spirit of God. A middle-aged widow who attended church merely as a spectator but who came to appreciate the vital forces of faith which does not remove facts, but reinterprets them, joins the company of the schoolboy who experienced conversion amid the loneliness and misgivings of adolescence. A Jewish intellectual who attempted to build his life on reason alone tells his story, as does the young, modern city couple who understood that the relationship between any two people should be considered as a triangle, with God at the apex.
These various spiritual experiences are given unity and additional meaning in the splendidly sympathetic and understanding introduction and conclusion which Dr. Shoemaker has fashioned for They're On The Way.
An eminently readable book, They're On The Way should bring great solace and comfort to a vast number of people who are still seeking, as well as to many who are aware only that there is an emptiness, a flatness, a needless lack of point in their lives.
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Samuel Shoemaker was a prominent American Episcopal priest and a key figure in the Oxford Group movement, which later influenced the development of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other Twelve Step programs. Born on December 27, 1893, in Baltimore, Maryland, Shoemaker was raised in a family with a strong Christian background.
Shoemaker studied at Princeton University and later attended Virginia Theological Seminary, where he was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1917. He served in various parishes before becoming the rector of Calvary Church in New York City in 1925, where he remained for over twenty years.
In the early 1930s, Shoemaker became involved with the Oxford Group, an informal Christian fellowship founded by Frank Buchman. The Oxford Group emphasized spiritual principles such as honesty, purity, unselfishness, and love, and it sought to bring about personal transformation through spiritual practices such as self-examination, confession, and surrender to God's will.
Shoemaker's involvement with the Oxford Group profoundly influenced his ministry and preaching style. He became known for his dynamic sermons, which emphasized the need for individuals to experience a personal encounter with God and to live out their faith in practical ways.
One of Shoemaker's most significant contributions was his role in introducing the principles of the Oxford Group to Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Shoemaker and other members of the Oxford Group had a significant influence on the early development of AA, particularly in shaping its spiritual foundations and emphasis on personal transformation. Bill W. wrote: “Dr. Sam Shoemaker was one of A.A.’s indispensables. Had it not been for his ministry to us in our early time, our Fellowship would not be in existence today.”
Throughout his life, Shoemaker remained dedicated to ministry and spiritual renewal. He authored numerous books and articles on Christian spirituality, including "Realizing Religion." He also played a key role in the founding of the Spiritual Mobilization movement in the 1940s, which sought to promote spiritual values in American society.
Samuel Shoemaker passed away on October 31, 1963, leaving behind a legacy of spiritual insight and compassionate ministry. He is remembered as a pioneer in the field of Christian spirituality and as a guiding figure in the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
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The book is in excellent condition. The cover shows no wear. There is a book plate on the inside of the front cover. There is no other writing or markings inside the book. The dust jacket has experienced some wear with chipping, edge wear, and stains.
Please view all of the photos for conditions.