Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie

Kenneth Sylvan Launfal Guthrie (1871-1940), philosopher and writer, was a grandson of famous feminist pioneer Frances Wright and brother of William Norman Guthrie, a Scottish-born Episcopalian priest who issued a series of translations of ancient philosophical writers, "making available to the public the neglected treasures of Neo-platonism".

Among his works was a translation of the complete works of Plotinus (1918). He was also an active prohibitionist. In addition he composed music and wrote poetry. He has been described as a "brilliant but eccentric scholar" by Manly Palmer Hall.

Kenneth S. Guthrie was born in Dundee, Scotland, July 22, 1871. He attended school in a range of cities, including Florence, Lausaune, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Brussels, Hadleigh, Edinburgh, New York, St. Stephen's College, Annandale, N. Y.

He graduated with a B.A., M.A., and G.D., from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, 1890 and 1893; a Ph.D. from Tulane in 1893; A.M., Harvard, 1894. In addition he qualified as an M.D., with three gold medals at Medico Chiurgical College, Philadelphia, 1903. A second Ph.D. was obtained at Columbia, 1915.

However he was never able to gain a foothold in academic life, and was forced to support himself by teaching children, freelance writing and lecturing. A number of his books were therefore written on subjects of popular interest, such as Rosicrucianism, for money.

He was ordained in the Protestant Episcopal Church as a deacon in 1890, and as a priest in 1897. He was then placed in charge of All Saints Church, New York. He held the post of Professor in Extension at the University of the South, Sewanee.

He taught French for five years. He also taught German and French for one term at South Brooklyn Evening High School in 1909-10.

Among his publications before 1931 were The Philosophy of Plotinos; Complete Translation of Plotinos; Message of Philo Judaeus; Of Communion with God; Spiritual Message of Literature; Stories for Young Folks; Why You Really Want to Become a Churchman; Life of Zoroaster, in the Words of his Hymns; the Gathas of Zoroaster, Text, Translation, Criticism; The Mother-Tongue Method of Teaching Modern Languages; Limits and Mission of History of Education; Teachers' Problems, and How to Solve Them; and The Spiritual Message of Literature: A Manual of Comparative Literature with Topical Outlines and Lists of Useful Books for School, College, and Private Use.

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