Anna Braithwaite Thomas

Overview

Anna Braithwaite Thomas born Banbury, Oxfordshire, England August 6, 1854 (d. 1947). Anglo-American Quaker peace leader; minister and author; recorded wartime relief Germany, Austria and Hungary in First World War.

Quotations

"Work was begun with the deliberate intention of obeying the commands of Christ in the treatment of one’s enemies, and it has met with a success that is out of all proportion to the efforts put forth. If nothing had resulted but our own hearts being kept soft and tender during those terrible years and comforted in sore trial by the continual sense of the divine guidance, many of us would have felt amply repaid; but in addition we had the joy of constantly seeing wrongs righted, tears wiped away, desolate homes made bright and sad-eyed little children won back to smiles and gladness. Here was indeed a rich reward. But even this was not all. After the war, came the discovery that the work of the Committee, as it became known in Germany had kept alive a belief in the power of good will and the possibility of a better world." (St. Stephen's House: Friends' Emergency Work in England 1914 to 1920, 1920)