--- title: "First International Moral Education Congress" date: "2021-03-05T13:08:21+00:00" modified: "2021-04-20T14:59:02+01:00" url: "https://heritage.humanists.uk/moral-education-congress/" post_id: 3028 categories: ["Education", "Ethical Movement"] tags: ["Dialogue", "Ethical Movement", "Internationalism", "Moral instruction", "Religious education"] --- # First International Moral Education Congress > To have thus assuaged the temper of controversy, to have softened much deep-seated prejudice and to have disposed some of the champions of contending principles to search for an honest synthesis of apparently opposite truths, is a happy issue upon which the originators of the congress may look back with thankfulness. > > M.E. Sadler, ‘The International Congress on Moral Education’ in *International Journal of Ethics,* 1909 The First International Moral Education Congress was held at the University of London between 25-29 September 1908. It brought together delegates from across the world to discuss the use of non-theological moral education in schools, discussing a vast range of contemporary issues in education. This conference was the brainchild of the International Ethical Union (a forerunner of [Humanists International](https://heritage.humanists.uk/humanists-international/)), and organised in close collaboration with the [Moral Instruction League](https://heritage.humanists.uk/moral-instruction-league/), largely through the unstinting efforts of [Gustav Spiller](https://heritage.humanists.uk/gustav-spiller/) (who would also be central to the success of the [First Universal Races Congress](https://heritage.humanists.uk/first-universal-races-congress/) three years later). ![](https://heritage.humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/01/Sir-Michael-Ernest-Sadler.jpg)Sir Michael Ernest Sadler by George Charles Beresford, 1914 © National Portrait Gallery, London ### The Congress sought, in the words of its President M.E. Sadler, to bring ‘men and women of very different schools of thought’ together for presentations and discussion, typifying the emphasis of the [Union of Ethical Societies](https://heritage.humanists.uk/the-union-of-ethical-societies/) (now Humanists UK) on the use of cooperation and dialogue in bringing about progressive reform. Its delegates included representatives from the humanist ethical societies, as well as from an array of educational and religious bodies. Speeches were given in three officially recognised languages (English, French, and German) and, as Sadler noted, ‘an unusually large number of the speakers in the debates excelled in terse and lucid statement, some rising to a memorable level of moving eloquence’. In his report, he stated proudly that: > The success of the congress exceeded general expectation. The numbers attending were large, as many as fourteen hundred tickets being sold. At least eighteen nations, more than thirty universities and over a hundred educational organizations were officially represented at it. The general public took considerable interest in its proceedings. ![](https://heritage.humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/12/Sophie-Bryant-ne-Willock.jpg)President of the Executive Committee Sophie Bryant (née Willock) by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd., 1894 © National Portrait Gallery, London ### Sadler went on to describe the spirit of the Congress as ‘one of intense sincerity, combined with forbearance and mutual respect’. Despite much divergence in principle and opinion, he wrote, ‘the truth was bravely told, but told with delicate regard for opposing convictions’: > A spirit of reverence and of respectful regard for the convictions of others prevailed in the congress, and united most of those present in a common search for truth and in a desire to reach a right judgment upon the momentous questions under review. The result was that many who entered the congress with distrust of the intentions of some of those holding opinions conflicting with their own, left it with widened sympathies and with the knowledge that they had learnt much from those who differed from them. This spirit of internationalism, and central belief in the possibilities of dialogue, was at the heart of the Congress, and of the Union of Ethical Societies. The Congress’ organisers sought specifically to encourage the exchange of experience and initiatives across countries and cultures, and had conducted hundreds of interviews in Europe and the UK to establish a relevant programme. The publications of the Moral Instruction League had familiarised many with the ideals and emphases of systematic moral education, and a report – *Moral Instruction and Training in Schools: Report of an International Inquiry* – had been published prior to the conference, along with the key papers of the Congress. ![](https://heritage.humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2021/03/delegates-UK.jpg)UK General Committee, including prominent members of the ethical societies: [Stanton Coit](https://heritage.humanists.uk/stanton-coit/), John Stuart and Millicent Mackenzie, [James Ramsay MacDonald](https://heritage.humanists.uk/james-ramsay-macdonald-1866-1937/), George Peabody Gooch, [Ruth Homan](https://heritage.humanists.uk/ruth-homan/), and [Alice Woods](https://heritage.humanists.uk/alice-woods/). Five further conferences were held in Europe between 1908–1934: in the Netherlands (1912), Switzerland (1922), Italy (1926), France (1930), and Poland (1934). Each of these discussed subjects of ongoing relevance to schools today, including the role of outdoor education, the development of civic responsibility, co-education of the sexes, and the place of religious instruction. Many prominent and pioneering individuals were speakers and delegates, such as Swiss educationist Adolphe Ferrière, and founder of the international Scout movement Robert Baden-Powell. The impetus to establish such a Congress arose from, and enacted, some of the central humanist ideals of the Ethical movement: the effective and inclusive education of the young, and the facilitation of open, reasoned discussion and international cooperation. This emphasis on productive dialogue, collaboration, and working for progressive change continues to sit central to Humanists UK’s education campaigning today, the roots of which lie in the early efforts of the [Moral Instruction League](https://heritage.humanists.uk/moral-instruction-league/). #### Executive Committee of the First International Moral Education Congress - [President: Sophie Bryant](#president-sophie-bryant)Mathematician, educator, feminist, and active member of the [London Ethical Society](https://heritage.humanists.uk/the-london-ethical-society/). See: [Sophie Bryant](https://heritage.humanists.uk/sophie-bryant/) - [Vice President: J.W. Adamson](#vice-president-j-w-adamson)Educationist and historian of education; Professor of Education at King’s College, London. - [John Adams](#john-adams)Scottish educationist and first Principal of [UCL](https://heritage.humanists.uk/university-college-london/) Institute of Education. - [Rev. William Copeland Bowie](#rev-william-copeland-bowie)Unitarian minister and author. - [Oscar Browning](#oscar-browning)Educationist and historian; Fellow of King’s College, and Principal of the Day Training College, Cambridge. - [Arthur Burrell](#arthur-burrell)Author, educationist, and Principal of Borough Road Training College, Isleworth. - [Sir Edward H. Busk](#sir-edward-h-busk)Chairman of Convocation and Past Vice Chancellor of the University of London (1905-7). - [Joseph Henry Cowham](#joseph-henry-cowham)Lecturer on Education, Westminster Training College, London. Author of several widely used educational textbooks. - [S.S.F. Fletcher](#s-s-f-fletcher)Author, educationist, and longtime member of the [West London Ethical Society](https://heritage.humanists.uk/west-london-ethical-society/). Vice-Principal of the Day Training College, Cambridge. - [Herbert Baring Garrod](#herbert-baring-garrod)General Secretary of the Teachers’ Guild for Great Britain and Ireland, London. - [Frederick James Gould](#frederick-james-gould)Pioneer of moral education and active worker for the [Ethical movement](https://heritage.humanists.uk/the-ethical-movement/), and the [Leicester Secular Society](https://heritage.humanists.uk/leicester-secular-hall/). See: [F.J. Gould](https://heritage.humanists.uk/frederick-james-gould/) - [Herbert Branston Gray](#herbert-branston-gray)Clergyman and schoolmaster. Warden of Bradfield College, Berkshire. - [Frank Herbert Hayward](#frank-herbert-hayward)Inspector of schools and author, as well as a member of the [Moral Instruction League](https://heritage.humanists.uk/moral-instruction-league/) and admirer of F.J. Gould. - [Prof. G. Dawes Hicks](#prof-g-dawes-hicks)Philosopher and first Professor of Moral Philosophy at [University College, London](https://heritage.humanists.uk/university-college-london/). - [C.W. Hole](#c-w-hole)President of the London Teachers’ Association. - [Harrold Johnson](#harrold-johnson)Secretary of the [Moral Instruction League](https://heritage.humanists.uk/moral-instruction-league/), London. - [Rev. Morris Joseph](#rev-morris-joseph)Rabbi, London. - [M.W. Keatinge](#m-w-keatinge)Reader in Education at the University of Oxford. - [Miss L.E. Lane](#miss-l-e-lane)Headmistress of London County Council Primary School. - [Jane L. Latham](#jane-l-latham)Principal of St. Mary’s College, London. - [J. Litt](#j-litt)Treasurer of the London Teachers’ Association. - [J.D. McClure](#j-d-mcclure)Headmaster of Mill Hill School, London. - [J. McKillop](#j-mckillop)Chief Librarian of the London School of Economics. - [W.A. Nicholls](#w-a-nicholls)President of the National Union of Teachers, London. - [T. Percy Nunn](#t-percy-nunn)Educationist and Vice Principal of the London Day Training College. - [Hilda D. Oakeley](#hilda-d-oakeley)Philosopher, educationalist, and author; Vice Principal of the Women’s Department, King’s College, London. - [John Brown Paton](#john-brown-paton)Scottish Congregationalist minister, college head, and author. - [George Lane Fox Pitt](#george-lane-fox-pitt)Electrical engineer and author of books on the philosophy of science, education, and social issues. - [A.J. Mundella](#a-j-mundella)Journalist, education reformer, and campaigner for child welfare. Secretary of the National Education Association for 35 years. - [Margaret Punnett](#margaret-punnett)Educationist and mathematician. Vice Principal of the London Day Training College (founded in 1902; part of the University of London from 1909; known from 1932 as the Institute of Education). - [Alice Ravenhill](#alice-ravenhill)Educational pioneer, developer of Women’s Institutes, and advocate of aboriginal rights in British Columbia, Canada. - [John Russell](#john-russell)Headmaster of King Alfred School, London - [Michael E. Sadler](#michael-e-sadler)Historian, educationist, and university administrator. Professor of the History and Administration of Education, University of Manchester. - [J.W. Slaughter](#j-w-slaughter)Secretary of the Sociological Society, London. - [Hilda Miall-Smith](#hilda-miall-smith)Teacher and member of the Executive Committee of the Union of Ethical Societies (now Humanists UK). See: [Hilda Miall-Smith](https://heritage.humanists.uk/hilda-miall-smith/) - [Prof. W.R. Sorley](#prof-w-r-sorley)Philosopher and Fellow of the British Academy. Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge. - [William T. Stead](#william-t-stead)Newspaper editor and pioneer of investigative journalism. Editor of the *Review of Reviews*, London - [Francis Storr](#francis-storr)Classicist, translator, and teacher. Editor of the *Journal of Education*, London - [Margaret Tuke](#margaret-tuke)Academic and educator. Principal of Bedford College for Women, London. - [Graham Wallas](#graham-wallas)Political psychologist and educationist. President of the Ethical Union (now Humanists UK) in 1924. - [Prof. Dr. Edward Westermarck](#prof-dr-edward-westermarck)Finnish philosopher and sociologist. Professor of sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a visiting professor of practical philosophy at the University of Helsinki. - [J. Martin White](#j-martin-white)Businessman, philanthropist, and Liberal Party politician. - [E. Woodhouse](#e-woodhouse)Headmistress of Clapham High School for Girls, London. - [M.S. Young](#m-s-young)Headmistress of Aske’s Hatcham School for Girls, London. - [James Henry Yoxall, M.P.](#james-henry-yoxall-m-p)Liberal Party politician and trade unionist. General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, London. ### Read more *[Papers on moral education, communicated to the first International Moral Education Congress](https://archive.org/details/cu31924030610954/page/n9/mode/2up)* ‘[The International Congress on Moral Education](http://www.jstor.com/stable/2376694)’ in the *[International Journal of Ethics](https://heritage.humanists.uk/international-journal-of-ethics/)*, January 1909 [Un bouillon de culture pour les sciences de l’éducation?: Le Congrès international d’éducation morale](https://archive-ouverte.unige.ch/unige:91718) by Marco Cicchini (University of Geneva) See also ---------- - [ Moral Instruction League ](https://heritage.humanists.uk/moral-instruction-league/) - [ Alice Woods ](https://heritage.humanists.uk/alice-woods/) - [ First Univeral Races Congress ](https://heritage.humanists.uk/first-universal-races-congress/) - [ Gustav Spiller ](https://heritage.humanists.uk/gustav-spiller/)