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Lord Northbourne, born Walter Ernest Christopher James, was the 4th Baron Northbourne, residing in Deal, Kent, England. Lord Northbourne began as an agronomist, serving as Provost of Wye College of University of London. After reading Marco Pallis, he became involved in the Traditionalist / Perennialist movement of writers. Northbourne sometimes used the nom de plume of Sidi Nuh. Pallis in turn suggested that he send Merton a copy of his book, Religion in the Modern World. Merton sent him back a copy of his response to the document of the Second Vatican Council entitled, Gaudium et Spes (the Church in the Modern World). Merton's essay, later incorporated into Redeeming the Time, was called "The Church and the 'Godless' World". (Sources: Witness to Freedom.; and "Northbourne, Lord". World Wisdom Books (website). 6 Jan. 2006. ‹http://worldwisdom.com/author/Detail.asp?AuthorID=43&WhatType=2›.)
Please click here for general restrictions concerning Merton's correspondence.
See also the "Pallis, Marco" and "Lings, Martin" files for other Traditionalist / Perennialist writers; and see also published letters from Merton to Lord Northbourne in Witness to Freedom, pp. 312-319. All but one letter of the exchange (the outstanding letter having been summarized), is included in the book, Religion in the Modern World. The same letters were reprinted in another book by the same publisher,
If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.
Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
| # | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| | y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
| 1. |
1965/04/18 |
TL[c] from Merton |
I have just finished reading your book on Religion in the Modern World. Since I did not want |
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[Included in Religion in the Modern World - see "Related Information"]
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1966/01/04 |
HLS to Merton |
Some time ago you asked me to send you anything I might get published. Here is a lecture I had |
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[précis of Northbournes letter included in Religion in the Modern World - see "Related Information"]
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1966/02/23 |
TALS[x] from Merton |
Thanks for your kind letter and for the copy of your lecture which I read with great interest, |
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[Included in Religion in the Modern World - see "Related Information"]
«detailed view» |
| 4. |
1966/08/03 |
TALS to Merton |
I have read your commentary on the Vatican Council's Constitution on the Church in the Modern World |
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[Included in Religion in the Modern World - see "Related Information"]
«detailed view» |
| 5. |
1966/08/30 (#01) |
TLS from Merton |
I am really very grateful for your thoughtful letter, and of course you know that I am basically |
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[Included in Religion in the Modern World - see "Related Information"]
«detailed view» |
| 6. |
1966/08/30 (#02) |
TL[c] from Merton |
I am really very grateful for your thoughtful letter, and of course you know that I am basically |
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[Included in Religion in the Modern World - see "Related Information" / extra copy of the last page]
«detailed view» |
| 7. |
1966/10/08 |
HLS to Merton |
Thank you very much for your letter of 30th Aug. It has been helpful to me in clearing my own head, |
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[Included in Religion in the Modern World - see "Related Information"]
«detailed view» |
| 8. |
1967/06/04 |
TL[c] from Merton |
For a long time I have owed you a letter. But I know you understand that if I tried to keep up |
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[Included in Religion in the Modern World - see "Related Information"]
«detailed view» |
| 9. |
1972/10/23 |
HLS to Center from Northbourne, Lord |
Thank you for your letter about correspondence with the late Thomas Merton. It's dated 7th August, |
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«detailed view» |
| 10. |
1973/01/02 |
HLS to Center from Northbourne, Lord |
A letter from you dated Dec. 27th arrived here to-day. I enclose part of the envelope |
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«detailed view» |
| 11. |
1973/01/18 (#01) |
TNS from Center to Delius, Betty |
Enclosed is a copy of Lord Northbourne's letter to me, a copy of my reply, and original copy |
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[Betty Delius was Library Director for Bellarmine College]
«detailed view» |
| 12. |
1973/01/18 (#02) |
TL[x] from Northbourne, Lord |
I am embarrassed at the mis-addressing of my previous letter to you. I really can't explain it, |
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«detailed view» |
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