| Ralph
Waldo Trine was a philosopher, mystic, teacher and author of many
books, and was one of the early mentors of the New Thought
Movement. His writings had a great influence on many of his
contemporaries including Ernest Holmes, founder of Religious
Science. He was a true pioneer in the area of
life-transforming thought. No other New Thought author has
sold more books than he, his writings reaching far beyond New
Thought circles out to the general public, which has bought and
read Trine's books without ever knowing that they were New
Thought.
Trine was born on
6th September, 1866, in Mount Morris, northern Illinois. He
was educated at Carthage College Academy, Knox College, A.B. 1891;
and studied at the University of Winsconsin and later at John
Hopkins University in the fields of history and political
science. He was much interested in social and economic
problems, having won a $100 prize for an essay on "The
Effects of Human Education on the Prevention of Crime."
After spending some time as a graduate student at the latter
University, Ralph was a special correspondent for The Boston
Daily Evening Transcript. While working in this
capacity, he built himself a little cabin on the edge of a pine
grove -- testament to the peace and simplicity of the man.
He married a graduate of the School of Expression (which became
Curry College) who became Grace Hyde Trine, an author and poetess
in her own right, and together they had a son, Robert. Trine
lived for years at Mt. Airy, New York, and was deeply involved in
the metaphysical seminars at Oscawana.
He began his
writing career in his early 30s. He was much influenced by
the writings of Fitche, Emerson and the Scottish
scientist/evangelist, Henry Drummond, his "What All the
World's A-Seeking" expanding on a number of the themes
covered in Drummond's inspirational classic, "The Greatest
Thing in the World." His remarkable seminal book,
"In Tune with the Infinite" was launched in 1897 and
went on to sell over 2 million copies, and has stood the test of
time for over a century. It was read by such luminaries as
Queen Victoria, Janet Gaynor and Henry Ford. It is
interesting that Henry Ford, pioneer of mass produced automobiles,
attributed his success directly to having read "In Tune with
the Infinite." After reading the book, Ford ordered it en
masse, and distributed copies freely to high profile
industrialists. It's a true mark of how powerful the book
was and still is!
Trine wrote over
a dozen books and was still writing into his 70s. He died
peacefully at a fine age of 91 on 22nd February, 1958, in an
elderly living facility for religious professionals, Plymouth
Place, Claremont, California. He moved there years earlier
from a home in the Hudson River valley. In California, Trine
spent his time in quiet leisure, planting and tending fruit
trees! He retired there with his wife only a few years
before his death.
Although he never
sought fame or fortune for himself, and although his name remains
largely unknown to the masses, he left as his legacy an indelible
mark on the world in the form of his elevated thinking and
inspired writings, and so has influenced countless people for the
good of mankind. |
