Eric Hopkins Memorial Lecture - Birmingham

The Eric Hopkins Memorial Lecture will be held on Wednesday 5 May 2010,  at 6pm in Lecture Room 3 of the Arts Building, University of Birmingham.  Eric Hopkins (1920 -2003) was a lifelong member and stalwart supporter of the Historical Association, both the national body and the Birmingham branch.

A prolific author, he wrote over ten books including ‘Childhood Transformed'; ‘Birmingham: the First Manufacturing Town' and ‘Birmingham: the Making of the Second City'.  Eric was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and honorary Professor of History at the University of Birmingham. In recognition of his contribution to history and its teaching, the Historical Association also awarded him membership for life. 

This year's lecture will be given by Dr Stephen Parker of the University of Worcester and is titled:

'Blessed are the Pacifists': EW Barnes of Birmingham and Pacifism, 1914-45. 

E.W. Barnes, bishop of Birmingham 1924-1953, is most well known for his controversial attempts to unify Christianity with modern scientific insights, most especially evolutionary theory. However, Barnes was also a pacifist of some note and conviction. This paper will trace the origins of Barnes' pacifist thinking and the measure of his contribution in terms of his interaction with many Christian and non-Christian pacifist individuals and groups in Birmingham and elsewhere. Barnes's role requires such reassessment, for though he lacked the common touch and charisma to make a popular leader, his influence upon the movement is manifest in the evidence of his own correspondence. This paper also explores whether Barnes' more dubious ideas about eugenics stemmed from and confirmed him in his convictions about the ultimate immorality of warfare.

All HA members are welcome.