Where Has Ethical Culture Made a Difference?

Since Felix Adler founded Ethical Culture in 1876, the movement has made a difference through various social movements. Louise Jett, an Ethical Culture Leader in the St. Louis Society, created a short video history of Ethical Culture, which we will watch together, followed by discussion.

In her introduction to the video Louise Jett writes:

Where has Ethical Culture made a difference? Explore the roots of Ethical Culture: its founding by Felix Adler, who insisted on “Deed Before Creed,” and the movement’s early commitments to education, civil rights, and social reform. This video highlights key voices who shaped our tradition, including Anna Garlin Spencer, W.E.B. Du Bois, John Lovejoy Elliott, and Algernon D. Black, and notes the movement’s influence on organizations like the NAACP. You’ll see how Ethical Humanism evolved, wrestling with suffrage, expanding inclusion, and grounding ethics in lived experience. We’ll connect past to present, showing how Ethical Societies continue to build communities of dignity, justice, and care. Watch to reflect on how you can carry this legacy forward in your own ethical action.

Join this in person meeting at Neutra House. Coffee and snacks will be offered before the meeting starts so arrive early. Linger afterwards to connect with others and explore ways to bring ethical action into the world.