Another Fortean who existed at the intersection of Forteanism, Humanism, and skepticism—more proof, if more proof is necessary—that Forteanism and skepticism did not begin as antagonists, but grew into them.
Edwin Henry Wilson is likely the most well-known of the early Humanists associated with the Fortean Society, his biography compiled by others and mostly just digested here; the best of these is Wesley Mason Olds’ entry on Wilson in John R. Shook’s “Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers.” Wilson was born 23 August 1898 in Woodhaven, New York, and raised in Concord, Massachusetts. He was the fourth child of James S. and Mary Grace Dana. James was a farmer, and either a prosperous one, or at least an industrious one: in 1900, the family had seven servants living with them—some undoubtedly farm hands, but still, more than one per member of the family. In 1918, when he filled out his draft card, Wilson was working with American Railway Express. He was 20.
Wilson grew up in the First Parish Church (Unitarian): many of the early Fortean Humanists and skeptics had church connections. His father was not particularly interested in religion, but his mother was a conservative Christian Unitarian, whose family members had also been active in Unitarianism. In line with his Unitarian upbringing, and his home area, Wilson was deeply influenced by Transcendentalism having read Ralph Waldo Emerson by the time he was 17, “Self-Reliance” becoming his “Declaration of Independence.” He joined the War effort as part of the Army Signal Corps and learned to fly. Afterwards, he went to business school at Boston University. By 1920, his parents were empty-nesters, all the servants and children gone.
Edwin Henry Wilson is likely the most well-known of the early Humanists associated with the Fortean Society, his biography compiled by others and mostly just digested here; the best of these is Wesley Mason Olds’ entry on Wilson in John R. Shook’s “Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers.” Wilson was born 23 August 1898 in Woodhaven, New York, and raised in Concord, Massachusetts. He was the fourth child of James S. and Mary Grace Dana. James was a farmer, and either a prosperous one, or at least an industrious one: in 1900, the family had seven servants living with them—some undoubtedly farm hands, but still, more than one per member of the family. In 1918, when he filled out his draft card, Wilson was working with American Railway Express. He was 20.
Wilson grew up in the First Parish Church (Unitarian): many of the early Fortean Humanists and skeptics had church connections. His father was not particularly interested in religion, but his mother was a conservative Christian Unitarian, whose family members had also been active in Unitarianism. In line with his Unitarian upbringing, and his home area, Wilson was deeply influenced by Transcendentalism having read Ralph Waldo Emerson by the time he was 17, “Self-Reliance” becoming his “Declaration of Independence.” He joined the War effort as part of the Army Signal Corps and learned to fly. Afterwards, he went to business school at Boston University. By 1920, his parents were empty-nesters, all the servants and children gone.