Ralph Waldo Trine

American New Thought writer

Ralph Waldo Trine

Born| 9 September 1866[1]

Mount Morris, Illinois

Died| 22 February 1958

Claremont, California

Occupation| Writer
Spouse| Grace Steele Hyde Trine

Ralph Waldo Trine (9 September 1866 – 22 February 1958) was an American New Thought writer, philosopher and animal welfare activist.

## Biography

[edit]

Trine was born in Mount Morris, Illinois to Ellen E. Newcomer and Samuel G. Trine.[1][2] He was educated at Knox College where he graduated A.B. in 1891. He studied history and political science at Johns Hopkins University and obtained his A.M. from Knox College in 1893.[2]

Trine married Grace Steele Hyde and they had one son.[2][3] As a young man he worked as a correspondent for the Boston Evening Transcript. During this time he became influenced by the idealistic philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson.[2] Trine was also influenced by George Herron's Christian socialism.[4] Trine's spiritual views have been described as being a mixture of Buddhism, pantheism, spiritualism, transcendentalism, Christian socialism, and neo-Vedanta philosophy.[5]

Trine authored In Tune with the Infinite which has remained the most popular publication in the New Thought movement.[6] Translated into 20 languages, the book articulates Trine's belief that aligning oneself with the universal spirit, or infinite life, can lead to inner peace, health, and success.[2] He emphasized the transformative power of positive thinking, faith, and moral character over material ambition. Unlike most other New Thought writers, Trine did not resort to mental money making advice and has been described as "one of the rare purists whose books were guileless optimism".[7] In the 1920s, Trine became associated with Henry Ford and published some of their conversations in The Power that Wins, illustrating how his ideas resonated with influential public figures.[2]

Trine lived and worked on a fruit farm in Croton-on-Hudson, New York.[8][3]

## Animal welfare

[edit]

Trine was a vegetarian for ethical reasons and supported animal welfare.[9] His book Every Living Creature called for kindness to animals and advocated a vegetarian diet.[9][10] He was the director of the American Humane Education Society and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.[1][3]

## Selected publications

[edit]

* In Tune with the Infinite, T. Y. Crowell & Company, 1897
* Every Living Creature, T. Y. Crowell & Company, 1899
* The Greatest Thing Ever Known, T. Y. Crowell & Company, 1898
* In the Fire of the Heart, McClure, Philips & Co, 1906
* The Wayfarer On The Open Road, George Bell and Sons, 1908
* My Philosophy and My Religion, Dodd, Mead & Company, 1921
* The Power that Wins, The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1929

## In Tune With The Infinite

[edit]

In In Tune With The Infinite, Trine's core beliefs are clearly expressed. One of his central ideas is that the most important fact of human life is coming into a conscious and vital realization of one's oneness with Infinite Life, and opening oneself to this divine inflow.[11]: 17 Instead of promoting material success, Trine focused on cultivating moral character and inner harmony. For him, success came not from striving for wealth, but from living in accordance with divine order.[11]: 185 Trine argued that the mind held the real power: by thinking positively and harmonizing one's thoughts with the Infinite, individuals could transform both their inner life and external circumstances.[11]: 23 Trine's work is deeply invested in mind-body connections, arguing that physical health can even be achieved through spiritual alignment and mental clarity.[12] Within the text, Trine articulates that access to divine truth is available to all, not solely religious elites. In this manner, he made spiritual insight a part of everyday life.[11] Scholars have noted the that the power of In Tune With The Infinite lies within its optimistic, emotionally edifying vision of life. His idealism is described as vague yet appealing, offering spiritual comfort.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Marquis, Albert Nelson (1918). "Who's Who in America: Volume 10, 1918-1919". Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. p. 2742
2. ^ a b c d e f Melton, J. Gordon (1999). "Religious Leaders of America". The Gale Group. p. 574
3. ^ a b c Bateman, Newton (1909). "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois". Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company. p. 1041
4. ^ McKanan, Dan (2010). "The Implicit Religion of Radicalism: Socialist Party Theology, 1900–1934". Journal of the American Academy of Religion. 78 (3): 750–789\. doi:10.1093/jaarel/lfq050. JSTOR 27919235.
5. ^ McMahan, David L (2008). The Making of Buddhist Modernism. Oxford University Press. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-19-518327-6
6. ^ Butler, Jon (2006). "Theory and God in Gotham". History and Theory. 45 (4): 47–61\. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2303.2006.00383.x. JSTOR 3874096.
7. ^ Griswold, Alfred Whitney (1938). "New Thought: A Cult of Success". American Journal of Sociology. 40 (3): 309–318\. doi:10.1086/216744. JSTOR 2768263. S2CID 144085744.
8. ^ Williams, Talcott (1925). "The New International Encyclopædia: Volume 22". New York: Dodd, Mead and Company. p. 475
9. ^ a b Helstosky, Carol (2014). The Routledge History of Food. Taylor & Francis. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-415-62847-1
10. ^ Iacobbo, Karen; Iacobbo, Michael (2004). Vegetarian America: A History. Praeger. p. 114. ISBN 0-275-97519-3
11. ^ a b c d Trine, Ralph Waldo (1906). In Tune With The Infinite.
12. ^ a b Royce, Josiah (1898). "Review of In Tune with the Infinite; or, Fulness of Peace, Power, and Plenty". International Journal of Ethics. 9 (1): 124–126\. ISSN 1526-422X.

* v
* t
* e

Animal welfare

Issues|

* Abandoned pets
* Animal husbandry
* Animal testing
* Animals in sport
* Artificial insemination
* Barn fire
* Battery cage
* Beak trimming
* Bile bear
* Blood sports
* Captivity
* Chick culling
* Culling
* Concentrated animal feeding operation
* Dairy farming
* Discretionary invasive procedures on animals
* Eating live animals
* Eating live seafood
* Eyestalk ablation
* Feedback (pork industry)
* Foam depopulation
* Foie gras controversy
* Forced molting
* Fur farming
* Gestation crate
* Hunting
* Horse pain caused by the bit
* Intensive animal farming
* Intensive pig farming
* Livestock branding
* Livestock dehorning
* Livestock transportation
* Pet rental
* Poultry farming
* Puppy mill
* Testing cosmetics on animals
* Ventilation shutdown
* Vivisection
* Welfare of farmed insects
* Wild animal welfare
* Wildlife farming
* Zoos

Concepts|

* Abnormal behaviours in animals
* Animal psychopathology
* Animal shelter
* Animal welfare science
* Anthrozoology
* Behavioral enrichment
* Compassionate conservation
* Conservation welfare
* Ethics of uncertain sentience
* Ethical omnivorism
* Five Domains model
* Five Freedoms
* Humane law enforcement
* Intrinsic value in animal ethics
* Rescue group
* RSPCA Assured
* Three Rs principles
* Welfare biology

Pain|

* Pain in amphibians
* Pain in cephalopods
* Pain in crustaceans
* Pain in fish
* Pain in invertebrates
* Grimace scale

Organisations|

* ASPCA
* Animal Defence and Anti-Vivisection Society
* Animal Defenders International
* Animal Welfare Committee
* Animal Welfare Party
* Animals' Friend Society
* American Humane
* Animal Aid Unlimited
* Animal Welfare Board of India
* Animal Welfare Institute
* Animal Welfare Investigations Project
* Badger Trust
* Band of Mercy
* Battersea
* Best Friends Animal Society
* Blue Cross
* Blue Cross of India
* Care for the Wild International
* Cats Protection
* Church Society for the Promotion of Kindness to Animals
* Compassion in World Farming
* CAWF
* Cinnamon Trust
* Dogs Trust
* DSPA
* DSPCA
* Eurogroup for Animals
* Four Paws
* FRAME
* Hedgehog Care
* Humane Canada
* Humane Farm Animal Care
* HSUS
* Humane Society International
* Humane Slaughter Association
* International Animal Rescue
* IFAW
* International Society for Applied Ethology
* ISPCA
* List of animal welfare organizations
* League Against Cruel Sports
* Marine Connection
* National Society for the Abolition of Cruel Sports
* Network for Animals
* Lord Dowding Fund for Humane Research
* MSPCA-Angell
* National Animal Welfare Trust
* National Anti-Vivisection Society
* National Council for Animals' Welfare
* OneKind
* Party for Animal Welfare
* People for Animals
* People's Dispensary for Sick Animals
* RNZSPCA
* RSPCA
* RSPCA Australia
* Save Me
* Scottish Animal Welfare Commission
* SSPCA
* Tiggywinkles
* Toronto Humane Society
* UFAW
* Wildlife Aid Foundation
* World Animal Protection
* World Horse Welfare

Publications|

* American Humane Magazine
* Animal Protection
* Animal Welfare
* AWI Quarterly
* Cruel Sports
* Human Advocate
* Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
* Our Dumb Animals
* The Animals' Friend
* The Animals' Guardian
* The Cat
* The Zoophilist

Books|

* A Few Notes on Cruelty to Animals (1846)
* Black Beauty (1877)
* Diet for a New America (1987)
* Min ko vill ha roligt (1990)
* Miracle Dog (2005)
* Striking at the Roots (2007)
* Pawprints of Katrina (2008)
* No Animals Were Harmed (2011)

Activists
and workers|

| Contemporary|

* Michael C. Appleby
* Cynthia Bathurst
* Matthew E. Bershadker
* Christa Blanke
* Moira Brown
* Jan Cameron
* Judy MacArthur Clark
* Kendra Coulter
* Peter Ronald Davies
* Petra Deimer
* Alanna Devine
* Robin Ganzert
* Celia Hammond
* Alison Hanlon
* Brian Hare
* Kathrin Glock
* Emily Patterson-Kane
* Philip Lymbery
* Damien Mander
* Christine Nicol
* Wayne Pacelle
* Sharon Pincott
* Ilka Reinhardt
* Jill Robinson
* Naomi Sagara
* Sepehr Salimi
* Adolfo Sansolini
* Rakesh Shukla
* Karen Stockin
* Patti Strand
* Sally Varma
* Tina M. Widowski

|

Historical|

* Gertrude Ansell
* Emily Appleton
* Gertrude Baillie-Weaver
* H. Baillie-Weaver
* Madeleine Bemelmans
* Henry Bergh
* Annie Bradshaw
* Victoria Braithwaite
* Mary Brancker
* Benjamin Bryan
* Roger A. Caras
* Ada Cole
* Edith Cole
* Jim Cronin
* Brian Davies
* Gerard Lysley Derriman
* Maria Dickin
* Marjorie Doggett
* Muriel Dowding
* Alice Drakoules
* Sarah J. Eddy
* Thomas Erskine
* Agnes Estcourt-Oswald
* Edward G. Fairholme
* Aida McAnn Flemming
* Lucy Furman
* Basil Goldstone
* Julia Goddard
* Robert Gower
* Norman Child Graham
* Colesworthey Grant
* George Greenwood
* Peter Gurney
* Catherine Victoria Hall
* Edward Hemingway
* Rachel Hirschfeld
* Sjoerd Hofstra
* Clive Hollands
* Douglas Houghton
* John A. Hoyt
* W. Hugenholtz
* Rowland Johns
* Velma Bronn Johnston
* Albert Knapp
* Agnes von Konow
* Titus Lander
* Carla Lane
* Etta Lemon
* Victoria Lidiard
* George Watson Little
* Alasdair Alpin MacGregor
* Terry Maple
* Fergus MacCunn
* Frederick Messer
* Richard Martin
* Shirley McGreal
* Lady Mount Temple
* Harriet Nevins
* Felix Ortt
* Catherine Louisa Pirkis
* Eliza Phillips
* Maude Gillette Phillips
* Duchess of Portland
* Samuel Jackson Pratt
* Nancy Price
* Wilfred Risdon
* Peter Roberts
* Jules Rühl
* Jan Salter
* Olive Smith-Dorrien
* Catherine Smithies
* Thomas Bywater Smithies
* Herbert Snow
* Ellin Prince Speyer
* Christine Stevens
* Douglas S. S. Steuart
* Elisabeth Svendsen
* Mary Tealby
* Ralph Waldo Trine
* Sidney Trist
* Ethel Venton
* M. Dudley Ward
* Jessey Wade
* Christopher Wathes
* Franz Weber
* Caroline Earle White
* Emily Williamson
* H. Fergie Woods
* Alice Morgan Wright
* Gretchen Wyler

Scholars
and writers|

| Contemporary|

* Arnold Arluke
* Jonathan Balcombe
* Michael Balls
* Geoffrey Barstow
* Marc Bekoff
* Donald Broom
* Marian Dawkins
* Bob Fischer
* Bruce Fogle
* Jane Goodall
* Temple Grandin
* Celia Haddon
* Jane Hurst
* Erich Hoyt
* Barbara J. King
* Alistair Lawrence
* David Macdonald
* Jeremy Marchant
* Jeff McMahan
* Daniel Mills
* Sy Montgomery
* Virginia Morell
* Yew-Kwang Ng
* Caitlin O'Connell-Rodwell
* Clare Palmer
* Susan J. Pearson
* Dale Peterson
* Jessica Pierce
* Diana Reiss
* Carl Safina
* Matthew Scully
* Paul Shapiro
* Jennifer Skiff
* Brian Tomasik
* Peter Wohlleben

|

Historical|

* George T. Angell
* Patrick Bateson
* Beddow Bayly
* Ernest Bell
* Edward Berdoe
* Arthur Broome
* Jean Burden
* Gerald Carson
* Stephen Coleridge
* Christian Adam Dann
* J. Morewood Dowsett
* Audrey Eyton
* George Fleming
* Ralph Fletcher
* Ruth Harrison
* Caroline van der Hucht-Kerkhoven
* C. W. Hume
* E. Douglas Hume
* Beatrice Lindsay
* James Macaulay
* Basheer Ahmad Masri
* Francis Orpen Morris
* George Nicholson
* Siobhan O'Sullivan
* Charles Reinhardt
* Francis H. Rowley
* W. M. S. Russell
* Chris Sherwin
* Colin Spedding
* William O. Stillman
* John Styles
* Bell Taylor
* Ernst von Weber
* D. G. M. Wood-Gush
* Frans de Waal
* Meta Wellmer
* Hugh Wirth
* William Youatt
* Thomas Young

Categories|

* Animal advocacy parties
* Animal killing
* Animal rights
* Animal welfare and rights legislation
* Animal welfare in sports
* Animal sacrifice
* Animal sanctuaries
* Animal testing
* Animal welfare and rights by country
* Cruelty to animals
* Dishes involving the consumption of live animals
* Ethically disputed business practices towards animals
* Fur trade
* Pain in animals
* People associated with animal welfare
* Vivisection
* Whaling

Religious
considerations|

* Dhabihah
* Jhatka
* Kutha
* Shechita
* Tza'ar ba'alei chayim

Rituals and
festivals|

* Blessing of animals
* Bous al carrer
* Cock throwing
* Combat de Reines
* Eid al-Adha
* Gadhimai festival
* Goat throwing
* Goose pulling
* International Primate Day
* Kapparot
* Dog Meat Festival
* Monkey Buffet Festival
* October Horse
* Pushkar Camel Fair
* Rapa das Bestas of Sabucedo
* Running of the bulls
* Surin Elephant Round-up
* Toro embolado
* World Animal Day

Legislation|

* Animal testing regulations
* Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (UK)
* Animal Welfare Act 1999 (NZ)
* Animal Welfare Act 2006 (UK)
* Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (US)
* Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 (UK)
* Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 (UK)
* EU Directive 2010/63/EU (EU)
* EU Directive 1999/74/EC (EU)
* Horse Protection Act of 1970 (US)
* Hunting Act 2004 (UK)
* List of international animal welfare conventions
* Philippine Animal Welfare Act 1998 (Philippines)

Related|

* List of animal rights advocates
* List of animal sanctuaries

* Category

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Japan
* Italy
* Australia
* Czech Republic
* Spain
* Portugal
* Netherlands
* Korea
* Sweden
* Poland
* Vatican
* Israel
* Finland
* Catalonia

Academics|

* CiNii

Artists|

* Discography of American Historical Recordings

People|

* Trove
* DDB

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template