Howard Pyle, a chronicle by Charles D. Abbott, with an introduction by N. C. Wyeth and many illustrations from Howard Pyle's works.

CHAPTER IX

PHILOSOPHER AND MYSTIC
JJOWARD PYLE grew up in an atmosphere of religlious and philosophical inquiry. His mother, who
was the dominant influence on his early life, was an original
thinker; she was willing to take no dogmas on faith, but
insisted upon formulating her own beliefs and theories.
Consequently it was only natural that her son, who was
always her devout admirer, should f ollow in her footsteps in
this regard. When Mrs. Pyle became earnestly interested
in the doctrines of Emanuel Swedenborg, she broke away
from the old Quaker faith to which her ancestors had adhered for many generations, and molded her religious convictions in the light of her own spiritual reasoning, strengthened by the support of the Swedish mystic. This break
from the Quaker church is clearly indicative of the mystic
temper of her mind, for Quakers, while they do occasionally
leave the church, usually do so in order to j oin a more
ritualistic sect, very seldom to unite themselves with an order
even more mystical than the Quaker church. The early
years of Howard Pyle's life were colored with this spirit
of mysticism which he inherited from his mother, and which
was daily strengthened in him through his continual association with her. Yet the Quaker simplicity, handed down
from generation to generation, remained undiminished under Swedenborgian influences. He retained throughout his
life a simplicity of character which was most unusual for
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