The Evolution of Theology in the Greek Philosophers; The Gifford lectures, Delivered in the University of Glasgow in Sessions 1900-1 and 1901-2.

Glasgow: James MacLehose & Sons, 1904. First edition. Two octavo volumes. xvii, [1], 382; xi, [1], 377, [1], [2], publisher's ads] pp. Publisher's navy cloth with gilt spine lettering. With the simple typographic bookplate of esteemed San Franciscan James K. Moffitt. An exemplary copy."The Evolution of Theology in the Greek Philosophers gives an account of those ideas of Greek Philosophers which have decisively affected the subsequent development of theological thought. The selection of topics is confined mainly to the writings of Plato and Aristotle, to the main representatives of the Stoic philosophy, and to Philo and Plotinus among the Neo-Platonists." (Gifford Lectures).James Moffitt was a force in California history. James Kennedy Moffitt was a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley Campus, with a degree in Education (B.S. 1886), which was followed by the bestowment of a LL.D. (hon.) in 1941. Moffitt was an adventurer as evidenced by his association with the Sierra Club founded by John Muir, its first President in 1892. In the company of James S. Hutchinson and Robert D. Pike, on July 24, 1903, James ascended Mount Sill (14,100 approx.) and the next day he ascended North Palisade (14,254) with Joseph N. Le Conte (the second president of the Sierra Club) and James S. Hutchinson. These are the first recorded successful conquests of these Sierra Nevada Peaks.Continuing in his father’s footsteps, JKM was an active officer and director in the paper-manufacturing firm of Blake, Moffitt & Towne. He was also active in the water business. His father was a good friend of Charles Krug and when the Charles Krug Winder hit hard times in the late 19th century Moffitt bought it and the vineyards were renamed. JCM held the firm until 1943. Moffitt was instrumental in the formation of the Bancroft Library of the Univ. of Calif., Berkeley. The university bought The Bancroft Library (named for Hubert Howe Bancroft) in the fall of 1905. Besides the initial donations to purchase the collection, a number of leading Bay Area citizens pledged to make annual donations to support the operational costs of the library. Besides Moffitt, donors included William B. Bourn (Bourne & Wise winery-now the Culinary Institute of America), William H. Crocker and Phoebe Hearst. Later, Moffitt’s own highly valuable personal library would be donated to the University and established with his name to honor the donation and years of service to the University.