Emilia Gurney
Biography and Correspondence
Emilia Russell Gurney (Batten) (July 26, 1823-1896) was born into an Anglican family with ministers on both sides of her family. Her maternal grandfather was John Venn of the Clapham Sect, and Anglican group of social reformers founded by John Newton and closely associated with William Wilberforce. They were closely involved in political movements for the abolition of the slave trade and the abolition of slavery in Britain. In 1852, Emelia married Russell Gurney and they moved to Kensington Park Gardens.
Emelia Gurney became one of the founders of the Kensington Society from 1865-1868. The group of feminists, reformers, and suffragists met on a regular basis and submitted topics for discussion. It was an environment where women were free to discuss and debate political and social issues. A number of the founding members went on to become key women in various social movements. They included Sarah Emily Davies who was a pioneering campaigner for women’s access to university, Barbara Bodichon and Jessie Boucherett who founded the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson who was the first woman in Britain to qualify as a physician and surgeon, and Rosamond Davenport Hill who was a noted prison reformer.
Together the Kensington Society petitioned parliament for women’s rights to vote. After this petition filed they became the London National Society for Women’s Suffrage, then the National Society for Women’s Suffrage and finally the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies. As such it played it crucial role in the work to achieve the right for women to vote in Britain.
Emilia’s husband, Russell, served in parliament where he advocated for women’s issues including the Married Women’s Property Act of 1870 and the UK Medical Acts of 1876, which permitted women to become physicians and surgeons. Emilia was also a member of the Mount Temple religious circle sponsored by Baron Mount Temple and his wife, Georgina. She attended the Broadlands Conferences from 1874-1888, where she became a close associate of Hannah Whitall Smith.
3 Orme Square
1-13- 1886
Beloved Sister Hannah,
What an event it is in ones life to get such a love letter as thine lying just now before me! I often think, notwithstanding a certain Divine parsimony and holding back that at times one seems to perceive and suffer under, that there is also a tropical abundance that no outstretched arms can receive- and as one has no absolute standard or measure as to fullness or emptiness one grasps the idea first of one and then of the other though no doubt God gives ever more far more than one can receive. This is such a special day for me to get such a blessed thing as thy letter- because it is the never to be forgotten anniversary of that heaven opening that came to me through thy and thy husband’s ministrations 12 years ago- a bridal day between Heaven and Earth that my eyes were opened to behold when I saw the sap of Lovelife moving in the Apple tree and felt it in my own veins and heard the meaning of the word Immanuel- To have a token of unity with the teaching of that time, thee may well fancy is unutterably sweet and truly I must take up my bed and walk I think with such a message as thou sendest me.
Darling- I am much better- nothing did me good till this day week when my old Dr. returning, he treated me for rheumatic gout in my jaw- since then that worst pain of vitriol slowly passing through and in all my teeth skinning them to my very soul has not defeated itself. There was a kind of fiendish deliberate action about it- that really wounded my sentimental part! My Dr. says this kind of attack seldom departs under 6 weeks- the blood has poison in it and can’t get free of it- It is strange though to me, thy dear feeling that pain and I should not become intimates. On the contrary I have long felt that there was a certain callowness about me that only by such discipline could be cut out, but I know nothing but am known of God. What words- do I, can I believe them? Sometimes by flashes- and in those flashes I would fain live.
The Lady has been here- suffering too and yet reading to me beautiful exalted words by our Archbishop- I said I would try and go tonight if only for half an hour- but I seem to be be told not- I took my farewell glance of my strong Sister- other Hannah and hardly feel as if I could grapple with saying goodbye again. Uniter sent me thy Secret and I read it through on Sunday with glad consent to every word and an intention to take some day by day for daily bread. The “Although” and “Yet” chapters I read to my invalids and found them drinking it in. That verse (Hab) my blessed W. Erskine used to repeat and re-repeat with persevering delight. Did you ever read his life?- if not, I must send it to you. I have written on and on because on board ship you will have time to read anything.
Give true love to ever beloved J.W. Beck- we meet in silence. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.- If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be condemned- and to think thou hast freely given me thine! Praise the Lord Oh my soul!
Thine, E.R.G.
(Emilia Russell Gurney)
