running IN MEMORIAM header ally studied the Word . In the last somewhat-healthy month of her life , she was carefully reading the New Testament and remarking on how much it moved her . She also cared about every single one of her former students and if she could have , she would have met with each one to counsel them on how to go forward in useful and happy ways .” She added , “ In the end , Jane didn ’ t feel ‘ done ,’ partially , I think , because she wanted to continue furthering the future of the College and her beloved students .”
A Firm Foundation Although she may not have felt done , there ’ s no doubt that Jane built a firmly researched foundation on which others can continue her work . In a 2008 memo to Academy administrators Jane wrote , “ During my tenure at the College , I have had the privilege to build an academic platform of interest in Swedenborg that extends around the world . It is a living network of scholars in the US , Canada , Scandinavia , Europe ( East and West ), Asia , Australia , and Africa . It is a platform / network that can be shared and can grow .” She added , “ Quite honestly , I could not have done this work without the interest and financial support of Academy presidents and deans over the years . They have encouraged me to develop this platform , and now I want to give it to the institution . I want it to grow from my own ‘ private ’ platform into one with an institutional home that can serve the College and the Church long after I retire and pass on .”
Preparing Future Scholars One of Jane ’ s life goals involved promoting intelligent and honest worldwide conversation about Emanuel Swedenborg and the New
Church , while helping to dispel misunderstandings . In her 2008 memo she wrote , “ It is important that there is a New Church scholar or scholars who are respected in the broader academic community for their intellectual integrity and objectivity who can argue with the proponents of such [ misinformed ] positions , and counter their claims and their scholarship . We need to have an on-going presence in the field as a check on academic opportunism at the expense of the truth .”
To help ensure this abundance of New Church scholars , Jane dedicated enormous energy to developing and promoting the College ’ s Masters of Arts in Religious Studies ( MARS ) program . She found promising students and cultivated their scholarship , never losing her firm belief in the program ’ s importance . She rejoiced in knowing that , from the program ’ s inception in 1995 , 41 men and women have now graduated with an advanced degree in New Church doctrine .
Over the years , Jane publicly challenged various assertions about Swedenborg at conferences and in published papers , and privately spoke with some scholars about their perspectives . Her dissertation topic , “ A New Church in a Disenchanted World ,” gave her insight into existing Swedenborg scholarship and inspired her to envision a symposium that would draw together like-minded people from around the world who had scholarly interests .
With this in mind , Jane helped organize the first Swedenborg Symposium , held in Bryn Athyn in 1988 . The College declared a holiday during these meetings to allow students and faculty to have maximum involvement . After the symposium , Dean Robert W . Gladish , Ph . D . ( AA ' 50 ), wrote “ Under the
Jane was a force of nature . She possessed a rare combination of passion and the will to get things done . She was formidable , relentless , indomitable , indefatigable or any other word one might think of that indicates both strength and vitality . At the same time , she radiated positivity and approached others with compassion . Whether personally or professionally — as scholar , mentor , teacher , colleague , friend — Jane has touched so many of our lives .
— Sean Lawing
leadership of Prof . Jane Williams- Hogan this assemblage of scholarly talent from various parts of the world produced a memorable series of meetings plus a fascinating array of papers on Swedenborg ’ s life , studies and influence .”
For decades after , Jane remained in contact with scholars from that symposium . The book containing these papers , called Swedenborg and His Influence , now exists in libraries worldwide and has been cited in many scholarly articles . The symposium led to the creation of a Swedenborg seminar , which for seven years became a regular feature at the American Academy of Religion . Jane wrote , “ The effect of that work was and remains far reaching .”
International Impact Through her publications , Jane began to become known in many countries . She accepted invitations to speak and chair panels in Australia , Austria , Canada , the Czech Republic , England , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , Lithuania , Mexico , the Netherlands , South Africa , South Korea , and Sweden . Presenting at these conferences led to more publications for Jane , and even invitations to write blurbs about Swedenborg for dictionaries and encyclopedias . As Gregory Baker , Ph . D . ( AA ' 61 ), Director of research at Bryn Athyn College
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