The Scottish theologian and ecumenical churchman John Baillie (1886-1960) was a major influence mediating the conflicting currents of British, American, and European religious and philosophical thought during the middle years of the 20th century.

John Baillie, D.Litt., D.D., S.T.D., professor of divinity at Edinburgh University from 1934 to 1956 and brother of Professor D. M. Baillie of St. Mary's College, St. Andrews, was born March 6, 1886, in Gairloch, West Ross-shire, Scotland. John was the eldest of three sons born to the Free Church minister Rev. John Baillie and Annie Macpherson. His father died when John was four, and the following year his mother moved the three boys to the Highland capital of Inverness where they began their formal education at the Royal Academy. After finishing first in his class, he moved to Edinburgh in 1904 to attend the university, and the rest of the family joined him the...