Definition of "humanitarian"

So far as the followers of Jesus have woven the humanitarian teachings of their master into the living fibre of their own daily lives, the Christian religion has been a blessing and a civilizer.

1871 July, James G. Clark, Dogmatic and Real Religion. […], [Syracuse, N.Y.]: Syracuse Radical Club, page 3

[T]his most painful condition [a fractured arm], [...] was brought about through the humanitarian act of saving, and restoring to life, the angelic form of a creature whose very existence was a gigantic balm of Gilead to the lacerated body of our hero, [...]

1872, S[imon] M[ohler] Landis, “Deacon Stew Raves at Lucinda’s Love for Victor”, in […] The Social War of the Year 1900; or, The Conspirators and Lovers!, Philadelphia, Pa.: Landis Publishing Society, […], page 20

But though personified, the function of Wisdom is mainly humanitarian: her delights are with the sons of men (Prov[erbs] viii. 31, 32).

1909, J[ohn] A[llen] F[itzgerald] Gregg, “Introduction”, in A[lexander] F[rancis] Kirkpatrick, editor, The Wisdom of Solomon: […] (The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, page xxxii

There are three divisions into which the purposes of the hospital may be classed: Humanitarian, educational and scientific. The humanitarian relates to the care of the sick.

1914 January 16, William Henry Welch, “Present Position of Medical Education, Its Development and Great Needs for the Future”, in Walter C. Burket, editor, Papers and Addresses by William Henry Welch: In Three Volumes, volume III, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins Press, published 1920, page 115

If a Protecting Power has not been designated or accepted from the beginning of a situation referred to in Article 1, the International Committee of the Red Cross, without prejudice to the right of any other impartial humanitarian organization to do likewise, shall offer its good offices to the Parties to the conflict with a view to the designation without delay of a Protecting Power to which the Parties to the conflict consent.

1977 June 8, “Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977”, in International Committee of the Red Cross‎, archived from the original on 1 August 2020, article 5(3)

Dr. John Fothergill, eighteenth century Quaker physician, was eminent in the practice of medicine, active in the religious Society of Friends, and prominent in the humanitarian and charitable philanthropies of his time.

1980 September 13–14, K. Garth Huston, “Bibliographical Note”, in John Fothergill, Observations on the Recovery of a Man Dead in Appearance by Distending the Lungs with Air, Van Nuys, Calif.: K. Garth Huston […]

The devastating effect of the violence is illustrated by the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe of the 1994 Rwandan genocide that caused deaths, homelessness, despair, poverty, political instability, and economic stagnation in this country.

2007, Gabriel Andrew Msoka, “General Conclusion”, in Basic Human Rights and the Humanitarian Crises in Sub-Saharan Africa: Ethical Reflections (Princeton Theological Monograph Series; 74), Eugene, Or.: Pickwick Publications, Wipf and Stock Publishers, page 169

Legal scholars and jurists have produced a wealth of material which explores whether armed humanitarian interventions are in line with international law and whether attacks on civilians or non-military targets breach international humanitarian law.

2015, Jenny H. Peterson, “Introduction”, in Roger Mac Ginty, Jenny H. Peterson, editors, The Routledge Companion to Humanitarian Action (Routledge Companions), Abingdon, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Routledge, page 1

I might further object that ſome Humanitarians would tell you that the doctrine of the atonement is perfectly compatible with the ſimple humanity of Chriſt, ſo that to every perſon of the Humanitarian perſuaſion the former tenet does not appear "mockery and deluſion."

, Benjamin Hobhouse, “Letter V”, in A Reply to the Rev. F[rancis] Randolph’s Letter to the Rev. Dr. [Joseph] Priestley; or, An Examination of the Rev. F. Randolph’s “Scriptural Revision of Socinian Arguments:” […], Trowbridge, Wiltshire: […] Abraham Small, for T[homas] Cadell, […], section IV (Of Your Comments upon the Following Extract from Dr. Priestley’s Letter to Dr. [Richard] Price, Page 45), page 85

[Y]ou muſt have recourſe to pretty ſtrong figure to reconcile that belief to humanitarian tenets, from this beautiful and ſublime chapter.

1793, F[rancis] Randolph, Scriptural Revision of Socinian Arguments Vindicated, against the Reply of Benjamin Hobhouse, Esq., Bath, Somerset: […] R. Cruttwell, for T[homas] Cadell, […], pages 147–148

By the study of natural laws, Humanitarian philosophers know how to distinguish those thoughts, desires and actions which are rewarded, from those that are corrected, and Humanitarian philosophers are thus, next to the God of Nature, the safest guides and greatest benefactors of mankind; for, not a single individual, still less Society, can improve without the Humanitarian philosophy, as it alone is based on the only infallible criterion.

1876, Joachim Kaspary, Natural Laws; or The Infallible Criterion, London: J. A. Brook & Co., […], pages 3–4

But if we doubt the humanity of the social theories of [Bartolomé de] Las Casas, and the humanitarians of the sixteenth century, what verdict may not posterity accord to those of [William] Wilberforce and the humanitarians of the nineteenth century, when it contemplates the results of their social experiments in St. Domingo, Jamaica, and the other islands of the American Archipelago.

1856, J[ohn] S. Thrasher, “Preliminary Essay”, in Alexander Humboldt [i.e., Alexander von Humboldt], translated by J. S. Thrasher, The Island of Cuba, […], New York, N.Y.: Derby & Jackson, […]; Cincinnati, Oh.: H. W. Derby, page 53

Mr. [Gilbert] Haven has never forgotten this sacred duty. While our humanitarians have inquired into the natural rights of man, the spirit of modern civilization and the Constitution, he, without despising such inquiries, has sought wisdom and direction at the Cross.

1870 June, [George Prentice], “Haven’s National Sermons”, in I[saac] W[illiam] Wiley, editor, The Ladies’ Repository: A Monthly Periodical, Devoted to Literature and Religion, volume VI (New Series; volume XXX overall), Cincinnati, Oh.: Hitchcock and Walden; New York, N.Y.: Carlton and Lanahan, page 404, column 1

Their thoughts, wished out into form, make a fit place for the weaker multitude to live in and they are always the humanitarians, giving their life for the world.

1929, Julia Seton, “Supra-consciousness: Sight—Hearing—Taste—Touch—Smell”, in The Short Cut—Regeneration through Fasting, 2nd edition, Chicago, Ill.: Occult Publishing Company, page 78

And she took the time to lock the door behind her, even though she was rushing upstairs because she's such a humanitarian?

2000 July 13, Lee Child [pseudonym; James Dover Grant], chapter 31, in Running Blind (A Jack Reacher Novel), New York, N.Y.: Jove Books, published July 2009, page 508

Both Seneca [the Younger] and [Jonathan] Swift were humanitarians who freely served their fellow men.

2009, Anna Lydia Motto, “Seneca on the Bestowal of Benefits”, in Additional Essays on Seneca (Studien zur klassischen Philologie), Frankfurt am Main, Hesse: Peter Lang, page 106

My parents always affirmed that if you're able to love yourself, you're better able to love your community and those around you, regardless of their ethnicity or race, which makes it easier to be a true humanitarian.

2015 February, Rashid Shabazz, “Rashid Shabazz”, in Ben Jealous, Trabian Shorters, editors, Reach: 40 Black Men Speak on Living, Leading, and Succeeding, New York, N.Y.: Atria Paperback, page 136

But it will be demanded, how happened it that Irenæus, the pupil of that Polycarp who is repreſented to have been a Humanitarian, ſhould become a zealous advocate for the Deity of Chriſt?

, Benjamin Hobhouse, “Letter IV”, in A Reply to the Rev. F[rancis] Randolph’s Letter to the Rev. Dr. [Joseph] Priestley; or, An Examination of the Rev. F. Randolph’s “Scriptural Revision of Socinian Arguments:” […], Trowbridge, Wiltshire: […] Abraham Small, for T[homas] Cadell, […], section II (Of Your Quotation from Irenæus), page 171

[S]hould any one tell a Humanitarian, that I worſhipped and adored my Saviour, might he not with equal juſtice ſuppoſe me to avow only the ſame ſort of reverence I thought due a parent, or the adoration one profeſſed to pay any beloved object.

1793, F[rancis] Randolph, Scriptural Revision of Socinian Arguments Vindicated, against the Reply of Benjamin Hobhouse, Esq., Bath, Somerset: […] R. Cruttwell, for T[homas] Cadell, […], page 34

It is well understood that most Unitarians, especially those recently educated, are humanitarians. They deny the preexistence of Christ, and regard him as no more than a highly gifted and Divinely inspired prophet, a man.

1829 January, “Introduction”, in The Spirit of the Pilgrims, volume II, number 1, Boston, Mass.: Peirce and Williams, […], page 7

He [Charles Spear] is not a Trinitarian nor yet a Humanitarian, but seems to favor what is sometimes called the Superangelic scheme. He appears to have shrunk from relying on Jesus as a man, and to have been unable to perceive the strict identity of the Son with the Father, and so gets for a Saviour a being neither God nor man.

1841 July, “Art VIII.—Literary Notices. [Names and Titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. By Charles Spear. Fourth Edition. […] 1841. 12mo. pp. 400. (book review).]”, in The Boston Quarterly Review, volume IV, number III, Boston, Mass.: Benjamin H. Greene, […], page 392

Therefore, Humanitarians alone devote their present lives to create heavens within themselves and others, and a real paradise upon earth, because they do not waste their time with Pagan delusions, Sceptical doubts, and Atheistical selfishness, but live happily in the present by preparing for themselves and others happier future human lives upon our improveable globe.

1876, Joachim Kaspary, Natural Laws; or The Infallible Criterion, London: J. A. Brook & Co., […], page 136