Writing about Phillips Brooks in 1930, William Lawrence, who had known him as a young man, began, “Phillips Brooks was a leader of youth…His was the spirit of adventure, in thought, life, and faith.” To many who know him only as the author of “O little town of Bethlehem,” this part of Brooks’ life and influence is little known.

Born in Boston in 1835, Phillips Brooks graduated from Harvard University and began his career as a teacher at Boston L…