The Swarthmore Lectureship was established by the Woodbrooke Extension Committee, at a meeting held December 7th 1907: the minutes of the Committee provided for "an annual lecture on some subject relating to the message and work of the Society of Friends".

The Lectureship has a two-fold purpose: first, to interpret further to the members of the Society of Friends their Message and Mission; and, secondly, to bring before the public the spirit, the aims and the fundamental principles of the Friends.

The Lectures have been delivered on the evening preceding the assembly of the Friends’ Yearly Meeting in each year. The present Lecture was delivered at Friends House, London, on the evening preceding the Yearly Meeting, 1930.