NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R001200070075-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2003
• Sequence Number: 75
• Publication Date: November 10, 1954
• Content Type: AG

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE
on
THE SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
November 8-10, 1954
Monday, November 8 6:30 P. N.
6:30 P. M. Dinner Meeting
Toastmaster and Moderator: Dr. Edward L. R. Elson
Subject: The Predicament of Our Age
Addresses by:
Mr. Thomas E. NNurray,
Commissioner,
Atomic Energy Commission
Prof. A. T. Hollegen
Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Va.
Tuesday, November 9
10:00 A. M. Plenary Session
Moderator: Father John Cronin
Subject: The Biblical Basks of American Democracy
Paper by:
Mr. Will Herber;
12:30 P. M, Luncheon
Presiding: Dr. Charles W. Lowry
Address by the President of the United States
2:30 P. M. Plenary Session
Moderator; Dr. Elton Trueblood
Subject: The Necessity of Faith in a Living Democracy
Paper by:
Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.,
President, Notre Dame University
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Tuesday, November 9 (Continued)
6:30 P. N. Dinner Meeting
Toastmaster and Moderator: Mr. Charles Edward Wilson
Subject: Practical Steps for Strengthening American Democracy
Addresses by:
Rabbi Edgar Magnin
Mr. Thomas H. Mahoney
Dr. Louis Evans
14ednesday., November 10
10:00 A. M. Plenary Session
T?Ioderator: Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld
Subject; Democracy's Alteraat.ve to the i'Iarxian Dia1e,etic
Paper by:
Dr. Charles 'K. Lowry
12:30 P. M. Luncheon
Presiding: Dr. Edward L. R. Elson
Adjournment
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Foundation for Re lieious fiction
In the Soci l and Civil Order
1. BACKG:ROU TD. The problem of our time is complex and manysided. It is easy
to say that Communism is the great issue of our day. But a full statement of this
problem mast include not only the many facets of insidious appeal which Communism
has, but also an evaluation of our own reaction to the threat which it represents to
oar civilization and. way of life.
To the extent that Communism menaces as by its military, political, economic,
psychological, and conspiratioxial methods and activities, the United States and its
allies have developed resources of defense and containment. People may differ as to
the adequacy of our countermeasures, 'but at least we have finally faced up to the
issue.
In one great area, however, we have both underestimated, the Communist appeal and
have failed sufficiently to mobilize our resources for a more powerful appeal. This
is the area of ideology; the satisfaction of the ideals, aspirations, and hopes of
many millions of mankind. In the minds of far too many people. Communism has vir-
tually preempted such terms as peace, democracy, freedom, reform, progress, and
economic deliverance. Tie free nations of the '.:rest have been tarred as warmongers,
imperialists, exploiters, materialists, and exponents of a decadent civilization.
The impact of this ideological offensive in large sections of Western Europe,
Latin America, Africa, and Asia is tremendous. It is probably as effective, in its
total force, as the more tangible forces against which we have mobilized. Yet the
nations of the free '.orld, our own included, have done little in the battle for men's
minds. Not only are we losing in this field, bat we are also suffering political,
military, and economic losses because of our failure to win the allegiance of many
neutralist nations or groups.
2. TIM FOUNDATION. To meet the crisis of our time, an ideological and spirit-
ual counteroffensive is needed. For this purpose, the Foundation for Religious Ac-
tion in the Social and Civil Order was founded as a means of uniting the religious-
minded. people of America, irrespective of specific creed or denomination, in a
constructive program of opposition to Communism and of affirmation of the ideas of
true Democracy.
The purpose of the Foundation may be stated in the following terms, quoted from
the articles of incorporation:
The particular objects of this corporation shall be to do and
perform every lawful act necessary and incident to be done and
performed in furtherance of uniting all people who believe in a
Supreme Being into a movement having as the avowed aim and pur-
pose the promotion of confidence of people everywhere in religious
truth as the prime support of human freedom; of promoting and en-
couraging resistance to all attempts which may tend to destroy
confidence in religion, or which may aim at enslaving the mizds
d h tf i ~lQ i4 6ax~1~ 8?~Oa ~~ 4ss
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to the forces bent on the destruction of religion; and of having
every participant in this movement endeavor to make religious
truth an effective force for the promotion of ordered freedom
and the common good in every nation and in the family of nations;
and employing every legitimate educational and informational means
of carrying out the aims of purposes herein enumerated.
3. AREAS OF OPI.MATION. In the United States, we seek to revive in our people
an awareness of the spiritual foundations of our democracy. We stress the importance
of religion in social and civil affairs. At the same time we interpret the true
nature of r'orld Communism, as primarily a design for winning and enslaving the minds
of men. This perverse aim must be countered by a vigorous crusade, based on the
primacy of God and the reality of man's creation in the Divine image, and expressing
itself in clear convictions with respect to the moral law, the dignity of man, free-
dom in society, and an orderly economic system which affords material support to the
family and the higher achievements of man's culture, without falling into the errors
of statism and collectivism.
Outside our borders we seek to enlist the support of all believers in God in a
common crusade against the tyranny of atheistic and inhuman Communism and for the
ideals derived from belief in God and, in the rights and dignity of man, Ihd from
confident determination to progress toward ever higher degrees of political and
economic emancipation. Thas we would seek to win an allegiance which is being rat-
idly lost because of the effectiveness of Communist propaganda and our ow~m blindness
to the transcendent importance of the war for men's minds,
4, MFTTIODS OF OP"r'IiATION. To achieve these aims, certain steps will be taken
progressively, as ability, resources, and experience permit. Among these are:
(1) A national conference on the spiritual foundations of our democracy, to be
held in Washington in November, 1954. This will lead to follow-up efforts to combat
secularism and moral anarchy in our nation.
(2) Lecture, radio, and television programs to explain the real nature of the
Communist threat, to further spiritual ideals in our democracy, and to enlist sup-
port for a worldwide effort.
(3) Preparation of literature in order to influence members and others in ac-
cord with the ideals of the Foundation. As a start, a biweekly bulletin is planned,
which will emphasize the real nature of Communism, persecution of religion behind
the Iron Curtain, and the operation of religious ideals in civic and social life.
In addition to direct distribution, such literature will be sent to the editors
of Church papers, selected secular dailies, and the more important weekly newspapers,
to radio and television commentators; and to columnists. It will also be made avail-
able to libraries and schools.
Ultimately literature will be prepared for worldwide distribution, employing the
services of a research staff,
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(4) Making initial contact with religious leaders and religiously inclined lay
leaders in other lands, in the effort to bring them more closely together in a com-
mon cause of preserving freedom and fighting the ideological threat of Communism.
($) Steps to encourage daily prayer for God's help in bringing about peace
and the restoration of freedom to hund.reds of millions under Communist slavery.
(6) Efforts to seek support of and membership in the Foundation, with appeals
both to Church groups and to individuals.
Thus we wrould operate in an area which is of the highest importance, yet which
cannot be the object of government action or propaganda. We would seek to strengthen
and unite the free world, as the Crusade for Freedom strives to implant the ideas of
freedom behind the Iron Curtain, 'Je would also hope to influence Americans to op-
pose Communism for the right reasons and to support a crusade which mould capture the
ideological initiative too often held by Communists today,
There will follow, on the last page of the -printed, brochure, the following
sentence:
BELIEVING in the necessity of action now for God, for Country, and for Human
Liberty, I wish to become a member of the FO!J NDATIOT FOR 's.ELIGIOUS ACTION IN THE
SOCIAL AFID CIVIL O+t:R and to have a part in a spiritual and ideological offensive
for true Zemocracy and against Communism.
On a fly-leaf of the brochure, the following will. be reprinted:
FOUNDATION AIMS
1. To stress the importance of religious truth in the preservation and develop-
ment of genuine Democracy.
2. To unite all believers in God in the struggle between the free world and
atheistic Communism which aims to destroy both religion and liberty.
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Members of the foundation's National Advisory Council are as follows:
Mr. Maxwell Abbell, 'Former President, United Synagogue of America,
Chicago, Illinois
Tyr. Edward ?-v. Barrett, Former Asst. Secretary of State for Public
Affairs, New York, N. Y.
Mr. Harry Camp, San Francisco., California
The :Ion. William R. Castle, Former Undersecretary of State,
Washington, D. C.
Rev. John F. Cronin, S.S., Asst. Director, Social Action Dept., NCWC
Washington, D. C.
Dr. Lois H. Evans, minister at Large, Presbyterian Church in U.S.A.,
Los Angeles, California
Dr. Francis P. Gaines, President, Washinton and Lee University,
Le.d.ngton, Virginia
Rabbi Norman Cerstenfeld, Pastor, Washington Hebrew Congregation,
,.,ashington, 1-j. C.
?ev. Billy Graham, Iiont-reat, N. C.
Dr. Gordon Gray, President, University of North Carolina
Rev. .heocore N. Hesburgh, C.S.C., President, Notre Dame University
Bishop Ivan wee Molt, Bishop in the Iethodist Church, St. Louis, 11issouri
The Ilon. ieru:rt hoover, Former President of the United States
Dr. Robert L. Johnson, President, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.
IIr. Henry R. Luce, Life & Time, New York, N. Y.
The lion. George C. McGhee, Former Ambassador to Turke;r, Washington, D. C.
Rabbi Ed ar F. Hagn in, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, Calif,
IIr. Thomas Mahoney, lice President, Catholic Association for International
Peace, Boston, Massachusetts
Mr. Thomas E. Murray, Atomic Energy Commission
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, iiialis ter., larble Collegiate Reformed Church,
New York, N. Y.
Rt. Rev. Noble C. Powell, Episcopal Bishop of Maryland
The Most 'Rev. Michael J. Ready, Catholic L'ishop of Columbus (Ohio)
C., ashin;ton University
Dr. Joseph R. Sizoo, Head, .Dept, of Religion, George IT
Dr. Guy E. Snavely, Executive 'Secretary, Association of American Colleges,
Washington, D. C.
Dr. Ralph W. Socl;man, Minister, Christ Methodist Church, New York, N. Y.
Dr. Robert G. Storey, Dean of the Law School, Southern Methodist
University, Dallas , Texas
Dr. D. Elton Trueblood, Director of Religious Policy, U.S.I.A.
Rt. Rev. Henry St. George Tucker, Formerly Presiding Bishops Episcopal
Church, Richmond, Virginia
Dr. W. H. Nhite, President, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
Mr. Charles Edward i:iilson, Former President, General Electric Company,
Scarsdale, N. Y.
The Most Rev. John J. Wright, Catholic Bishop of Worcester (Mass.)
I,Ir. John Quincy Adams, President, Manhattan Refrigerating Company
Prof. Jerome Kerwin, Chicago University
Mr. Thomas W. Pangborn, Hagerstown, Maryland
Dr. George Shuster, President, Hunter College
The Hon. John L. Sullivan, Former Secretary of the Navy, Manchester, N. H.
Mr. James Twohy, Co-Chairman, National Conference of Christians and Jews
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NATIONAL CONFERENCE
on
THE SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
November 8 - 10, 195+
Hotel Sheraton-Carlton
16th and K Streets N. W.
Washington, D. C.
There will be an information and registration desk in the North end of
the Lobby of the Hotel Sheraton-Carlton - opposite the Carlton Room. It will
be open from 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 8, and on following days. Members
of the Conference are asked to register at their convenience regardless of
the time of their arrival. There is no registration fee and no charge for
the Conference.
It is urgent that reservations for the luncheon and dinner meetings be
made at once. Please use the enclosed postcard. The cost of each luncheon
will be $2.50, of each dinner .50. Checks may be sent in advance, payable
to FOUNDATION FOR RELIGIOUS ACTION, but the important thing is your reserva-
tions.
Hotel reservations have been made and are being made at the Sheraton-
Carlton as requested. No further action respecting these is necessary. It
is not necessary to reserve a seat at the three Plenary Sessions but a card
of admittance should be secured on registration.
Your attention is called to the following slight changes in schedule.
The First Plenary Session will begin at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 9,
instead of 10:00 a.m. as previously announced. The President of the United
States will make his appearance at 12:00 m. instead of 12:30 p.m. Accord-
ingly we are scheduling Luncheon at 12:00 m. and are adding as a special
feature at this Luncheon a Laymen's Panel on "God and Government", at which
the two participants will be leading figures in our National Government.
The schedule on Wednesday, November 10, will be the same through the noon
hour as on Tuesday: Plenary Session at 9:30 a.m., Luncheon at 12:00 m.
The concluding Luncheon Session will be devoted to evaluation and plans for
future Conferences.
Cordially,
Charles W. Lowry, Chairman
225 DuPont Circle Bldg.
Washington 6, D. C.
Telephone: ADams 2-1256
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