|
AN "UNENCUMBERED"
URANTIA BOOK
The following continues
with Carolyn's personal remarks.
| The revelators were
concerned that the book might become a means for the personal aggrandizement
of the humans associated with it. "The main reason for not revealing the
identity of the 'Contact Personality' is that the Celestial Revelators
do not want any human being -- any human name -- ever to be associated
with The Urantia Book. They want this revelation to stand on its
own declarations and teachings. They are determined that future generations
shall have the book wholly free from all mortal connections --they do not
want a Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Luther, Calvin, or Wesley. The book does
not even bear the imprint of the printer who brought the book into being."
(1.1) They did not want anyone to make either a name or money for himself
off The Urantia Book. (2.2)
The revelators had
definite opinions regarding anything that might presume to explain or even
obscure the book. As the book was being prepared for its initial publication,
one of the contact commissioners proposed to the Revelatory commission
that he write an introduction to pave the way for the book. They declined
his offer, commenting, "How could a candle illuminate the way for a powerful
beacon of light?" The commissioner later said, "So, I didn't write my book."
(1.3) |
This statement offers
some insight into the thinking and human aspirations going on at 533.
| They had firm ideas
about what form the papers should take. In January 1954 Bill Sadler wrote
a simplified version of the Foreword and first five papers which he titled,
"The Alpheus Twins' Version of The Urantia Papers." He read each chapter
on successive Sundays to the approval of, and encouragement by, the Forum.
The next week he announced he could not continue his project. The midwayers
had remonstrated with him, telling him to "knock it off." They did not
want a simplified version of the revelation to compete with the original
version. (2.2), (5.1) & (8.1) Only material of the highest quality
could be considered by the trustees and then, if approved, published separately. |
Another reason exists
for the caution to Bill Sadler. If he were to publish "reduced" versions
of the Papers he would open the Pandora's box of other persons doing the
same. This possibility was counter to secular control of the Revelation.
SAFEGUARDING THE NAME
URANTIA
We come now to
one of the most devastating "instructions" given by Caligastia. This led
to great turmoil within the Urantia community, and subverted a free and
clear Revelation.
A well-known message
is the advice about protecting the name Urantia:
"You have not
done enough to safeguard your name. (Meaning the name Urantia.) Make it
very safe for one generation so the name URANTIA cannot be preempted.
"In a common-law
trust you hold the name. You do it also in a corporation. A corporation
has status in law. You also do it in the copyright. You must carefully
register it with the division of government that I have looked into, that
controls trade relations, Trademarks, and then you are protected in common
law connected with a volunteer association such as you are planning in
the Urantia Brotherhood. In all those ways you must safeguard the name.
THIS IS ONE OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES.
"In 50, 75, or
100 years the name will be fairly safe. You safeguard it for a generation
and it will largely take care of itself. (They are talking about the name
Urantia.)." (10.1) |
Well, certainly,
if the Revelation is tied up under secular law for one generation, if everyone's
mind is conditioned to those legal policies, and if legal precedent is
set, it will largely take care of itself.
THIS IS ONE OF
THEIR MOST IMPORTANT DUTIES, but the personalities at the scene simply
could not see through the deception.
How devious.
One can see from
the human elements of the phraseology how this "instruction" came out of
the mind of Christy through her channeling. It probably also was edited
for public consumption.
"Safeguard your name,"
"common-law trust," "corporation," "status in law," "copyright," "division
of government," "control trade relations," are all secular legal vehicles.
This "instruction" focused reliance on just such mortal devices, rather
than upon trust in God. The phrase "division of government that I have
looked into" is especially telling. Immortal beings do not have to "look
into" any secular mortal institutions.
| "There must be
one Urantia Brotherhood. Study groups may call themselves groups to study
The Urantia Book." (10.6) & (3.3) "Other religious groups will spring
from the Urantia teachings. The Urantia Book, Urantia Brotherhood, Urantia
Foundation and Urantia Societies will be the exclusive carriers of the
name, Urantia, but they should not claim to be the exclusive carriers of
the truth."
(10.7) & (3.3) |
Here Carolyn's sources
are Christy and Christy's channeled productions. The Devil is embellishing
on his methods to control the Revelation.
THE URANTIA BROTHERHOOD
| "It was inevitable
that some sort of fraternal organization would grow out of the teachings
of
The Urantia Book. All interested persons could see that the Urantia
teachings were opposed to the sectarianism of Christian believers. It was
clear that it was not the purpose of the Urantia Revelation to start a
new church." (1.1) It was the trustees' responsibility to plan
the Brotherhood. (3.3) This organization would be delegated the task of
disseminating The Urantia Book and its teachings. While it was not
to be a church, there needed to be an efficient, minimal organization.
In consultation with outside authorities on organizations a governing structure
similar to the Presbyterian church was adopted for the Brotherhood. (2.2)
The "Articles for
Urantia Brotherhood Constitution" were read to the Seventy in November
1950. The organizational outline was presented to the Seventy a month later.
The preamble to the Brotherhood Constitution and more of the Constitution
was read to the Seventy in December 1951. (4.1) It should be recalled that
this "plan of organization" was "provisionally approved for the inauguration
of the Brotherhood" by the recently installed planetary prince in August
1952. (10.5) |
This is how Caligastia
authorized himself, and achieved secular control over the organizations.
This document from
Carolyn is important not only for revealing the mechanism of how Caligastia
achieved control, but also for the history it offers into critical events.
"Sunday, January
2, 1955, at 12 o'clock there was a meeting of 36 people in the Forum room
for the purpose of organizing the Urantia Brotherhood. First, Doctor read
a communication directing how it should be done, then Bill Hales presided
and called each one of the 36 up to the front to sign the constitution.
(After elections) the meeting closed with the Lord's Prayer, and the deed
was done. Believe me, it was the most thrilling thing! We were all very
much impressed -- some were crying and I was shaking like a leaf. We've
waited so long, and it just seemed hardly possible." (5.2) On March
7, 1955, William S. Sadler, Jr. distributed a memo addressed to the Executive
Committee of Urantia Brotherhood, with copies placed into each committee
secretary's notebook. Again, the paper was adapted from written communications
and was read to the Forum. It was entitled "Some Problems Confronting a
New Religious Organization," and opened with:
|
Following is partial
text of one of Christy's 1950's channeled "communications." It is highly
instructive to understand the psychology at 533. Caligastia plays right
into human attitudes; it was easy for him to style his "instruction" to
cultivate purely human desires. The text probably is a blend of channeled
material and human editing.
I have been unable
to obtain copies of the entire document.
| "It seems most
appropriate to bring to the attention of the Executive Committee certain
wise comments and advices which have been gathered over a period of time,
relative to the future problems of the Urantia Brotherhood and its component
societies." (2.2)
"Of course, you
probably know that the best government in the world is that which governs
least, that the true purpose of government is to prevent government, and
that the government which prevents the most government is best because
it leaves the individual free -- permits him his liberties and inalienable
rights -- but prevents predatory groups from interfering with these liberties.
When people are all spirit-led they won't need any more government than
they have on Havona . . . 'That organization is best which is so organized
as to prevent all other organizations.'
"When people come
to you about The Urantia Book and URANTIA Brotherhood and tell you that
since the Thought Adjusters are here and indwell everyone and the Spirit
of Truth has been poured out upon all flesh, therefore, it isn't necessary
to have an organization but just to trust in God, etc., don't argue with
them. They are right . . .
"If we undertake
this work without an organization, we will have in the English-speaking
world alone fifty other organizations spring up who will all claim the
right to use the name 'Urantia,' each one claiming to be the 'only true
and original' Urantia Brotherhood. It would become the most disgraceful
thing in the world since the early days of Christianity. Not since the
gospel of Jesus has there appeared on earth such a dynamic nucleus about
which could be built so many organizations and which would attract so many
differently motivated men -- good, bad, and indifferent.
"We must create
an organization whose major purpose is to prevent other organizations and,
therefore, the most benign. Create an organization which will organize
the least and thereby prevent all other organizations with their tyranny
and disgrace and their disrupting influences... "We have an organization....
(It is organized) to allow as much liberty as possible. When the time comes
that we feel it can be improved, we will have the experience to do so.
"We should foster
an organization that will give every one a right to his own belief and
interpretation but an organization what will prevent confusion, disruption
and disgrace. We should have an organization that will have control over
the wicked minority who might by organization seek to disgrace the very
purpose for which the book was given to the world. If we do not have an
organization to safeguard the name, then will such an organization rise
to take the name...
"Some idealists
will join us but they will later go off in their own way just like Abner
and they will do a good work, and we will bid them Godspeed because we
have an organization which prevents any one from being restricted or inhibited.
"We might consider
asking an idealist if he thinks The Urantia Book should be copyrighted
or just trust to the Spirit of Truth to take care of that? Idealists are
to an organization what comets are to the solar system. They are spectacular
but you can't depend on them. You cannot plan to receive from an idealist
a regular income for a social organization, but he can go out and get a
million dollars sometimes.
"We have to deal
with many things in our jobs that are not ideal. When this book is once
published, if the idealists control it, they would provide no organization
and soon a lot of selfish people would start to work to make a name out
of it. Lucifer, Satan, and Caligastia were idealists, at the start. But
they were something else. They were egoists. Marry idealism to egotism
and you have a fatal combination.
"Abner was an
idealist, a wonderful man... Paul was an idealist. He had ideas and it
was a great pity they did not work together, then they would have had a
religion for the Orient and a better religion for the Occident. If idealists
and idealists could work together it would save a lot of time and lives.
One refused to have an organization; he was impractical. The other (Paul)
built an organization, and he knew he was building in a practical way.
We can love Abner but we must respect Paul.... You are going to have a
lot of (people) come along now. Some idealists but mostly idealists.
"You must carefully
consider the organization Jesus created before he left the planet. It was
an organization designed to prevent confusion, to ordain justice, to safeguard
majorities against minorities. He did not leave the ecclesiastical hierarchy
that subsequently grew up. But he did leave a simple social organization
that could carry on and prevent confusion....
"Failure to organize
would witness, I believe, the most terrible failure for The Urantia Book.
It would allow all manner of designing groups and organizations to spring
into existence and to use the name Urantia, to prostitute the teachings
of The Urantia Book, and to dictate its policies.
"Many things we
have debated and discussed over the years. Many things we have thought
of and discarded years ago, but we bring in new people and they do not
know what has gone before...
"Think for a moment
of the large number of warring and disgraceful organizations that would
be in existence if we did not control the name Urantia and provide for
some authoritative recognition... Think of it in the future: One million...
people in confusion and there are a dozen different organizations that
want to do something for them about The Urantia Book. They get literature
from several different groups each claiming to be the one and only true
one... That would be true if we did not occupy the field with an organized
group.
"That organization
is best that coordinates most while it organizes least." |
I shall now compare
individual remarks from these "wise comments and advices" with the Revelation.
The perversions which took place in these "special communications" becomes
clear.
"Of course, you
probably know that the best government in the world is that which governs
least, that the true purpose of government is to prevent government, and
that the government which prevents the most government is best because
it leaves the individual free -- permits him his liberties and inalienable
rights -- but prevents predatory groups from interfering with these liberties.
When people are all spirit-led they won't need any more government than
they have on Havona..."That organization is best which is so organized
as to prevent all other organizations.
This is pure balderdash.
This "teaching" is explicitly denied by the Revelation.
P.517 - §5 The
entire universe is organized and administered on the representative
plan. Representative government is the divine ideal of self-government
among nonperfect beings.
P.833 - §5 Adam
made a heroic and determined effort to establish a world government.
P.1489 - §3
Peace
will not come to Urantia until every so-called sovereign nation surrenders
its power to make war into the hands of a representative government of
all mankind.
P.1491 - §4
The
individual will enjoy far more liberty under world government.
You can see the great
confusion such statement created. The Devil then quickly modifies that
remark and goes on to say:
"If we undertake
this work without an organization, we will have in the English-speaking
world alone fifty other organizations spring up who will all claim the
right to use the name 'Urantia,' each one claiming to be the 'only true
and original' Urantia Brotherhood. It would become the most disgraceful
thing in the world since the early days of Christianity.
Obviously, if he
is to assume control he must have an organization by which he can achieve
that control, and he immediately must rectify the notion of no government.
He then enters into
subtlety of argument of why organizations are necessary.
"We must create
an organization whose major purpose is to prevent other organizations and,
therefore, the most benign."
The implication is
that no other human organizations would be permitted if they do not come
under the auspices of this central organization. And how could he get control
through the Urantia Foundation? By secular legal licensing procedures under
trademark and copyright.
Create an organization
which will organize the least and thereby prevent all other organizations
with their tyranny and disgrace and their disrupting influences . . . "We
have an organization . . . (It is organized) to allow as much liberty as
possible. When the time comes that we feel it can be improved, we will
have the experience to do so.
This series of statements
is at the heart of the policies of the Urantia Foundation since its inception,
and provided the logic for the tyrannical control instituted by Martin
Myers. Although Myers has disappeared from the scene because of his maniacal
assumption of authority, the Trustees continue to base their decisions
on these devilish communications.
"We should foster
an organization that will give every one a right to his own belief and
interpretation but an organization what will prevent confusion, disruption
and disgrace. We should have an organization that will have control over
the wicked minority who might by organization seek to disgrace the very
purpose for which the book was given to the world. If we do not have an
organization to safeguard the name, then will such an organization rise
to take the name . . .
Here Caligastia raises
the bogey man of the "wicked minority.' He then justifies an organization
to 'safeguard the name.'
"Some idealists
will join us but they will later go off in their own way just like Abner
and they will do a good work, and we will bid them Godspeed because we
have an organization which prevents any one from being restricted or inhibited."
Here he raises the
obstacle of good-intentioned people who will bring damage to the Revelation
through their misguided ideas and efforts. Again he reinforces the necessity
of an organization to put controls on such supposed damage.
"We might consider
asking an idealist if he thinks The Urantia Book should be copyrighted
or just trust to the Spirit of Truth to take care of that? Idealists are
to an organization what comets are to the solar system. They are spectacular
but you can't depend on them. You cannot plan to receive from an idealist
a regular income for a social organization, but he can go out and get a
million dollars sometimes."
We can see the continual
repetition and reinforcement of the need for legal corporate entities and
secular control. But we also see denigration of personalities who led the
world in the reformations of mankind. Caligastia is catering to, and reinforcing,
William Sadler's conservative mid-western mind, and the mental attitudes
of those Sadler chose for his organizational care of the Revelation.
He goes on and on
with this tirade.
"We have to deal
with many things in our jobs that are not ideal. When this book is once
published, if the idealists control it, they would provide no organization
and soon a lot of selfish people would start to work to make a name out
of it. Lucifer, Satan, and Caligastia were idealists, at the start. But
they were something else. They were egoists. Marry idealism to egotism
and you have a fatal combination.
He is not afraid
to invoke images of his own rebellious actions.
"Abner was an
idealist, a wonderful man . . . Paul was an idealist. He had ideas and
it was a great pity they did not work together, then they would have had
a religion for the Orient and a better religion for the Occident. If idealists
and idealists could work together it would save a lot of time and lives.
One refused to have an organization; he was impractical. The other (Paul)
built an organization, and he knew he was building in a practical way.
We can love Abner but we must respect Paul . . . . You are going to have
a lot of (people) come along now. Some idealists but mostly idealists.
These are sideswipes
against Abner and Paul. Men with driving religious fervor are here classified
as "idealists," implying that they cannot build lasting spiritual work,
and that their work should be conditioned by this "central organization"
to "save a lot of time and lives."
"You must carefully
consider the organization Jesus created before he left the planet. It was
an organization designed to prevent confusion, to ordain justice, to safeguard
majorities against minorities. He did not leave the ecclesiastical hierarchy
that subsequently grew up. But he did leave a simple social organization
that could carry on and prevent confusion . . . .
We find these remarks
in the Revelation concerning the organizations Jesus created:
P.1593 - §5
The religion of Jesus was wholly based on the living of his bestowal life
on earth. When Jesus departed from this world, he left behind no books,
laws, or other forms of human organization affecting the religious life
of the individual.
P.1865 - §4
When Jesus' immediate followers recognized their partial failure to realize
his ideal of the establishment of the kingdom in the hearts of men by the
spirit's domination and guidance of the individual believer, they set about
to save his teaching from being wholly lost by substituting for the Master's
ideal of the kingdom the gradual creation of a visible social organization,
the Christian church.
So it was not Jesus
who created the ecclesiastical organizations, but his followers.
P.2068 - §2
Stephen, the leader of the Greek colony of Jesus' believers in Jerusalem,
thus became the first martyr to the new faith and the specific cause for
the formal organization of the early Christian church. This new crisis
was met by the recognition that believers could not longer go on as a sect
within the Jewish faith. They all agreed that they must separate themselves
from unbelievers; and within one month from the death of Stephen the church
at Jerusalem had been organized under the leadership of Peter, and James
the brother of Jesus had been installed as its titular head.
P.2085 - §3
The living Jesus is the only hope of a possible unification of Christianity.
The true church--the Jesus brotherhood--is invisible, spiritual, and is
characterized by unity, not necessarily by uniformity. Uniformity is the
earmark of the physical world of mechanistic nature. Spiritual unity is
the fruit of faith union with the living Jesus. The visible church should
refuse longer to handicap the progress of the invisible and spiritual brotherhood
of the kingdom of God. And this brotherhood is destined to become a living
organism in contrast to an institutionalized social organization. It may
well utilize such social organizations, but it must not be supplanted by
them.
"Failure to organize
would witness, I believe, the most terrible failure for The Urantia Book.
It would allow all manner of designing groups and organizations to spring
into existence and to use the name Urantia, to prostitute the teachings
of The Urantia Book, and to dictate its policies.
Repeatedly, we see
how Caligastia is perverting religious truths into a secular institutional
organization to control the Revelation.
"Think for a moment
of the large number of warring and disgraceful organizations that would
be in existence if we did not control the name Urantia and provide for
some authoritative recognition... Think of it in the future: One million...
people in confusion and there are a dozen different organizations that
want to do something for them about The Urantia Book. They get literature
from several different groups each claiming to be the one and only true
one... That would be true if we did not occupy the field with an organized
group.
"That organization
is best that coordinates most while it organizes least."
Once again we see
how these "Instructions" conditioned the policies of the Urantia Foundation,
both in the method of secular licensing, and in its execution of the Revelation.
To this day the Trustees follow these "Instructions."
(Note that Carolyn
introduces many ellipses into her publication of the "Instructions." We
do not know what material she may have deleted that would permit a better
assessment of the intent of the original, or what other contradictions
it may have contained.)
| Again, on May 2,
1955, William Sadler, Jr., prepared a memorandum for the Executive Committee
consisting of material adapted from "certain wise comments and advices."
The first part was entitled, "Past and Present Tests." It was also read
to the Forum: |
| "If our first
test was the endurance of delay, the second test was that of unity. We
are still undergoing this test . . . . Our particular mission is to function
effectively through this transitional period which is witnessing the materialization
of the Book and which will lead to those future times when the social activities
of Urantia believers will begin to function in the more formal organization
of the Brotherhood. To do this effectively we must meet the test of trust
and confidence. We must avoid suspicion as we would shun a deadly spiritual
poison. We must make a practice of nipping suspicion in the bud. We must
make sure that all short circuits of doubt and suspicion are avoided. In
this manner may we keep our group influence intact. |
The policies of the
Foundation, built upon these channeled instructions, created great suspicions
of the motives and purposes of that organization. The policies of Martin
Myers and of Richard Keeler to limit the circulation of the Revelation,
and control its use, repelled many an honest heart. One cannot claim a
divine gift, and then place it under secular control without destroying
its integrity.
The exhortation about
suspicion probably was directed to the Contact Commissioners and members
of the "Forum," to keep them from looking hard into the instructions being
given them.
The second part
was titled, "Our Baptism of Joys and Sorrows." It was also read to the
Forum in May 1955:
|
| "We have been
called to do a great work and ours is the transcendent privilege of presenting
the Papers to the peoples of our strife-torn world.
"Supercilious
scientists will ridicule us and some may even charge us with collusion
and fraud. Well-meaning religionists will condemn us as enemies of the
Christian religion and will accuse us of defaming Christ himself. "Thousands
of spiritually hungry souls will bless us for the message of the Book,
and thousands of others will condemn us for disturbing their theologic
complacence.
"Are we ready
for the baptism of joys and sorrows which will certainly attend upon the
early distribution of The Urantia Book?
"Many strange
isms and queer groups will seek to attach themselves to The Urantia Book
and its far-flung influence. Our most trying experiences will be with such
groups who will so loudly acclaim their belief in the teachings of the
Book and who will so persistently seek to attach themselves to the movement.
Great wisdom will be required to guard the Urantia Brotherhood from the
distracting and distorting influence of these multifarious groups and from
equally distracting and disturbing individuals, some well-intentioned and
some sinister, who will strive to become a part of the authentic constituency
of the Urantia Movement."
"We can really
forecast very little about the reaction of the present generation to the
teachings of The Urantia Book. But we can greatly lessen our persecution
and ridicule by a reasonable exercise of foresight and wisdom. Our troubles
will be greatly lessened if we avoid all discussion of the origin of the
book. We should be determined to know but one thing -- the soul-surviving
message of the Book." (10.1a) |
|
"THE EXTRAORDINARY
TRUST..."
| Throughout the early
period, emphasis was placed upon serious study of the Papers. "In
1939, some of us thought the time had come when we should form a class
to engage in the more serious and systematic study of the Urantia Papers.
This project was presented to the Forum and when those who wished to join
such a group were counted, it was found that just 70 persons desired to
enter upon this study. So for several years this class was referred to
as "The Seventy." Two or three years preceding the formation of The Seventy
an informal group had been meeting on Wednesday evenings.
"The Seventy carried
on systematic study of the Urantia Papers from April 5, 1939 until 1956.
It was the forerunner of the later 'School of the Urantia Brotherhood.'
"During these years
the Seventy enrolled 107 students. The Seventy carried on its work of study,
thesis writing, and practice of teaching for 17 years." (1.1)
"Membership in the
Seventy had stringent requirements. One must have read all the papers before
being accepted into the Seventy. Attendance was taken, a good excuse being
necessary for absence from the Wednesday evening class. (1.2) & (4.2)
The following communication was read to both the Seventy and to the Forum.
It was from the regent of the acting planetary prince: |
Here he is once again.
He styles himself again as the "regent of the acting planetary prince."
In the Revelation the celestial personalities would not identify themselves
in a personal way, in order that adoration or veneration would not interfere
in attention to the Revelation.
| "I have great
personal interest in your group and deep affection for you as individuals.
I commend your loyalty, but I am somewhat amazed at your relative indifference
to the importance of the mission which has been entrusted to your hands.
Your group of Seventy may seem to show more interest because you are selected
and because you are under more or less discipline. But the majority of
your Forum shock me by their lack of enthusiasm. ... I admonish you ever
to be alert to the importance of the extraordinary trust which has been
placed in your hands." (10.4) |
| I was stunned to
hear this "painful paragraph," as Bill Sadler described it. I thought of
the Forum as the most dedicated group of human beings I had ever encountered.
It was an eye-opening insight into how much was expected of the human recipients
of the Urantia revelation. (8.2) |
You can see how he
attaches himself directly to their hearts. The objectiveness of the Revelators
in prior communications with Sadler is overwhelmed by this personal appeal.
The purpose of the "pain" was to obtain complete devotion, not to the truths
of the Revelation, but loyalty to the plans of the "acting planetary prince."
TRAINING OF TEACHERS
AND LEADERS
| As originally envisioned,
the Urantia Brotherhood School was conceived as a summer program taking
place at Pine Lodge in Beverly Shores, Indiana. Dr. Sadler purchased the
property with the idea that students would live in cottages on the property
as they prepared themselves to go out into the world as teacher and leaders
of the new revelation. It was eventually realized that only professional
school teachers or retirees could devote entire summers to such a program.
They were desirous of recruiting the teacher corps from a broad range of
believers. (1.2) |
This statement by
Carolyn does not make sense. Any person in their right mind would know
that working people could not attend summer sessions. Also, it is highly
doubtful that Sadler bought the property merely for use in the training
of "teachers and leaders." This is part of Carolyn's fanciful imagination,
which plagues much of her "history." It is also a good illustration
how minds can become deluded under "belief" patterns.
| "Among the early
activities of the Brotherhood was the organization of the School of the
Brotherhood which began its first session in September 1956" ... "The course
of study is planned to cover a three years' seminary education. At present
[1966], only part time work is provided at [Wednesday] evening sessions."
... "The number of registered students taking credit courses has averaged
about thirty. A like number of 'auditors' attend the classes." ... "The
degree granted after three years of study is that of 'Ordained Teacher.'
A shorter course of study leads to the status of 'Certified Leader.'" (1.1)
The curriculum was broad: Doctrines of
The Urantia Book, Science
in The Urantia Book, Topical Studies; Life and Teaching of Jesus;
Analytic Studies of Parts I and II; History of the Bible -- Old & New
Testaments; Books of the bible; Denominations, Sects & Cults; Ancient
& Modern Philosophy: World Religions; Harmony of the Gospels: Urantia
Brotherhood -- Organization and Constitution; Educational Psychology; and
Speaking and Teaching. (11.0)
Eventually, the School
ran out of students in the Chicago area. The first Summer Study Session
was held in Chicago in 1968. It drew students to the three-day sessions
from all over the United States. (12.0) The summer sessions continued for
the next few years. In 1975, a special meeting attended by fifty leaders
held prior to the first General Conference in Evanston, the focus of the
"Brotherhood School" was shifted from an institutional concept to a more
diffused idea: "[W]e regard the Urantia Brotherhood School as a
generic term designating educational activities anywhere in the Urantia
Brotherhood. We see individuals, study groups, and societies as the basic
channels of educational activity. Just as the Urantia Brotherhood does
not aspire to become an institutional church; so the Brotherhood School
does not plan to become an educational institution. ... The Committee on
Education plans to research and define standards of excellence for teachers
and educational activities which will help teachers in self- evaluation
and growth as well as furnish criteria for evaluating educational effectiveness
in groups and institutions." ... "We generally should not get involved
in striving for social change, establishing learning centers, or building
a structured educational institution." (6.0) The teacher training
program lost momentum after 1975. The seminars and workshops, the Boulder
School and Los Angeles' School of Meanings and Values have been worthy
achievements, though not as extensive as what was envisioned by the early
leaders, nor, I suspect, by the revelators. |
Here one can see
how 533 made specific plans for promulgation of the Revelation but how
those plans did not come to fruition. The attempts at creation of various
"schools" have all failed. Other spiritual forces were at work to control
the unfolding of the Revelation.
| The Fellowship must
reactivate itself as an educational institution and foster the kind of
teacher and leader training that was envisioned by the revelators. Societies
could be induced to sponsor educational training programs in their local
areas if curriculum were developed. (8.2) |
Carolyn here expresses
her personal opinion of how the organizations current in 1996 might continue
some of the first planning which came out of 533.
BROTHERHOOD AND
FOUNDATION RELATIONSHIP
| There was no mention
in the original Brotherhood Constitution of Urantia Foundation. There was
no mention of Urantia Brotherhood in the Declaration of Trust. I once asked
Christy why. She said only that there wasn't supposed to be any connection
between the two organizations. (8.1)
Recall that "[T]he
launching of the Brotherhood shall be left to the decisions of the Trustees
of the Urantia Foundation. They shall act personally -- unofficially --
and no record of such action shall appear in the transactions of the Urantia
Foundation. They shall assume all and full responsibility for the organization
and inauguration of the Urantia Brotherhood." (10.5) The first public
linkage of the trustees and Brotherhood was made in a 1970 letter. "The
Urantia Brotherhood was organized by the trustees of Urantia Foundation
under the direction and guidance of the governing planetary authorities."
This was a carefully worded statement that skirted a Brotherhood/Foundation
connection. The same letter went on to state: "[T]hough Urantia Foundation
and Urantia Brotherhood work closely together, they are two distinct and
separate organizations, with different responsibilities, duties, and prerogatives."
(9.4) These different responsibilities were the subject of William S. Sadler,
Jr's Intra-Office Memorandum of 1958 which described how, in 1937, the
Foundation and Brotherhood started out conceptually as one organization.
Because there needed to be two dissimilar functions, two separate organizations
were then envisioned. Bill's memo emphasized potential danger areas in
the relationship between the two organizations: "Unless the Foundation
conducts itself with wisdom it may breed dissension between itself and
the Brotherhood. [T]here is no place in Urantia Foundation for naivete
or any exhibition of proprietary feeling toward the Urantia Papers. |
Of course, preliminary
thought to an organization for care of the Revelation was underway before
the actual Revelation in 1933. Refer to the letter from Clyde Bedell
to Wilfred Kellogg.
Although there was
a confused idea that the Brotherhood was to be independent of the Foundation,
the origin, based on these spurious "instructions," was intimately tied
to the Trustees, and hence to the Foundation. Even the 1970 letter helped
solidify this intimate tie, though many, including Carolyn, believed it
maintained a separation. The "governing planetary authorities" were none
other than Caligastia shaping the conduct of the organizations. The idea
that "there is no place in Urantia Foundation for naivete or any exhibition
of proprietary feeling toward the Urantia Papers" was effectively denied
by legal control through copyright and trademarks.
Personally, I find
it amazing that these people could have become so deluded through the tortuous
logic that was implanted in their minds.
-
"a. The Foundation...is an autocratic group. It
is non-elective. It derives its authority from the defunct contact commissioners
[which was] an autocratic body, autocratic in the sense that it was accountable
to no electors. The old commission was charged with the custodial responsibility
of the Urantia Papers. Its secondary body, the Foundation, inherits the
continuing responsibility for the integrity and dissemination of The Urantia
Book.
-
"b. While the Brotherhood
was originated by the Foundation, it is destined increasingly to become
a republican institution. It is designed to reflect the purpose and desires
of its members. It has all the strengths and weaknesses of a democratic
organization.
|
The logical dichotomy
between control of the Revelation through copyright and trademarks, and
independent status for the Brotherhood, was reinforced by recourse to human
law. Legal control demanded that the Foundation interfere in the operations
of the Brotherhood/Fellowship. This eventually led to the legal disfranchisement
of the Brotherhood by Martin Myers, then President of the Foundation.
Caligastia had gotten
his hand into the machinery, fully aware of what he was doing to the integrity
of the organizations, and the bitter contest over the Revelation which
would follow.
| But the Brotherhood
offers its members something more which the Foundation can never offer,
to wit: the feeling of participation and the feeling of belonging. It also
offers it members a feeling of responsibility, for in time the official
decisions of the Brotherhood will reflect the will, purpose, and intent
of its members. |
-
"c. When an autocratic body functionally cooperates
with a democratic body, friction can be avoided to all intents and purposes
only if wisdom is exhibited by the autocratic body....[The problem of avoiding
friction with the Brotherhood rests nearly completely on the shoulders
of the Trustees of URANTIA Foundation."
|
When the members
of the organizations encountered the bitterness of the fracture, they recognized
that "wisdom" must be exercised by the Foundation if cordial relations
were to continue. But personality expression by individual Trustees, empowered
by lack of public accountability, prevented such "wisdom."
| "Being an elective
body, the Brotherhood is vulnerable. A really clever conspiracy could destroy
the Brotherhood or otherwise divert or pervert its mission. Such vulnerability
is inherent in a self-governing body." |
Little did anyone
realize how the Foundation would become an autocratic body, and not the
Brotherhood. The Brotherhood was subject to democratic process. The Foundation
was a pure oligarchy. The fruits of this great delusion were yielded when
Martin Myers became President. He subverted it to his personal whims, resulting
in the simultaneous resignation of three Trustees. Sadler began with the
expectation that the Trustees would all be wise men from the industrial
and business community. He had faith in such secular mechanism. But that
was a fundamental error. Through Christy's personality weakness, Martin
Myers later acquired complete dictatorial control, and the Foundation became
subject entirely to his private desires. Dictatorial polices by the Foundation
continue to this day.
| "Ideally, the Foundation
should remain in the background.... It should little appear in the eyes
of the public. To the public the Brotherhood is the important organization.
to the extent that we can cause the Brotherhood to do the work of the Urantia
movement, we have succeeded in holding ourselves in reserve and in so doing
we minimize potential friction." (2.3) |
BLURRING THE EDGES
BETWEEN BROTHERHOOD AND FOUNDATION
Here Carolyn continues
with her thoughts about the organizations.
| I don't believe
for a moment a "clever conspiracy" perverted the Brotherhood in its mission.
However, I do believe it was diverted in 1975 from its primary role of
fostering "serious and systematic study," formal teacher and leader training,
and dissemination of The Urantia Book and its teachings. Thus was
the door set ajar for the Brotherhood to preoccupy itself with three areas
of endeavor, 1) the endless reassessment of its purpose, 2) the fine tuning
of its organization, and 3) the material aspects of the book - -its distribution,
pricing and dust jacket. Emphasis shifted in the mid-1970's from study
of the book to the marketing of the book.
This third item invaded
the Foundation's territory. The trustees accepted input by the Brotherhood
grudgingly. In retrospect, the Foundation might have been better advised
to set up separate ad hoc committees, subject to its own parameters, rather
than working with Brotherhood ad hoc committees. (8.2) The Foundation closed
off all input from the Brotherhood on these issues in 1987, and used the
licensing agreement as leverage. (9.6)
At first, from 1950
to 1956, the Foundation remained entirely in the background. The Foundation's
office was located at 333 N. Michigan Avenue in Chicago, instead of at
533 Diversey, where it moved to later and has remained. Over time the two
organizations seemed to merge through shared activities; overlapping personnel
(there weren't enough qualified people to fill all positions); joint fund
raising, appeals to Brotherhood members for support in infringement lawsuits;
appearances by trustees at Brotherhood-sponsored meetings; the confirmatory
licensing agreement which impinged upon all aspects of Brotherhood activities
-- usage and display of marks; and copyright guidelines that spelled out
how all quoted material would be used. All of these created the image of
two interrelated organizations.
The 1983 joint Brotherhood
and Foundation paper, "Statement of Dissemination and Publicity," was an
effort by the Brotherhood to enunciate a policy acceptable to the more
conservative Foundation. It was fairly successful, but the Brotherhood
should have felt free to pursue dissemination according to its own experience
and wisdom. Later, the Foundation's demand that the Brotherhood cleanse
itself of personnel not acceptable to the Foundation and the involvement
of the Foundation in the revision of the Brotherhood's councilor removal
amendment, stepped beyond the bounds of their authority, and into the realm
of proprietary control. For a period of years, the trustees withdrew into
the background and only surfaced to raise the price of the book or to close
off avenues of access to the book.
The internal matter
of the simultaneous resignations of three trustees, and the Brotherhood's
reactions thereto, brought about the disenfranchising of the Brotherhood.
With a new administration, the Foundation, in a relatively short period,
has moved to redeem itself by publishing translations, a taped version,
a computerized version, soft cover editions, and offering even-handed sales
and discounts. While they have not satisfied all their critics with respect
to coordination of new readers, nevertheless, they are to be commended.
(8.2) |
These remarks by
Carolyn provide a brief synopsis of the great fracture which took place
under the false assumptions and instructions provided by Caligastia. Rather
than basing their trust in God, with heartfelt cooperation toward the dissemination
of a Great Revelation, their trust in secular institutions, and in the
false expectation of "wise men," lead to great turmoil and social doubt.
DISSEMINATION
OF THE URANTIA BOOK
| Dr. Sadler wrote
about the dissemination of The Urantia Book: "At the time of publication
of
The Urantia Book we were given many suggestions respecting the
methods we should employ in the work of its distribution. These instructions
may be summarized as follows:
1.Study of methods
employed by Jesus in introducing his work on earth. Note how quietly he
worked at first.
2.We were advised
to
avoid all efforts to achieve early and spectacular recognition.
"However, one thing
should be made clear. Nothing is to be done to interfere with the energetic
and enthusiastic efforts of any individual to introduce The Urantia
Book to his varied contacts and human associations." (1.1)
Judging from a close
reading of past messages, the time for The Urantia Book is approaching.
Any effort to artificially slow or suppress the book at this point would
cause it to miss its timed entry into the evolutionary mainstream.
It is a fallacy to
believe that whoever controls the book controls the movement. Rather, when
believers exhibit more enthusiasm for scholarship and more aggressive personal
dissemination of the book and its teachings, there will follow an upsurge
in sales of books. When more teachers and leaders are trained, or train
themselves, study groups will improve. When there are better study groups,
they will attract and hold more students; and more students will buy more
books. It worked in the old days! (8.2) |
REVIEW: CLEAR AND INCONTROVERTIBLE
FACTS
Here follows
a summary by Carolyn of instructions from Caligastia via Christy. One can
see from unfolding developments how these diabolical instructions perverted
a Great Revelation.
| 1) The Angels of
the Churches, the Angels of Progress, the Midwayer Commission, and the
planetary prince have the ultimate authority for the welfare of The
Urantia Book.
2) The chain of authority
for the management of The Urantia Book was first placed into the
hands of the human contact commissioners by the Revelatory Commission,
then delegated to the trustees of Urantia Foundation by the invisible planetary
prince. According to their Declaration of Trust, the trustees assumed exclusive
responsibility for maintaining the integrity of the text, and the publication
of all editions, including translations.
3) There was supposed
to be a copyright in and to The Urantia Book.
4) The revelators
directed the contact commissioners to protect the name, "Urantia." This
responsibility was passed on to the Foundation by the contact commissioners.
5) The revelators
advised that there should be only one official "Urantia" social outreach
organization--democratic, but minimally organized -- to occupy the field.
6) Although the trustees
planned and launched the Brotherhood, the revelators advised that the two
organizations -- the publishing and the social -- be organically disconnected
from each other. Under this plan, each would carry out its mission without
interference from, or accountability to, the other. |
CONCLUSIONS
| 1) The "successful"
legal maneuver to invalidate the renewal of copyright was a major blunder.
It would appear that all who enabled Maaherra were in defiance of revelator
plans. The Fellowship and its leaders should have nothing to do with that
case.
2) It appears that
there will soon be two too many publishers, including Pathways. The Fellowship
is about to launch its publication of The Urantia Book. Already,
these more-the-merrier versions are engendering contradictory rationale
for changes made, or not made, in earlier printings. With the jumble of
non- authoritative voices, the consequent confusion will only raise questions
in the public mind about the authenticity of the revelation. The Fellowship
should immediately abandon the project and revert to its original mission.
3) The revelators
warned about confusion inherent in having too many Urantia organizations.
The Fellowship succeeded Urantia Brotherhood, organized in 1955, in 1989,
and follows the same Constitution. International Urantia Association was
organized by Urantia Foundation in 1994 and exists at the pleasure of the
Foundation. It would appear that there is one too many social outreach
organizations. The Fellowship is not an attractive option to members of
IUA because of its publishing program. The IUA is perceived as a captive
organization of the Foundation, and is, therefore, not a positive option
to Fellowship members.
An alternative to
this confused state would be to create a new coordinative, outreach, educational
organization, Urantia Brotherhood, into which both IUA and Fellowship would
merge. It would be licensed by the Foundation to use the name, Urantia,
but would be independent of the Foundation and never worry its pretty little
head about publishing and distributing the book.
4) The complete separation
of the two organizations and their respective functions was an elegant
plan that went awry. The revelators' plan could be reinstated if all parties
had the courage to take the necessary steps. This would necessitate the
withdrawal of individuals who are too invested in the status quo, who cannot
forgive, or who like to stay mad. |
How sad that Carolyn
and all other participants in this degradation of organizations could not
grasp how they had been undermined and their thought conditioned by a malicious
spirit personality determined to disrupt the course or the Revelation.
But the hand of God
as far stronger than any fallen and rebellious Son. The Revelation would
achieve its purpose.
Following are Carolyn's
document references.
BACKNOTES:
1. William S. Sadler,
M.D., contact commissioner.
1.1 History of the
Urantia Movement, ca. 1966, unpublished
1.2 Personal interview,
Forum, 1951
1.3 Verbal, various,
1951-1968.
2. William S. Sadler,
Jr., contact commissioner, president, Urantia Brotherhood, vice-president,
Urantia Foundation.
2.1 Presentation,
Oklahoma City, ca. 1962
2.2 Verbal, various
1951-1956
2.3 Memorandum, Intra-office,
1958
3. Emma L. Christensen
("Christy"), contact commissioner, president, Urantia Brotherhood, trustee,
Urantia Foundation.
3.1 Verbal, various
3.2 Personal letter,
1970
3.3 Historical notes,
undated
4. Clarence N. Bowman,
member of Forum, 1923-1956
4.1 Diary, 1923-1935.
4.2 Verbal, various,
1951-1959.
5. Marian T. Rowley,
secretary-general, Urantia Brotherhood
5.1 Verbal, various
5.2 Letter from,
to Julia Fenderson, 1955.
6. Meredith J. Sprunger,
chairman, committee on Education, 1975.
7. Phillip Copenhaver,
member of Forum, 1947-1956, personal memory
8. Carolyn B. Kendall,
member of Forum, 1951-1956.
8.1 Personal memory.
8.2 Personal opinion.
9. Trustees, Urantia
Foundation
9.1 Thomas A. Kendall,
president, 1963-1983, verbal
9.2 Patricia Mundelius,
president, 1993-present, verbal
9.3 Richard Keeler,
trustee
9.4 Letter to Brotherhood
triennial delegate assembly, 1970
9.5 Foundation mailing,
1972
9.6 Letter, Martin
Myers, president, to David Elders, Brotherhood president
10. Written communication
received by contact commissioners from revelators
10.1 August 1942
10.la 1945
10.2 January 14,
1946
10.3 September 10,
1950
10.4 November 22,
1951
10.5 August 21, 1952
10.6 Date unknown
10.7 From a Melchizedek,
date unknown
11. Urantia Brotherhood
School brochure
12. Urantia Brotherhood
Bulletin |
|