Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
Business Meeting Minutes
1961
| October 28, 1961 | Harvard University |
The meeting was called to order in Holmes Hall of Harvard University at 1:30 P.M., October 28, 1961. Minutes of the 1960 Annual Meeting were approved as previously distributed. The reports of the secretary and of the treasurer were received.
It was voted to recommend adoption of the following constitutional amendments at the 1962 business meeting: to make Article IV read as follows:
- "Section 1. The officers of the Society are a president, vice president, and executive secretary, These officers, the two immediately past presidents, the immediately past executive secretary, together with six Councilors shall constitute the Council, which shall direct the affairs of the Society between meetings in accordance with the constitution and the acts of the Society. The Council will report its actions to the Society at the business meeting.
- "Section 2. The president, vice president and Councilors shall be elected by the membership of the Society in the fall in such manner as the Council shall provide. The executive secretary shall be elected by the Council.
- "The president and vice president shall be elected for two-year terms to begin January 1 on even numbered years. They may serve not more than one term in the same office. Two councilors shall be elected annually for three year terms, to begin January 1 following their election. In case of offices becoming vacant, the Council will appoint replacements until the next regular election."
It was announced that the Council has voted, subject to the adoption of the above amendment, to conduct the election of two Councilors in 1962 by a mail ballet of the entire membership,
Members were asked for their recommendations on the desirability of a directory of members of the Society. It was suggested from the floor that such a directory need not be annual but could include annual supplements. It was voted to authorize a directory in 1962 with an adequate budget and with a special assessment on members as may be necessary.
The report of the nominating committee was received and the following persons were elected to office for terms beginning January 1, 1962: Presidents Horace Friess, vice-president, Elizabeth Nottingham, Secretary-Treasurer, James Dittes. For members to the Council: completing one-year unexpired term of Walter Clark, Samuel Klausner. For three-year terms, Benjamin Nelson, Talcott Parsons. It was noted that Walter Clark is a member of the Counci1 ex officio as past secretary treasurer, by virtue of the constitutional amendment adopted at the annual meeting in 1960. It was announced that the Council had elected Peter Berger as Program Chairman for 1962 and J. Paul Williams as chairman of the Publications Committee, also that the 1962 annual meeting will be held in New York City, October 26-27, 1962.
It was voted to record the Society's appreciation to Horace Kallen and other officers of the Society leaving office at this time.
It was voted to express appreciation of the Society to Harvard University for its facilities for the 1961 annual meeting.
It was voted to express appreciation of the Society to Mrs. Dorothy Lee, James Luther Adams, Theodore Sprague, Allan Eister, and other members of the program committee for their work in arranging the 1961 annual meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 2:00 P.M.
James E. Dittes, Secretary-Treasurer