The meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. in the District
Room of the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C., with President
Walter H. Clark in the chair. Present were Messrs. Peter L. Berger,
Isidor Chein, Walter Clark, James E. Dittes, William G. T. Douglas,
Allan Eister, Horace Friess, Samuel Z. Klausner, Paul W. Pruyser,
Benjamin Nelson and Prentiss L. Pemberton (Editor).
Minutes of the previous meetings held in Cambridge, Massachusetts
on October 25 and 26 were distributed and approved.
A report of the Executive Secretary of the Society, which included
reference to a general report to the membership of the Society
printed in the September, 1964 issue of the NEWSLETTER, Vol. III,
No. 3, was received. (Copy attached)
There followed discussion of a proposed budget for 1965 and of
a supplemental budget for October through December, 1964, which
would be necessitated by changing the fiscal year to conform with
the calendar year. It was moved by William Douglas and seconded
by Benjamin Nelson that the budget be accepted by the Council,
and that a portion of the additional sums required be raised by
proposing an increase in the cost of non-members' subscriptions
to the Journal from five dollars to seven and a half dollars and
an increase in membership dues from five dollars to eight and
a half dollars. Proposals for still other possible sources of
increased income were considered and it was suggested by Mr. Chein
that the President appoint a Finance Committee to explore ways
of subsidizing the program of the Society. Mr. Dittes moved to
amend changes in the budget, the line for Journal printing to
be increased to $7,000 contingent upon the success of a Finance
Committee in raising contributions (income, line 4) from $150
to $3500. Mr. Douglas pointed out that the lines (income, line
1 and line 2) concerned with dues and subscriptions would be $11,000
and $7,500 respectively, as presented, and he suggested that these
changes be made, assuming that non-member subscriptions to the
Journal would rise to 1,000 subscriptions and that membership
would rise from the present number (1186) to between 1250 and
1300 members, approximately 10% increase as anticipated by the
Executive Secretary in his projection of the growth rate of the
Society. After further discussion, it was moved by Benjamin Nelson
and seconded by Horace Friess that the Council approve the amended
budget. Voted.
It was moved by Benjamin Nelson and seconded by James Dittes
that no expansion in the Journal from the present size to a larger
one be made until a formal letter from the president of the Society
and the Executive Secretary stating that funds for such expansion
were in hand be sent to the editor.
Mr. Pemberton offered the report of the Editor of the Journal,
commenting that he had enjoyed good cooperation from the editorial
board in the critical reading of manuscripts and that in other
respects prospects for sustained high quality of the publication
appeared to be very good. He reminded the Council that his term
as Editor would end with the close of the calendar year, 1965,
and urged that his successor be named by the spring of 1965 at
the latest so that he and his successor could effect a smooth
transition through the fall issue into the spring issue, 1966,
when the new editor would be in full command.
The report of the Editor led to discussion of the nature and
responsibilities of the Publications Committee set up prior to
the launching of the Journal and it was proposed that such a committee
was needed to oversee the Journal and, when asked by the Council
to do so, submit for approval names of Editor, Book Review Editor,
and, if the office is to be continued, of managing Editor.
Mr. Williams' resignation as Managing Editor was reported and
it was considered that the functions of this office, including
the solicitation of advertisements and the promotion of new subscriptions
be included in the work of the Executive Secretary. Mr. Clark
indicated that, at the suggestion of the Council, he would ask
Mr. Williams to continue to serve as chairman of a Publications
Committee to which other members would be named.
Mr. Clark, reporting for the "Bibliography Committee"
said that all eighteen members who responded to a questionnaire
concerning the usefulness of the Bibliography which has been prepared
and circulated to members from time to time favored continuing
the Bibliography and that seventeen of these offered to help in
any way they might. He proposes to invite Prof. Orlo Strunk to
act as chairman of a committee of the Society to canvass publications
in the several fields concerned with the objective study of religion
and prepare a bibliography periodically. It is expected that
this will be circulated to members along with one of the quarterly
Newsletters. Mr. Clark move, and it was seconded by Mr. Nelson
that this be done if it can be done without incurring increase
in costs. Voted.
Mr. Friess reported that he has inquired into procedures for
applying for organizational participation in the American Council
of Learned Societies. After discussion, it was decided not
to take further action at this time, but further inquiry will
be made concerning specific questions which the Society might
be asked were it to apply for affiliation with the ACLS.
It was moved by Benjamin Nelson, seconded by Paul Pruyser and
voted that the Society continue to be represented to the Council
of the AAAS and that the President nominate from among the members
of the Council who are also Fellows of the AAAS, and that the
Council approve for a three year term such a representative.
Mr. Klausner was nominated and approved for this position.
Mr. Klausner indicated that the would propose a section on the
Scientific Study of Religion for inclusion in the next program
of the AAAS.
Application by one of the former members of the Committee for
the Scientific Study of Religion, the original group from which
the Society developed, for the status of emeritus membership prompted
discussion of this matter and of general standards for membership
in the Society. It was decided not to attempt to specify too
narrowly conditions for membership in the Society. There was
consensus in the opinion that action to establish any emeritus
membership status be deferred at this time and that if it is established
in the future it ought probably to be limited to members who have
been active, dues-paying members for a minimum of twenty years.
Mr. Dittes reported that the Nominating Committee was not prepared
at this time to announce the names of candidates for the two Council
positions which are to be filled by election through mailed ballots
to be circulated with the December issue of the Newsletter. Four
names, however, will be presented as nominees for the two positions.
The committee then proposed to the Council the names of the present
Secretary and Treasurer of the Society, Mr. Eister and Mr. Dittes,
for continuing service in these offices in 1965. This was approved.
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 P.M. with the announcement that
a second meeting of the Council would be held at noon on October
30, to consider unfinished business remaining on the agenda.
Respectfully submitted,
Allan W. Eister, Secretary
October 30, 1964
The Council was called to order at 12:30 in the District Room
of the Mayflower Hotel. Present were Messrs. Berger, Chein, Clark,
Dittes, Douglas, Eister, Friess, Kallen, Klausner, Nelson, Pruyser
and Pemberton.
It was decided that the next annual meeting of the Society be
hld in New York City the last weekend in October, 1965. The Henry
Hudson Hotel was proposed as a possible place. Mr. Nelson agreed
to serve as Program Chairman with the understanding that others
would assist and that he would not carry the duties of making
physical arrangements for the meetings.
There was discussion of the general question of location of annual
meetings in relation to possible attraction of new members to
the Society; a meeting in Chicago in 1966 was thought possibly
desirable; but no decision was made at this time.
A "re-constituted" Publications Committee consisting
of Mr. Williams, chairman, Messrs. Nelson and Eister and Mr. Klausner,
exofficio, was appointed by the President. This
group is to act as a committee of the Council.
It was moved by Mr. Eister, seconded by Mr. Pruyser, that the
Finance Committee mentioned in the Council meeting, October 29,
be expanded into a Budget and Finance Committee of three members
to serve as a committee of the Council and charged with responsibility
for preparing the annual budget of the Society. This was approved.
(Mr. Clark subsequently announced appointment of Mr. Dittes,
Treasurer, as chairman of this committee and of Mr. Nelson and
Mr. Klausner, exofficio, as additional members.)
Mr. Kallen agreed to serve informally to help in putting the
committee in touch with possible contributors to the Society.
It was decided to propose the setting up of a Membership Committee
of the Society to assist the Executive Secretary and as a means
of drawing into active service of the Society individuals who
have expressed a desire to participate in this way.