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.

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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

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