Humanism on Paper

Humanism used to be a good subject for parlor and dinner table discussions. Few people knew what it actually was or ' where literary Humanism left off and religious Humanism began. Nor did Humanism's expounders get together and codify their beliefs for popular enlightenment. Rev. Charles Francis Potter, onetime Baptist, Unitarian and Universalist. hired Steinway Hall in Manhattan (TIME. Oct. 21, 1929) and still preaches therein, but Professor Irving Babbitt taught something different, and Dr. Paul Elmer More on religious grounds denied them both. Last week, for the first time, the religious Humanists were on common ground. After discussing many questions (by letter) they had drawn up. signed and circulated a manifesto containing their articles of faith. More & more Humanists are to read the manifesto, sign it, make suggestions which may perhaps be incorporated after due consideration. Vague as it still may be, Humanism may now be said to stand as follows:

P: The universe is self-existing, not created. P: Man is part of nature, product of his culture, his environment, his social heritage. The traditional dualism of mind and body must be rejected. P: Humanism also rejects cosmic and supernatural "guarantees." The Humanist eschews theism, deism, modernism, "new thought'' and instead of feeling religious emotions concentrates on human life--la- bor, art, science, philosophy, love, friendship, recreation. P:Humanism is for "a socialized and co-operative economic order--a shared life in a shared world." Its adherents say that it will: "Affirm life rather than deny it ... seek to elicit the possibilities of life, not flee from it ... establish the conditions of a satisfactory life for all, not merely for the few." Most Humanists come from Unitarian. Universalist, Baptist and Congregationalist churches. In recent years 60 Unitarian ministers have embraced Humanism. Their church was dismayed but could do nothing, its own creed being far from stringent. There are Humanist groups in Manhattan. Hollywood, Berkeley, Calif., Sioux City and Minneapolis. They hope soon to form a national organization. The Minneapolis group is under the guidance of a Humanist pioneer, Rev. John Hassler Dietrich who, nominally Unitarian, began preaching Humanism 18 years ago and now has 2,000 followers. Humanists like Dietrich and Potter are the only preachers of whom grumpy Clarence Darrow approves. Humanist Dietrich signed last week's manifesto, as did Humanist Potter. Journalist Harry Elmer Barnes. John Dewey. one-time Editor Albert Charles Dieffenbach of the Unitarian Christian Register, Editor Robert Morss Lovett of The New Republic, President Howard Maynard Shipley of the Science League of America. Boston Lawyer Joseph Walker, onetime candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, and 26 others.

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