Christmas 1947

Dear Friends,

 What a privileged people we are to be able to greet our friends again at Christmas, knowing they have food and homes which we take for granted in America.  We, too, find our new home cozy and convenient,  even easy to care for. 

  Ray's course, "Records of Jesus," has been well received.  It is a great satisfaction to have full classes and an entire year in which to complete the study with college credit.  This experience is deepening his conviction that the seminar method is invaluable for stimulating thought and encouraging vital religious attitudes. 

  Three other concerns press upon us: 

 1) That so many Americans are putting trust in armaments when the scientists firmly assure us that law and order must be based on world government,  not in any distant day,  but in the very days in which we live.   Another conflict, employing atomic energy and biological warfare,  will effectively destroy civilization as we know it.  government in our time is not an impossible hope; the Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists and the United World Federalists are pointing the way for all of us to help.  From the Emergency Committee of Atomic Sci., 90 Nassau St., Princeton, N.J.:
   "Hiroshima" - by John Hersey (reprint from the New Yorker) 
  "'What Price  Preparedness" - By Cord Meyer (reprint from Atlantic Monthly) From United World Eederalists, World Govt. House, 31 E. 74th St., N.Y. 21: 
  "Yes, But"-Questions and answers about World Government, - Vernon Nash
   "Anatomy of Peace"- by Emery Raves - 40 ¢

 2) Sharing our abundance is an essential part of any program of world cooperation.  Supporting the Marshall plan will do this on a larger scale.  For ourselves,  we have decided not to buy presents this Christmas,  and suggest that our friends send any money they would have spend on presents for us to CARE, 50 Broad St., New York 4, where it will be used to help others survive the cold and hunger of this winter. 

  3) The barrage of falsehood and misinformation daily turned out over press and radio is a grave handicap to our sympathetic understanding of other peoples.  "Behind Soviet Power" -  by Jerome Davis is dependable (Reader's Press, 220 Fifth Ave., New York - $1).  The Methodist Church has sent it to all her ministers (22,000 copies ).   3,000 would reprint 10,000 copies to send to other denominations.  

  Mary is enjoying school and the family of puppies next door.  Jean is delighted to be supplementing her Minnesing seminar on Jesus by six hours a week with Shirley Jackson Case,  retired professor from the U. of Chicago and authority on the historical study of the Bible. 

  Because the Christmas season is so wonderful and full of meaning for us we want to say, "Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Man",  in a fuller way than ever before.   With this comes our particular wish for your personal happiness.  

        Cordially, 
            
 829 Clayton Avenue,
 Lakeland, Florida.