UBH UBF DR SADLER’S HISTORY (Continued)

The Publication Mandate

At long last, permission to publish the Urantia papers was granted. The introduction to this mandate reads:

We regard the Urantia Book as a feature of the progressive evolution of human society. It is not germane to the spectacular episodes of epochal revolution, even though it may apparently be timed to appear in the wake of one such revolution in human society. The Book belongs to the era immediately to follow the conclusion of the present ideological struggle. That will be the day when men will be willing to seek truth and righteousness. When the chaos of the present confusion has passed, it will be more readily possible to formulate the cosmos of a new and improved era of human relationships. And it is for this better order of affairs on earth that the Book has been made ready.

But the publication of the Book has not been postponed to that (possibly) somewhat remote date. An early publication of the Book has been provided so that it may be in hand for the training of leaders and teachers. Its presence is also required to engage the attention of persons of means who may be thus led to provide funds for translation into other languages.

Upon receipt of these instructions, the Contact Commissioners entered upon the task of publishing the Urantia Book and preparation of plans for its distribution.

The papers were published just as we received them. The Contact Commissioners had no editorial authority. Our job was limited to “spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.”

Before the demise of Dr. Lena K. Sadler in August, 1939, she had collected about $20,000.00 for the publication fund, and this was used to set type and prepare plates for the printing of the Book.

The Urantia Foundation

It was these plates of the Urantia Book which constituted the basis for the formation of the Urantia Foundation. This Foundation, set up under the laws of Illinois, was completed on January 11, 1950. The first Board of Trustees were:

William M. Hales, President
William S. Sadler Jr., Vice President
Emma L. Christensen, Secretary
Wilfred C. Kellogg, Treasurer
Edith Cook, Assistant Secretary.

It was learned that one of the wealthy members of the Forum¹¹ desired to contribute $50,000.00 for the publication of the Book. By instruction, this was circumvented, because, they told us, it was best to give all parties concerned an opportunity to contribute to the publication fund.

Accordingly, an appeal was made for $50,000.00 to defray the expense of printing 10,000 copies. The response was immediate. The sum contributed was in excess of $49,000.00. The first money to reach the Foundation office was $1,000.00 from the late Sir Hubert Wilkins, the Arctic explorer.¹²

* * *

On 5 March 1942 Harold Sherman had introduced his friend and co-author of Thoughts Through Space, Arctic explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins, to Dr. Sadler, and Wilkins joined the Forum on that day. Sir Hubert became an enthusiastic believer in the Urantia revelation and spent as much time as possible in Chicago reading the Urantia manuscript when his Army duties would permit. Correspondence between Wilkins and Sherman covered their mutual interest in telepathy, their professional careers, as well as mention of Urantia news.¹³ In a letter to Wilkins dated 25 November 1950, Sherman wrote:

We hear from Miss Baumgartner and Mrs. Gusler that the book is all plated and ready for the go-ahead, but now the Doctor is trying to raise $45,000 by subscription. Story is that he has greatly enlarged Forum—new members—probably to expedite raising of funds. I wish I had more confidence in the handling of this remarkable project. The world certainly needs real enlightenment of an authentic nature, and it seems that the origin of this development, and its authenticity throughout, could easily have been established and preserved, had proper witnesses been called in at the start and the original copies of each manuscript preserved! This would have enabled the book to break like a bombshell on humanity, whereas now it may have degenerated into just another book, privately published, with the suggestion of a cult behind it. What do you think?

Wilkins responded on 11 December:

You have doubtless heard the news of preparation to publish the Urantia Papers. If you have not, the “form” letter, signed by William M. Hales, says, “2,200 plates have been completed and paid for. The next step is to print and bind. But to print on suitable paper and suitably bind 10,000 copies will require an outlay of around $45,000.” The form letter, dated October 25, 1950, does not say anything about time of printing or public distribution, but I take it for granted that “permission” has been received. I received the letter only yesterday because I have been up in the Arctic, out of touch with mail.

I must return to the Arctic—expect to leave December 28—and stay up there three months on Army duty, so I will not have a chance to visit with the Doctor or Bill.

The form letter continues, “To raise funds, the Board (Hales, Bill Sadler, Christy, Kellogg and Edith Cook, secretary) has worked out a five-year financial program under which each of us will be privileged to set aside each year a definite sum. . . . A pledge card is enclosed.” I sent them a check for $1,000 thinking that a greater amount now would be more serviceable than smaller amounts each year.

Enclosed with the letter was a booklet, “Urantia Foundation, Declaration of Trust Creating Urantia Foundation.” 24 pages set out the Declaration, which is, so far as I can remember, about the same as the draft we saw some years ago.

An accident five weeks ago broke my right arm, in three places, but it is mending rapidly and there will, apparently, be no following complications.

Sherman responded on December 15:

We had heard that the Book was nearing publication, but did not have the particulars you have furnished. It was grand of you to send a check for that amount and I am sure was much appreciated. We of course get no official notifications, after our run-in with the Doctor. We would naturally like to have one of these volumes in our hands, and will be interested to learn their method of distribution, sale, etc. once it is announced. I understand the Urantia Society is now in the phone book, so they must be getting ready for action. We still feel that parts of this book have been humanly tampered with, which we think is criminal. But there remains much which is phenomenal and far advanced—that’s why any alterations from the original are apt to be confusing and cause great unnecessary damage to human concepts, already badly befogged by wrong teachings and misinformation. Wish we could talk to you about this some time.

UBF WILLIAM S. SADLER to SIR HUBERT WILKINS

Chicago, December 15, 1950

Dear Friend,

We were all greatly relieved to get your letters from New York because a couple of weeks ago the rumor among us was that you had met with an accident, and not knowing just where to write you we had been waiting to learn more or to hear from you and thus find out the trouble. We are all happy that you can give us such a favorable report about your arm.

Of course your letter had another and additional bit of charm in that it advised us of your contribution of $1,000 to the Urantia Foundation. You can be sure we greatly appreciate your interest and cooperation. If I am informed up to date, I think your contribution is the one that brings the total amount up to $40,000 with a little more than half the membership of the Forum heard from.

Bill is out of town and not knowing when he might get around to writing you, I thought I would “pinch-hit” for him today and send you this letter. It would be interesting to have a chat with you about the condition of our old world at the present time and go over the things that have come to us regarding the world crisis.

You will be glad to know that the Urantia Foundation headquarters carries on with little or no expense. The office is located in a room provided by Bill’s organization at 333 N. Michigan Avenue and the expenses of the Foundation are limited to telephone, printing, and postage. This arrangement can obtain until the actual publication of the Book when more space will undoubtedly be required.

As things look at present it would appear that our financial campaign would not only result in raising enough money to publish the first edition of the Urantia Book—10,000 copies—but would also raise enough money to print the first edition of the Index. This Index will be very complete—in reality a concordance. We have money enough left in the old funds out of which the plates for the Urantia Book were paid to also pay for the plates of the Index. We can thus present the plates of the Index to the Urantia Foundation just as we presented the plates of the Book. You know the Urantia Book will not have an index but it will have a very elaborate table of contents, listing all of the subheadings in each paper, etc.

The Internal Revenue Department at Washington several months back made a ruling refusing to pass on the eligibility of any Foundation for income tax deductions until it had functioned at least one year. Our attorney, after a conference with the bureau in Washington, is of the opinion that we will not have a ruling as concerns the Urantia Foundation until after the Book is published.

Having been told twice to start our financial campaign in 1950 and from various other indirect implications we are beginning to feel that publication of the Book will not be very long delayed. In talking with you I will be able to explain this point much better that I can undertake to express it in writing.

I note that we probably will not see you on your next trip to the North but infer that we will be seeing you in the spring. Take good care of yourself. I am glad to say that we are all well and carrying on here.

Sincerely,
William S. Sadler

UBH INSTRUCTIONS to CONTACT COMMISSIONERS

From the personal regent of the acting Planetary Prince of Urantia 1951-1952

I desire to inform you concerning certain decisions and rulings formulated by the planetary government which pertain to the affairs of the Urantia Book, the ensuing Urantia Brotherhood, and the present status of certain Urantian affairs which might be contributory to the welfare of these activities.

Today, November 22, 1951, I am calling into being a supreme planetary conclave to signalize my creation of the Supreme Court of Urantia.

I have recently had a meeting with all persons and groups concerned with the Urantia revelation. As a result of this conference, I have made certain decisions and am handing down the following rulings:

1. For five hundred years, from February 11, 1935 [handwritten note: anniversary of S’s Thought Adjuster] the overall welfare and direction of the Urantia Book is placed in the hands of the Seraphim of Progress.
2. The immediate fostering of the Urantia revelation—from decade to decade—(at least for the next one hundred years) will be entrusted to the Seraphim of the Churches. I have instructed this group to create a special commission to carry on this work.
3. The human aspects of the Urantia Book will be placed in the hands of the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation, subject to the advisory suggestion and veto powers of the Revelatory Commission of the United Midwayers of Urantia. When, as, and if, the Midway Commission fails to communicate with the Trustees of the Foundation for a period of three years, then shall such Trustees deem that the affairs of the Urantia Book are wholly and exclusively in their hands and under their jurisdiction.
4. For the time being, mediation between the overall and superhuman supervision of this Commission and the directly human functioning of the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation shall be vested in the Midwayer Commission, the successor of the original Urantia Revelatory Commission. This Commission shall continue to function as advisor to both the Seraphic Overseers and the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation, but their veto powers shall extend only to the decisions and acts of the human Trustees.
5. In the absence of Midwayer intervention after February 11, 1954, the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation shall proceed in accordance with their own judgment.

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. It must be that otherwise well-meaning human beings just cannot stand the test of time. I admonish you ever to be alert to the importance of the extraordinary trust which has been placed in your hands.

* * *

This communication (August 21, 1952) represents my ruling up to this date respecting your Forum, the Seventy, the Urantia Book, the Urantia Foundation, and the proposed Urantia Brotherhood.

1. The Forum. Your Forum shall continue under the supervision of the Contact Commissioners as directed June 24, 1933.
2. The Urantia Brotherhood. The plan of organization as it exists on this date is hereby provisionally approved for the inauguration of the Brotherhood. The plan provides for its subsequent emendation.
3. The launching of the Brotherhood shall be left to the decisions of the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation. They shall act personally—unofficially—and no records of such action shall appear on the transactions of the Urantia Foundation. They shall assume all and full responsibility for the organization and inauguration of the Urantia Brotherhood.
4. The Urantia Book. By mandate of the Supreme Court of Urantia, unanimous decision, No. 81, pertaining to mixed planetary mandate, the full custody of the Urantia Book has been placed in my hands. I now make the following rulings:

a. I, and I alone, will direct the time of the publication of the Urantia Book.

b. If I do not provide such instructions on or before January 1, 1955, then the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation should proceed with the plans for publication in accordance with their own judgment. (I reserve the right to intervene at any time.)

c. I approve of your plan to publish the Index of the Urantia Book as a separate volume.

5. The Seventy. This is a project which will terminate with the launching of the Brotherhood. I would continue the present supervision. If for any reason this supervision should be terminated, I direct the Trustees of the Urantia Foundation, acting unofficially, to appoint a new leader to act pending the inauguration of the Urantia Brotherhood.

I share in your aspirations, concur in your longings, minister to your shortcomings, and wholeheartedly bless your undertakings.

HANDWRITTEN NOTE: This is the message which announced the installation of Norsen by Gabriel, August 21 [1952].

February 11, 1924—Melchizedek announced revelation to Contact Commissioners.

DR. SADLER’S HISTORY (continued)

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.

Accordingly, on January 2, 1955, a group of persons who believed the teachings of the Book and who were interested in their proclamation, assembled in Chicago and completed the organization of the Urantia Brotherhood, a voluntary and fraternal organization of Urantia believers. This group composed the charter membership of the Urantia Brotherhood, and were 36 in number.

A Constitution and By-laws were adopted, and since that date numerous Societies have been formed throughout the United States.

The overall purpose of the Brotherhood is well expressed in the Preamble to the Constitution:

“Inasmuch as it is our most solemn conviction that the comfort, happiness, and well-being of man will be enhanced by the creation of an organization devoted to the purposes hereinafter expressed and inasmuch as it is our considered judgment that the purposes hereinafter expressed may best be accomplished through the mutual assistance and association of a body of people working together for a common cause, we do hereby unite together as a voluntary association and fellowship under the name of Urantia Brotherhood, and we do hereby adopt and establish this Constitution of Urantia Brotherhood.”

The original 36 founders became the General Council which was designed to govern the Brotherhood for its first nine years.

UBF MARIAN ROWLEY¹⁴ to JULIA EARLY FENDERSON¹⁵

Chicago, January 4, 1955

Dear Julia,

I’m so busy I should make this very short. But there’s so much to tell you, it will probably go on and on. I’ll try to type rapidly and please forgive all mistakes. . . .

Did I tell you that Doctor had a mild heart attack? He’s getting along very well—gets around in a wheelchair now and was in the office every day last week for a few hours. We had the regular New Year’s Day open house and he sat in his chair in the living room the whole time—almost four hours.

Thanks loads for your Christmas note and the article about yourself¹⁶. . . . I took it over to Sadlers’ of course. . . . The day of the party it was passed around to everyone who knew you. . . .

Now for real news. On Sunday, January 2, 1955, at twelve o’clock, there was a meeting of thirty-six people in the Forum room for the purpose of organizing the Urantia Brotherhood. First, Doctor read a communication directing how it should be done (Bill will refresh your memory on it—it’s one we’ve heard before), then Bill Hales¹⁷ presided and called each one of the thirty-six up to the front to sign the Constitution. Since that brought the thing into existence, he called for nominations for officers, who were then elected. They are:

President—William S. Sadler Jr.
Vice-President—Warren Kulieke
Treasurer—Russell Bucklin
Secretary—Anna Rawson
Secretary-General—Marian Rowley

Bill Sadler then took over the meeting and called for nominations for the nine committee chairmen, who were elected as follows:

Judicial—William M. Hales
Charter—Ruth Burton
Fraternal Relations—Edmond F. J. Kulieke Sr.
Domestic Extension—Everett Farwell
Foreign Extension—Jim Mills
Educational—Dr. William S. Sadler
Publications—Leone Sadler
Finance—David Adler
Committee on Misc. Activities—E. L. Christensen (Christy)