RECEIVED: August 10th, 1978
Report of Tom Kendall’s and Martin Myers’ Meeting with Clyde Bedell
Laguna Hills, CA., July 15th, 1978
Present also: Vern Grimsley, Duane & Lucille Faw, Florence Bedell
(Notes were taken informally by Lucille Faw, and transcribed in Chicago for the group. The following transcript is Kendall’s, added to by Clyde Bedell to include omitted points that seemed important to include. No attempt was made to have verbatim and all-inclusive notes.)
Agreed copyright issue is a very important one, and Clyde agrees that the Concordex is a derivative work, without specific suggestions.
Clyde asked what “we” found objectionable in the Concordex. He said he intended to go ahead and publish on his own, finding it impossible and unreasonable to heed headquarters’ criticisms to date, which had been amorphous and impossible to “get hold of”.
Clyde said he needed to know who would review and criticize or “correct” his thinking and writing. Will it be those who have already said “no” to the most recently written or circulated criticisms? Is headquarters to say: “Write it our way, or don’t do it?” “I will welcome well considered, rational suggestions, but not criticisms reflecting personal views of several people who do not really know much about the Concordex or its use. Clyde wants a rational view.
Martin: We have a duty to cooperate with you and we have a duty to the Foundation.
Clyde: I cannot submit an amorphous criticism as a consequence of a general statement that you don’t like the (fob) front-of-book matter. You have suggested: “Write it over and submit it.” That I cannot do. I again ask for specifics. What does headquarter find objectionable?
Duane: Two factors involved – one is editorial content as Clyde’s statements; and one is the entries in the index portions.
Clyde: Should really confine ourselves to fob writing, I think. I am amenable to changes in listings, and have already eliminated, for instance, “beatnik”, at Julia’s long-ago suggestion. No problem there. Problem is headquarters’ recent-found criticisms of my fob matter.
Tom: We have to protect copyright. That includes our right to examine and approve any derivative work now and in the future.
Clyde: The Concordex was published with headquarters’ knowledge and approval. My privilege remains. But you have been threatening me to stop my publishing when the book is all my responsibility, and no one can hold you responsible for what I say in it.
Martin: We are not here to say that you either do this or that, or you don’t publish.
Clyde: That is precisely what has been said to me in writing. I have been told I am “athwart” the copyright, as Tom put it; you must have some specific facts in mind. I want specifics. Where or how am I “athwart” the copyright?
Martin: If you publish without the Trustee’s approval, then you violate the copyright, which cannot be tolerated.
Clyde: But I had permission to publish, and that permission cannot be revoked without any cause except that you don‘t like something I have written.
Martin: If this issue should come to a trial (or legal action (?) …
Clyde: (breaking in) I would welcome it. I would welcome it.
Duane: Clyde has a vested right and investment in that second edition, and has permission to publish. He can reprint exactly as it is as many times as he wants to for years and no one can prevent it.
Clyde: McGraw-Hill’s legal department has informed me it doesn’t have to be exactly the same, as long as it is – basically – the same book. I have studied the recent (1978) Copyright Law revisions, and I‘ve much broader quote rights than I have taken advantage of.
Vern: You did request specifics from others in the field, besides Carolyn and John Hales. And you received suggestions including quite a few from me, which I thought you handled fairly; accepting some and telling me why you could not accept others. Now, to make better progress, I believe we need to take 60 seconds to seek the Father’s will. All of us want to find a way to publish this work. We want to work out a way for the good of the Movement.
(Silent prayer)
Duane: Call on the Conciliators. (Page 275.)
Tom: We are trying to foster an atmosphere of non-criticism of other religious groups. In your” Foreword”, are comments, which are offensive to some groups. We are not here to try to push aside others to get to truth.
Clyde: I can’t write an introduction, which is inoffensive to all groups – if that is what is requested – that is not my mission or ministry. The Urantia Book itself is tough, unequivocal, and uncompromising in pointing out the differences between Jesusonian. Christian, and others’.
Tom: I know your ability to write. You can write a very inspiring and dignified article, which would inspire everyone, and offend no one. Vern does it all the time.
Clyde: My task is different. Vern is not trying to represent the whole Book to prospective readers.
Duane: If I was a Trustee, and if Clyde came to me, I would be wearing two hats. As a friend, I might say this particular clause or paragraph stinks or is bad. And, Clyde might say to me, now you are wearing your official hat – you’re not going to approve it. What I really would be saying, (and I would not say it in that way), rather, I would say, I will approve it because it does not violate copyright.
What we need is the bottom line. What do you intend to do if the book is submitted for review? Will Clyde say: “ If you do not approve, I will not publish”? What Clyde is saying is that he will publish.
If he submits his book and accepts your specific comments for consideration; and after pondering them, says: “Thanks, I prefer to keep them as they are,” then will you refuse to approve?
Martin: Don’t know. We can’t speak for all the Trustees.
Clyde: Despite our differences I bear no ill will toward you two men, or anyone else at headquarters, though I disagree heartily with some of your decisions, and the things you are doing. I recognize that you are all working hard and trying to do right. But, I have grievances. I published the Concordex six years ago, and no one at 533 criticized, objected, or made negative comments until the summer of 1977.
Then, when Meredith and John came out here to discuss the criticisms and get an agreement with me about them so the Brotherhood could sell Concordexes to bookstores, we came to agreement. Then the Foundation reneged.
Martin: What was the agreement the Foundation reneged on?
Clyde: To me, it is terrible that we staunch Urantians, all of whom should be working in common, must spend time and energy quarreling over what is really a non-issue. I have made some changes somewhat, in making the Concordex less personal, and I can even increase assurance that the Foundation will never be regarded as responsible for my work.
(See Lucille Faw’s notes page 2 – last two lines.)
Martin: We have said the wrapper must be different. You have said you will take action on that.
Clyde: Yes, of my own accord, I agreed to that long ago. But you should remember headquarters was extremely afraid I might make a wrapper that looked like The Urantia Book’s, although I never had any desire to do that.
Martin: We believe it is best that the Book not be sensationalized or advertised. Meredith came out to try to work out the differences. There was a contract offered to you by the Brotherhood Corporation in October to let them distribute the Concordex to bookstores. You refused.
Clyde: I haven’t seen it.
(Martin produced a copy of document from briefcase, and gave it to Clyde.)
Clyde: “Oh this. I had forgotten this entirely, as soon as I examined it, and responded to Meredith. That was not a proposed agreement, but a non-agreement, all one-sided. It was a proposal to give you life and death decision over the Concordex. No one here would have signed what I received, then immediately passed up and forgot, had you been me. It required submission, your right to censor, and deny me publishing rights, if you could; and if I agreed, and put myself in your hands, you could cancel without notice. (See Lucille Faw’s notes page 3)
Cancellation would be of value to you to coerce me, of no value to me. Please recall that my fob matter was not heretofore submitted to headquarters precisely for the reason that we wanted it true that headquarters had not seen, and was not responsible for, what I wrote. You only permitted me to use a small group of quotes, that gave you no responsibility for my writing, and it gave you no right to dictate what I might say, or how I should say it.
You simply cannot contend the Concordex has hurt or is bad for the Movement. How many people can you get to say that the Concordex is bad for our Movement? I can show hundreds of letters to testify to its value and service to the Movement.
Martin: The Letter of Brotherhood Corporation, November 3rd provided for you to sell the Concordex to Brotherhood Corporation at 50% discount, and Brotherhood would distribute through bookstores, and individuals as Urantia Book, etc.
It also provided that you were to submit the rewritten fob of the Concordex and dust-jacket for approval, and not engage in any mass advertising) and either party could terminate at any time.
Clyde: Yes, yes. I remember now. But, what person could agree to giving such a stranglehold on the Concordex?
Martin: I can’t see where you were jeopardized, but this was the Brotherhood’s proposed agreement, and was not signed by you.
Clyde: Let’s get to
specifics in a friendly manner. I know
I have been sounding angry because I have been emphatic. I am deeply concerned. I have my heart in the Concordex. I am not angry, but I am deadly serious
about all this. I intended the Concordex
to be of great value to readers, and of great service to the Movement. I expected every purchaser of The Urantia
Book to know an index was available.
Instead, headquarters, except where individuals have actually sought the
Concordex, has almost suppressed it.
Martin: We believe that if you go ahead…
Duane: I am absolutely in accord with the Foundation’s protection of the copyright, but I am opposed to any effort to force everyone to publish like views of The Urantia Book. I think the question here, is: Is Clyde is being asked to conform to editing by a group?
Clyde: An unknown group – perhaps dominated by unfair critics whom I wrote Tom about.
Martin: I don’t see the question that way. I see that the sensational promotion is contrary to the way we see the Movement.
Clyde: I want you to tell me how! What is sensation? Whose views determine what is sensational? Again, your criticisms from headquarters are generalities. List for me the sensational things, so I can consider them.
Martin: I’ll send you a letter after the Conference, in detail.
Vern: The Foundation has the duty to protect the trademarks, etc., but the two most visible parts of the Movement are The Urantia Book, and the Concordex, so, the Concordex comes under the Trustees concern, because of its high profile in the Movement. Of necessity, the Concordex takes things out of context. It does need balance.
Clyde: There is balance that headquarters ignore. They pick at a small handful of things they attack as negative. But there is an enormous amount of positive, constructive, and inspirational matter in the fob they ignore. And on what they don’t like, which has to be rather limited, you want to tell me what to think and write.
Martin: We’ve reached a point where you are saying you are right, and we say we are right. I’ll write you my specific concerns, and reply to any specific questions you have.
Vern: This is an evolutionary planet, and we can never expect all to agree on things. Things will change perspective over the years, and be seen in a different light. I don’t hear anyone saying that the Concordex is bad, or should not be published.
(General agreement expressed – among all present.)
Vern: Who are the Trustees now? Martin Myers, Arthur Born, Tom Kendall, William Hales, and Edith Cook.
Tom: You could appeal to everyone who picks up the Concordex. I don’t see why you have to knock Christianity.
Clyde: I don’t believe anyone could appeal to everyone. Conservatives, disillusioned religionists, Adventists, agnostics, Catholics; to attempt to appeal to everyone would be to misrepresent the Book, which is much harsher on Christianity than I am. It would neutralize the presentation and have no real appeal to anyone.
Tom: Perhaps I exaggerated, but you know what I mean.
Clyde: The Concordex is not for nice little Christian Fundamentalists, for instance, who would be offended by my comments. The Concordex wishes to sell the Urantia Book to all rational and reasonable prospects, especially the spiritually hungry. Headquarters ascribes much of my position to: “Clyde’s an advertising man”. True, I am an advertising man, and every thing has to be sold. And, I must insist, for your benefit, that everything good on earth has to be SOLD, or it languishes. This is bedrock truth. To sell The Urantia Book honestly, requires writing that differentiates it from other Christian or religious writing. The front of the Concordex is written to appeal to those I want to reach – and will be so written in each new edition as long as I live; always better, I hope. They are the hungry-hearted, those soul-searching individuals, and truth seekers.
Duane, Florence, and Clyde: Presented illustrations, experiences, using the fob Concordex to introduce The Urantia Book successfully to prospective readers. Clyde told of an ex-catholic priest, and of an Italian gentleman, head of a small Foundation in New Jersey, (both recent cases), who had read the fob matter in the Concordex, without ever having seen The Urantia Book. Then, they both bought The Urantia Book in its original carton, never having examined it. The priest told his story to Julia. Then subsequently to Clyde, at a FUSLA meeting, Clyde brought out convincingly, that neither headquarters man was himself intimately knowledgeable about what was in the fob material. They were largely going on what high-profile critics at headquarters claimed, or asserted, which Clyde said his facts did not support.
Vern: Some of the concerns go back to Jesus’ point to Simon – don’t take anything away from anyone, but add to what they already have.
Clyde: Very well. But, The Urantia Book is here to put something into hearts that are already emptied of spiritual content, to some extent. It is not for ardent religionists whose hearts are filled with the wrong gospel. These hungry-hearted we cannot win, unless we enable them to see this is a NEW and DIFFERENT Gospel.
(Entirely different from Lucille Faw’s notes, Page 5, 1st Paragraph.)
We must ever bear in mind also, Jesus’ emphatic comment to James that He did not want his Apostles to think alike. He wanted unity of spirit and belief, not uniformity. (1591C) The Concordex takes nothing out of the hearts of those to whom it is written. Surely, you do not wish to say the Concordex’s appeal to The Urantia Book’s rightful prospects should be cut out in order for it to appeal more to religionists who will never read it?
Vern: The Foundation has been concerned with how many will be lost because offended.
Clyde: If individuals read the fob of the Concordex, take offense, and turn away from The Urantia Book by misrepresenting The Urantia Book, would they would never become good Urantians?
Let me add to my answer to your “knocking Christianity” question. One of my headquarters’ critics said I made an attack on Christianity with the sentence: “The Urantia Book is a superb Christian document, but it is only meagerly Jesusonian.” I wrote that as a paraphrase. When I checked back, I found it was word for word from The Urantia Book. My critics do not know the purposes for which the Concordex was created. Some of them are not very familiar with The Urantia Book’s own “knocking” of Christianity, to use Tom’s phrase.
How can a Urantian, wanting to honestly present our Great Book, do so if he must respond to such criticisms as that? After all, Pauline Christianity is not the Christianity of Christ. You want The Urantia Book’s Christianity soft-pedaled?
How many people will be disappointed or misled after buying The Urantia Book, if I take out all negative references to the organized Christian churches, and I do not make clear that this is a different revelation? How many seekers after truth will I lose?
Tom: There are people who would love to find us saying something wrong, and get us in trouble. We are trying not to offend any groups.
Clyde: You cannot promote this revelation honestly, without risking that.
Martin: It seems that you feel that your front of book is the way you want it, and Tom has explained some of the things objectionable to the Foundation. We are trying to convince each other, and I don’t think we are going to change your mind. You think it is your baby, and that it does not necessarily affect The Urantia Foundation in any way. I agree with Duane, that there is no Foundation view. The Trustees have their personal views, and I cannot say how they would decide on approval, even with their divergent views. Obviously, changes have been made.
Clyde: And more will be made in a third edition. But, I do not want to be under a forced censorship, being “straightened out” by some faceless group of probably unqualified critics. What I object to, is your saying: “I must say it one way, (altering an honest presentation of the Book), or Clyde Bedell will be punished. I have had harsh threats from the Foundation, but changes I have made have been voluntary. I will illustrate: I have changed and removed many of my personal comments, which are not essential to the Concordex. I feel satisfied, good, about the changes. I believe they are improvements. (Page 178, 271, 402, and some of the comment on Page 333.)
Martin: May we say, here, that we will no longer demand that you submit the Concordex for approval. But, may we request that you submit it? I know that you will consider our suggestions, and we will point out that this is your private work and responsibility. We will recommend to the Board that we write you a letter stating that we request, as a favor, that you submit your manuscript for our comments. The Foundation will send you a formal statement permitting publication of quotations from The Urantia Book, with a statement that the Foundation does not approve the Concordex as a statement of the Foundation’s opinions, but solely as opinions of Clyde Bedell.
We will be willing to stress to the Board that they do not want to be in a position of censoring a private work.
Duane: Sooner or later the Foundation has to see the work to approve.
Clyde: Usually, when a typical author asks permissions to use a few paragraphs from another work, he does not submit his whole work.
Duane: This is different. This is a sub rose derivative index for The Urantia Book. If you don’t submit it, your recourse will be to sell it yourself. Headquarters cannot sell it without approval.
Tom: When do you expect to publish a third edition? Have you written material for the front of a third edition?
(Replaces first two lines, L. Faw, Page 6.)
Clyde: It will be at least a ½ or 2 years, I believe, before a third edition is published. I have written no fob matter for it, although I have given it much thought. I do have perhaps 3 to 4,000 new entries for it. When I do write it, I do not care to submit it. I have no desire to attempt to write something vitally important, to be submitted to the Foundation to be mauled, manhandled, and second-guessed, and then, perhaps, approved by a Committee unnamed. I do not want my thinking “straightened out” by such headquarters critics as I have named to you, along with some of their shockingly unjust and invalid criticisms.
Let me summarize to this point.
1. I have already eliminated some of the things I justifiably can, things that made some individuals uncomfortable.
- You have been jumping on the Concordex without understanding it, and its many and varied uses. I have been shocked at how little either of you really know about what is in the Concordex; what it says, and shocked at how little you know of how variously the Concordex is used and valued.
(Changed and added to, see L. Faw Page 6, Paragraph 3.)
- Were I a Trustee, like you, I might not have had time to carefully read all the fob matter in the Concordex, although, as Vern indicated, in view of its importance in the Movement, I believe you should have known a great deal about the Concordex. But, if I were not familiar with it, I would have taken opinions of others, as you have certainly done. That would be a mistake, which might lead me to condemn what I know little about.
- I believe the Concordex has an important and valid place in presenting The Urantia Book to a very very large group of people, to whom I have directed my writing. There is much evidence, with which you are unfamiliar, that it is quite successfully appealing to them, and serving them.
I assume Martin is saying: You probably sense, now, what we at headquarters are unhappy with. Will you change as much as you can in conformity with your own conscience? Then, write a boxed paragraph at the front, in approved form, assuming total responsibility for the views in the Concordex?
Martin: That is not all. It is also the legal problem of our having needed to see what is going to be used in connection with quotes from The Urantia Book. I don’t think you have anything to fear from the Foundation. We have made mistakes. IT will be different now. What have you got to lose by submitting the writing? I’m not saying you have to do it. I am asking that you do. You can still, then, as you say, publish anyway.
Clyde: What do I gain by submitting?
Martin: What do you gain by not submitting? Are you afraid of our reactions?
Clyde: I retain my independence and freedom from censorship. And, yes, I am afraid. You wouldn’t believe what I have received from the Foundation and headquarters. I have detailed only a very few of the unfair, invalid, irrational criticisms I have had from the two named; hardly qualified, headquarters’ critics.
I assure you, I will never use quotes from The Urantia Book illegally, or without permission. You know how long and ardently I have fought to help you protect the copyright.
Now, I am going to read to you eight uses of the Concordex. If I followed headquarters’ suggestions, much of the great value of the Concordex to readers, and to the Movement, would be lost.
(Clyde read the eight USES OF THE CONCORDEX)
I want to clearly point out, that I have much greater grievances against the Foundation, than it has with me. The Foundation has never told Urantia readers that an index exists.
You now know the position the Concordex holds in the Movement, and the service it renders to societies, study groups, speechwriters, and so on. But, due to what amounts to headquarters suppression, about 80% of Urantia Book purchasers never learn an INDEX is available, unless it is by change. Think of the value to the Movement, in the hands of the relatively few readers who have learned of it! No group of Urantians would agree that you have treated the Concordex fairly; Urantia Book purchasers, or me.
Aside from headquarters, there seems to be no illusion as to the service the Concordex has rendered our Movement. Yet, in seven long years, not one single Trustee, or other important headquarters official, HAS EVER SUGGESTED a meeting, or any consultation with me, as to how the Concordex service to readers might be enlarged, increased, utilized, or improved for the good of our Movement. If there was headquarters disapproval of anything in the Concordex, not one Trustee, or headquarters executive has ever said to me, orally, or in writing: “We could support the Concordex more, if writing in it was modified somewhat. For the good of the Urantia Movement, let’s discuss that.” Vern has said, that next to The Urantia Book, the Concordex has the highest profile in our Movement. Isn’t is strange that a headquarters filled with people, presumably intent on aiding the Movement, that has never deigned to have even a 30 minute talk with me about the Concordex? Small wonder that I am afraid to trust my work to people so long indifferent; and then, to suddenly be so savagely critical of details truth wills not support.
This meeting, the result of a hassle, is the first time I have ever had any interest or concerned attention to this valuable and important asset to the Urantia Movement.
Martin: Where we are apart, is in the obligation of the Trustees to see a derivative work before it is published; before giving approval.
The Foundation would be in a terrible position, if Trustees refused permission to publish this private work, simply because we don’t like some of it. The Board has more to consider than the few passages that concern them. You do not need to be afraid of what the Trustees will say or do. And, only the Trustees will see and read whatever you submit.
Clyde: Do you feel that you have any broader, more lenient attitude toward the Concordex? Do you think you understand it, and its several important uses better?
Martin: Yes, but I cannot speak for all the Trustees. However, we have some influence with them. And, we are saying that it may be possible to have a disclaimer in the front of the book, on behalf of the Foundation.
Clyde: Are you saying, then, that I would be submitting my writing for your comments, criticisms, and suggestions, to use or not, as best I can? Not for censorship?
Martin: Yes. We would send our opinions. Not censorship.
Clyde: Where does that leave us?
Martin: We both do it in good faith. What we must do now is go forward.
Clyde: In the preparation of new material for the front of a third edition of the Concordex, considering the views I know you hold now, I will bear this understanding in mind, and will send what I write to you to prepare the material for the fob, and send it to you for your comments. Not censorship.
I will also prepare a boxed disclaimer on which we agree, as additional protection for the Foundation, lest it be held responsible for what I write in the third edition. You are, no doubt, unaware, that the Concordex now makes clear its private parentage…
(a) On the jacket backbone,
(b) On the front of the jacket,
(c) On the binding backbone,
(d) On the front of the binding,
(e) On the title page,
(f) On the title page verso,
(g) Page 16D,
(h) Page 20B,
(i) Page 33D,
No doubt, neither your, nor my “somewhat careless” critics have ever realized all this.
Tom: We want to say again, that we recognize the value of the Concordex, not only for new readers, but also for all of us.
Martin and Clyde:
Ways to Modify Agreement suitable to headquarters and Clyde for Brotherhood to sell Concordexes to bookstores.
- Letter of Agreement should state that the Concordex is a valuable tool for readers and the Movement, and that the Brotherhood wishes to distribute it to bookstores.
- The Brotherhood will inform bookstores selling 80% or more of Urantia Books, that an INDEX, the Concordex, is available from the Brotherhood. This letter will in good faith, creditably present the Concordex , with a view to getting it carried by stores selling The Urantia Book. Additional letters may, on occasion, be sent until the fact registers with bookstores, if first approved by the Brotherhood, and an agreeable sharing of expense can be determined.
- The Agreement may be cancelled by either party for cause. If Clyde violates the spirit of the Agreement, or does something definitively harmful to the Movement, the Agreement may be cancelled by a majority vote of the Corporation. If headquarters does anything hurtful to the Concordex’s purposes, sale, or use, or is suppressive of the Concordex, Clyde can cancel.
The meeting concluded in a general and obvious spirit of goodwill among all present, after Clyde told the story of a new Urantian, an eminent consultant to department stores all over this continent, and read two letters from him. The letters (copies) are attached. One dated November, 1977, the second in May, 1978.
The new Urantian, a man Clyde knew and had encountered in his work many times many years ago, and had not been seen by Clyde for about 10 years. Clyde sent him a “thank you note” for a most generous gesture, out of a clear sky, last August. He enclosed in his “thank you note”, an 8 ½ x 11” leaf about The Urantia Book and the Concordex. The two letters speak for themselves.
[See attached letter 1] 
[See attached letter 2]