Webmaster's note: This is titled "Christy's History" but I am not certain that Christy wrote it. Pages 4 and 7 of the original contain her name in her handwiting but these could have been notations which she was leaving for someone else. I would conclude from this that Christy had at least approved it in some manner.
Urantia HISTORY
There seems to be a great deal of confusion among our friends and members of the Urantia movement about the various organizations: The Urantia Foundation, the Urantia Brotherhood, and the Urantia Brotherhood Corporation. I am going to try to clear up this confusion by helping you to understand the purposes and functions of these organizations.
THE Urantia FOUNDATION
(The first organization)
For many years prior to the publication of the Urantia Book on October 18th, 1955, a group of people had met at this address, 533 Diversey Parkway, Chicago, Illinois, for the purpose of studying the manuscripts, which ultimately comprised “The Urantia Book”. When the Revelatory Commission (producers of the manuscripts) advised us of their completion it was decided (with probably a nudge from the Revelatory Commission) that plates should be made of the manuscripts on the assumption that some day they would be published. Accordingly, a contract was made for production of the plates at a cost of approximately $25,000.00. It was also determined to create a foundation as titleholders of the plates, which formed the basis of the Declaration of Trust creating the Urantia Foundation. This Declaration of Trust was filed for record on January 11th, 1950. The Foundation created thereby is a non-profit and tax-exempt organization.
With the Foundation acting as publisher, the Urantia Book was published under international copyright on October 12th, 1955. A sum of money in excess of $49,000.00 was contributed for this purpose.
The Foundation is administered by five Trustees, who are self-perpetuating. It is the primary duty of the Trustees to perpetually preserve inviolate the text of the Urantia Book. The Trustees must use and employ such means, methods, and facilities as in their judgment shall be necessary and proper for preserving and safeguarding the original text of the Urantia Book. The Trustees of the Urantia Foundation must retain absolute and unconditional control of all plates and other media for the printing and reproduction of the Urantia Book, or any translation thereof.
The Declaration of Trust creating Urantia Foundation sets forth under Article II the objects:
2.1 PRINCIPAL OBJECT: The object for which this Foundation is created is the promotion, improvement, and expansion among the peoples of the world of the comprehension and understanding of cosmology and the relation of the planet on which we live to the Universe, of the genesis and destiny of Man and his relation to God, and of the true teachings of Jesus Christ; and for the inculcation and encouragement of the realization and appreciation of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man – in order to increase and enhance the comfort, happiness, and well being of Man, as an individual and as a member of society, through the fostering of a religion, a philosophy, and a cosmology which are commensurate with Man's intellectual and cultural development.
2.2 CONCORDANT OBJECTS: The concordant objects for which the Foundation is created are to perpetually preserve inviolate the text of THE Urantia BOOK and to disseminate the principles, teachings, and doctrines of THE Urantia BOOK.
The present Trustees of the Urantia Foundation are:
William M. Hales, President
Thomas A. Kendall, Vice President
E. L. Christensen, Secretary
Edith E. Cook, Treasurer, and Assistant Secretary
Kenton E. Stephens, Assistant Treasurer
The Foundation Trustees meet every three months and may be called together for special or emergency meetings.
All moneys donated to the Foundation are used for translations, (the French translation meant an outlay of over $20,000.00), the preparation and publication of the Index, and future printings of the Urantia Book. Since our present supply of Urantia Books from the first printing of 10,000 copies is rapidly dwindling, it will be necessary to print a second edition within the next two or three years. While we have the plates to use for the second printing, the cost of the next edition of 10,000 copies will be approximately $65,000.00. In addition to this, the Foundation must also raise money for the making of plates and the printing of the Index when that tremendous job shall have been completed. The cost will exceed $25,000.00.
So you will readily understand why the Foundation is in need of funds and I hope you will appreciate our yearly plea for funds. We have no other income with which to produce additional copies of the Urantia Book – only your donations.
The Foundation holds the copyright to the Urantia Book as well as the Trademark (the three concentric circles), and the use of the word “Urantia”.
The Northern Trust Company of Chicago carries the Foundation accounts, both savings and checking.
THE Urantia BROTHERHOODIn order that the Urantia Foundation could properly carry out its duty to disseminate the teachings and doctrines of the Urantia Book, it was inevitable that some sort of fraternal organization should come into existence. In August 1952, instructions from the Revelatory Commission caused the Trustees to begin the consideration of a voluntary and fraternal organization of Urantia believers. Accordingly, on January 2nd, 1955, a group of persons who believe the teachings of the book and who were interested in their proclamation assembled in Chicago and completed the organization of the Urantia Brotherhood. This group of 36 composed the charter membership of the Urantia Brotherhood
The Urantia Brotherhood is a voluntary and fraternal organization of believers in the Urantia Book, functioning in various Urantia Societies, each of which is made up of ten or more dedicated individuals.
The 36 founders constitute what we know as the General Council of the Urantia Brotherhood, which directs the affairs of the Brotherhood through the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is composed of the officers of the Beotherhood together with the chairmen of the nine functioning committees – a group of fourteen. The Executive Committee meets the first Monday of each month.
The original 36 members of the Urantia Brotherhood (or their successors) directed the organization for the first nine years. Thereafter, the Brotherhood will be governed by a new General Council selected by the action of a Triennial Delegate Assembly composed of delegates from the various Urantia Societies. The First Triennial Meeting was held during 1964.
The purpose of the Brotherhood is well expressed in the preamble to the Constitution, as follows:
“Inasmuch as it is our solemn conviction that the comfort, happiness, and well-being of men 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 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 Urantia Brotherhood, and we do hereby adopt and establish this constitution of Urantia Brotherhood.”
Among the early activities of the Brotherhood was the organization of the Urantia Brotherhood School, which began its first session in September, 1956. The highest degree granted is that of “Ordained Teacher.” A shorter course of study leads to the degree of “Certified Leader.”
As of this writing, the Officers of the Urantia Brotherhood are:
E. L. Christensen, President
Alvin L. Kulieke, Vice President
Harry E. Rowley, Treasurer
Anna Rawson, Secretary
Marian T. Rowley, Secretary-General
The Secretary-General is the principal clerical and liaison officer between the general Council and each Departmental Committee. She keeps in close touch with the work of each Urantia Society and carries on a mountain of correspondence with these societies and the numerous inquiries and friends of the Urantia movement throughout the world. She is ex officio member of each departmental committee. It is her job to see that the organization is functioning in top form and that we are all doing our jobs.
Urantia BROTHERHOOD CORPORATIONSince the Urantia Brotherhood is not a corporation – not a legal entity – the Executive Committee of the Urantia Brotherhood caused to be organized a not-for-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Illinois in the name of Urantia BROTHERHOOD CORPORATION. This corporation is the fiscal agent of the Brotherhood, and in a general way, takes care of the various financial and legal interests of the Brotherhood. The Executive Committee may from time to time organize additional corporations for profit or not for profit as shall be considered necessary.
All donations, therefore, which you make to the Urantia Brotherhood, are handled through the Urantia Brotherhood Corporation. The Brotherhood does not have a bank account or any funds. Their account is carried in the name of Urantia BROTHERHOOD CORPORATION.
The Officers and Directors of the Corporation are the same as the Officers and directors of the Brotherhood.
All money given to the Brotherhood is used for running expenses, such as rent, equipment, stationery, stamps, telephone, mimeograph work, textbooks, etc., ad infinitum. There are no paid workers.
The Brotherhood Corporation accounts are also carried in the Northern Trust Company of Chicago.