Liberal Religious Publishing by Jeanette E. Hopkins from an article on "Books That Will Not Burn" (Christian Register, June 1955) Unitarian tracts were first published in the United States in 1806 during the presidential term of Thomas Jefferson—a Unitarian who had put his pen to one of mankind’s basic documents in the heritage of freedom, the Declaration of Independence. To inculcate correct views In the autumn of 1824, thirty or forty of the leading men of Boston, members of the Anonymous Association, had met to consider the importance of distribution of Unitarian books. They prepared a resolution asking for measures to unite "the efforts of liberal-minded persons to give greater efficiency to the attempt to extend a knowledge of Unitarian principles by means of the public press." Not everyone at the meeting was in favor of using the press to spread Unitarian ideas. One man thought the ideas ought not to spread too fast; another called the proposal dangerous and unbecoming to liberal Christians; a leading merchant expressed the fear that Unitarianism would become popular and, if popular, then intolerant. But those who believed in the plan proved more persuasive in the end. The result was the American Unitarian Association, formed by the Berry Street Conference of Ministers on May 25, 1825. It proposed "to publish and distribute books and tracts inculcating correct views of religion in such a form and at such a price as shall afford all an opportunity of becoming acquainted with Christian truth." Then, in February, 1854, the president of the Association, Dr. S. K. Lothrop, made an important and far-reaching announcement: under stimulus from George Ellis of The Christian Register, the executive committee of the American Unitarian Association proposed to raise S50,000 "to be employed in the printing, distribution and sale of religious books and pamphlets." Dr. Lothrop presented to the meeting "A Circular of the American Unitarian Association respecting the Book and Tract Fund." The delegates, comparing the sales of Channing's books and Henry Ware's with "our most popular American authors," and finding that the Unitarian authors stood up well under comparison, concluded that there was a "general desire to read Unitarian books." Indeed, Dr. Lothrop said, there existed "an urgent call for liberal works that would meet the spiritual needs of the age." A resolution was offered and immediately adopted: Whereas, the extensive diffusion of large and cheap editions of our best theological and religious hooks would be an important service to our generation, and to the cause of Christian truth: and whereas, the American Unitarian Association has, in years past, engaged to some extent in this work, and can easily direct to it more comprehensive and efficient efforts, if entrusted with the means: therefore, Resolved, that its friends be invited to cooperate in raising fifty thousand dollars to be employed by the Executive Committee in promoting the great objects of the Association in such ways as they may deem best, and more especially as capital for the printing, sale, and distribution of religious books. But without waiting for the $50,000 ( $21,000 was reported in hand at the 1855 annual meeting), the American Unitarian Association in 1854 issued the first book to be published officially under its own imprint—Grains of Gold; or, Select Thoughts on Sacred Themes by the Rev. Cyrus A. Bartol, Jr., minister of Boston's West Church. Funds were a necessity To Samuel A. Eliot. who became president of the American Unitarian Association in 1898, funds for Unitarian publishing were a vital necessity—"an effective investment for the cause of pure religion and higher civilization in America." Dr. Eliot carried on his crusade relentlessly year after year and in 1901 called for capital funds of $100,000 to be devoted to Unitarian publishing. His conviction gradually aroused the enthusiasm of other denominational leaders and, in 1902, a Publication Agent was appointed and an expanded program was launched. Livingston Stebbins, the first agent, in that same year introduced a new imprint, the Beacon Press. The annual report for 1902 announced the publication of thirteen new books: "It is the purpose of the department to broaden its scope by publishing books dealing with ethical, sociological, philanthropic and similar subjects, as well as those of a more strictly religious character. We desire our imprint to stand for the best books of practical service in these fields of human endeavor." Unitarians have always found religion to be inclusive rather than exclusive. In 1906 the quotation "In luce veritas" (in the light of truth) appeared under the beacon symbol, and it remains today in the Beacon Press catalog. The Commission of Appraisal in 1936 laid down recommendations which ushered in not only a new era of growth. strength, and confidence in the liberal religious movement, but also an expansion of liberal publishing. Under the chairman, Rev. Frederick May Eliot of St. Paul, the Commission reported hearty approval of the work of the Publications Department and of the Beacon Press and said: "The publications of the Press have an excellent reputation." It urged that the book publishing program receive support for a more extensive promotion of its books and for the publication of an expanded list of new books. The Commission looked upon publications as a Unitarian answer to the organized missions of other denominations: “Not only was the creation of a distinctive literature and its wide distribution . . . an original function of the organized Unitarian movement. but it is a function still more emphasized than with most religious bodies—a partial offset to the Unitarian lack of institutional missions." The report of the Publications Department in 1937 was a statement of high purpose and social vision: The university presses for various reasons—religious, political and economic—are not interested in the publication of liberal religious books and it is our purpose to establish a Liberal Press, the foundations of which we have already laid. In these days of regimentation. we feel that it is essential that there should be a press in this country to combat the forces which would destroy liberalism. Our publications are issued for use in the church, church school, the home, and such social centers as libraries, settlement houses, and C.C.C. camps. The future of our book publishing department looks decidedly encouraging, but we need more interest from our constituents in the form of more purchases. The planned expansion of Unitarian publishing began in the mid-1940's. The Commission on Planning and Review in 1947 found that the Beacon Press had been "transformed" into "an active aggressive publishing house issuing attractive and important titles almost every month . . . . The publication of the works of Albert Schweitzer stands out as an important service of Unitarian publishing to the religious world.... While this program is expensive, the immediate as well as the ultimate results of this publishing program should significantly aid the total Unitarian movement .” In ten languages On the hundredth anniversary of official book publishing by the American Unitarian Association, Beacon Press books have been translated into at least ten languages of the Occident and Orient. Many have won awards for outstanding quality. The New Beacon Series in Religious Education is used not only by Unitarians but also by many other churches, including Congregational, Baptist, Ethical Culture, Universalist, Jewish—and by some public schools. One book was chosen for the education of Japan's Crown Prince. The Beacon Press, continuing the Unitarian heritage of controversial publishing, is known not only for books in the field of philosophic and religious thought, but also for its Studies in Freedom and Power, Studies in Church and State, Public Affairs Series, and other series. The Beacon Press attempts to present issues of common concern in tbe light of liberal religious principles. It is the Unitarian conviction that religion is as inclusive as life itself, that truth must be sought relentlessly, and that upon this search depends the triumph of righteousness. The Press seeks to be liberal in the original sense of Liberalis or eleutherios—'fit for a Free Man." At the beginning of the second century of official American Unitarian publishing, plans are under way to unite the publishing program of the Unitarians and the Universalists. The history of religious liberal publishing is not static. It had its beginning when man wrote his first declaration of religious freedom. And the search for truth and freedom has no ending as long as man lives.