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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 December 2015
I think it would be hard to overestimate the importance of such discussions as we are carrying on. From the beginning I was thrilled at the idea of being part of such a group. Historians are so commonly blamed, and I suppose rightly so in many cases, for encouraging and accentuating the differences between peoples and nations and groups that it is good for them to come together to discuss their common ground. Here I suppose, of all the possible topics, religion is most important. Every historian must begin with some conception of what is most important for human life, and this will condition all his work. And this suggests a form of exploration for each of us, at least privately. For with all our differences of background and understanding the fact that we are here suggests that we do believe it is important that such groups come together to discuss these matters. And this at least implies our conception of what really is “the last, best hope of earth.”
Sidney E. Mead is Professor of the History of Christianity in America, at the Federated Theological Faculty and History Department of the University of Chicago. He is also President of The Meadville Theological School, one of the four theological schools which shares the Federated Theological Faculty. He was President of the American Society of Church History in 1953. His most important publications are: Nathaniel William Taylor, 1786–1858: a Connecticut Liberal (Chicago, 1942); “From Coercion to Persuasion; another look at the rise of religious liberty and the emergence of Denominationalism,” Church History, XXV (Dec, 1956), 317–337; “Denominationalism: the shape of Protestantism in America,” Church History, XXIII (Dec, 1954); “American Protestantism since the Civil War. I: From Denominationalism to Americanism, II: From Americanism to Christianity,” Journal of Religion, XXXVI (Jan. & Apr., 1956), 1–16, 67–89. Address: The Meadville Theological School, 5701 Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago 37, Illinois.
* Sidney E. Mead is Professor of the History of Christianity in America, at the Federated Theological Faculty and History Department of the University of Chicago. He is also President of The Meadville Theological School, one of the four theological schools which shares the Federated Theological Faculty. He was President of the American Society of Church History in 1953. His most important publications are: Nathaniel William Taylor, 1786–1858: a Connecticut Liberal (Chicago, 1942); “From Coercion to Persuasion; another look at the rise of religious liberty and the emergence of Denominationalism,” Church History, XXV (Dec, 1956), 317–337; “Denominationalism: the shape of Protestantism in America,” Church History, XXIII (Dec, 1954); “American Protestantism since the Civil War. I: From Denominationalism to Americanism, II: From Americanism to Christianity,” Journal of Religion, XXXVI (Jan. & Apr., 1956), 1–16, 67–89. Address: The Meadville Theological School, 5701 Woodlawn Avenue, Chicago 37, Illinois.