Supporters of Moral Rearmament Believe University Can Lead Way

Supporters of Moral Rearmament said last night they believe the University "could lead the way in the ideological awakening of the U.S.A."

They stated they are primarily interested in informing students and faculty members about MRA's Word Assembly in Washington, D.C., over the holidays. Six faculty members have already expressed interest in the cause, according to John M. Roots '25, a leader in the movement, and are expected to be among a large delegation from New England at the Washington meeting.

Root described the Assembly as much more than an ordinary convention. "It it an opportunity," he said, "to train the leadership of the free nations in an ideology that will sweep the world." A meeting was held yesterday at the home of George C. Shattuck, clinical professor of Tropical Medicine, emeritus, to interest several faculty members in attending the Assembly.

Shattuck, himself, issued a special statement yesterday describing the importance of the University in the Moral Rearmamont movement. "In this age of ideologies," he said. "Harvard has a special part to play. We must create a new type of man who lives an idea capable of uniting the world. Then will come the new kind of statesmanship that we need. Surely," he concluded, "that is the real destiny of our University."

The retired professor also hit strongly against those disparaging MRA. "Materialistic ideologies of right and left," he said, "obviously cannot afford to allow a moral ideology to spread unchecked. Unable to controvert the principles of MRA which are unassailable, they concentrate on falsehoods, varying their attacks according to the psychological climate of the country concerned. Thus, in India," he explained, "the Communists spread rumors that MRA is militaristic, while in the United States and Britain they say it is pacifistic."

Shattuck termed the Washington Assembly an effort to make the MRA ideology universal.