J. Raymond Cope

From KeyWiki

Jump to: navigation, search
J. Raymond Cope
J. Raymond Cope

Dr. J. Raymond Cope (1905-1988) was a Unitarian Church minister in Berkeley, California.

Contents

First Unitarian Church

From 1946 until his retirement in 1968 Dr. J. Raymond Cope served at the First Unitarian Church of Berkeley. He came from a Salt Lake City pastorate, at age 40, with a philosophy, teaching, and social service as well as ministerial background. He served here until his retirement, the "big church on the hill his crowning glory".[1]

Israel trip

In 1950, the Liberal Jewish community, which had been using the church's facilities for years, expressed its gratitude by sending Dr. and Mrs. Cope to Israel with a tour sponsored by the American Christian Palestine Committee. He shared the experience by giving lectures on Israel and Near East difficulties as far away as Utah and wrote a feature article for the Christian Register. A year later he received B'Nai B'rith's "Most Distinguished Citizen" award.[2]

Group therapy

In 1950, Cope became chair of a local non-profit radio station. That same year the church cooperated in a group therapy experiment with the University of California's Psychology Department experts. Cope filled the sample of referrals and participated throughout this first and largest experiment of its kind. The study was reported in the Journal of Social Issues, and the church continued with a group therapy program of its own.[3]

Loyalty oath opponent

Early in the 1950's, the State of California extended the control over the religious activity of citizens that had begun in 1930 with the Constitutional Amendment and taxation of "outside" church income. First, having the Bible read fifteen minutes a day in all classrooms was legislated. In 1952 Dr. Cope advised the congregation that this law should be protested. In 1953, the Levering Act required that all teachers and college faculties sign a loyalty oath, with the choice of do or be discharged. In 1954, churches were notified that ministers must sign the loyalty oath or their churches would be subjected to additional taxation.

The church stood firm, refusing to have the minister sign a loyalty oath, and paid the tax. Then, with the cooperation of three other California churches, two of them Unitarian, we took the matter to court all the way to the Supreme Court where all of the Levering Act was declared unconstitutional. The taxes that had been paid were refunded with interest.[4]

National Committee to Abolish the House Un-American Activities Committee

As of May 1964, J. Raymond Cope Unitarian, Berkeley, California, was listed as a sponsor of the Communist Party USA front, National Committee to Abolish the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Herbert Aptheker Testimonial Dinner

On April 28, 1966 J. Cope was a sponsor of the Herbert Aptheker Testimonial Dinner. The dinner was held on the occasion of Herbert Aptheker's 50th birthday, the publication of his 20th book, and the 2nd anniversary of the American Institute for Marxist Studies. It was held in the Sutton Ballroom, The New York Hilton, Avenue of the Americas, 53rd to 54th Street, New York City. Most speakers, organizers and sponsors were known members or supporters of the Communist Party USA.[5]

American-Korean Friendship and Information Center

On Feb. 27, 1971, J. Raymond Cope, California, was listed as an initiating sponsor of the American-Korean Friendship and Information Center. The Center, a front for the Communist Party USA, was established to promote the withdrawal of US troops from South Korea and Vietnam.[6]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/cope.html
  2. ↑ http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/cope.html
  3. ↑ http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/cope.html
  4. ↑ http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/cope.html
  5. ↑ Dinner Program for the Herbert Aptheke Dinner, April 28, 1966
  6. ↑ Full-page advert in unknown newspaper, Feb. 27, 1971

"A letter to Congress" on North Korea

In 1974, approximately 50 prominent, mainly Communist Party USA aligned leftists, signed a "Letter to Congress" on the situation regarding North Korea.

"For a quarter of a century the people of all Korea have needed such a peace agreement. The American People are ready for it. The People of the world deserve it. Peaceful coexistence must replace war and the threat of war. Negotiations must replace confrontation."
"Therefore, we the undersigned, concerned about the dangerous conditions in Korea earnestly appeal to you, and to all peace-minded Americans to join together in combining our reason and our political influence to secure the peaceful resolution of this problem."

The letter to Congress was in response to a March 25th, 1974 letter from the Supreme Peoples Assembly of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea to the United States Congress.

The signatories which included J. Raymond Cope urged Congress to act on North Korea's Concerns.[1]

Activism

Cope continued his activities vigorously until his retirement, became prominent in civil rights, marched at Selma, was an opponent of the war in Vietnam, and an organizer of Ministers Mobilization.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Letter to Congress undated 1974 Hugh DeLacy papers Accession Number 3915 Box Number 9 Folder Number 2
  2. ↑ http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/cope.html
Retrieved from "http://www.keywiki.org/index.php/J._Raymond_Cope"
Toolbox