SPECTRUM
URANTIA FOUNDATION V. KRISTEN MAAHERRA
OCTOBER, 1998
There are documents in which the Foundation claims the Urantia Book is "not a religious book," and documents that claim it is a religious book.
There are documents that claim the Foundation is not a religious organization and documents that claim it is organized "exclusively for religious purposes."
There are documents that claim the Foundation has "no predecessor organization" and documents that claim the Foundation is the "successor" of the contact commission. Some documents claim they have "never forbidden" personal use of the circles, and some documents forbid personal use of circles.
There are documents that claim they are a "commercial" publisher that has nothing to do with religion, and documents that claim they are nothing but religious.
There are documents that claim the Foundation "protected the text inviolate," (claims that they never made any changes in the text), and documents that list the changes they made.
There are documents that claim they got messages to trademark the circles, documents that claim the circles stand for nothing but the Foundation, and other documents that claim the circles are exactly what the Papers say they are - the Banner of Michael, and the emblem of the Trinity government of all creation.
There are documents that claim the Foundation "coined" the word Urantian, and documents that claim the word comes straight out of the text of the Urantia Papers, and was given by the revelators.
There are documents that claim the Foundation "hired" various people (including Bill Sadler) to author the Papers, and documents claiming the Papers had superhuman authorship exclusively.
There are documents that claim the Foundation has "no official interpretation" of the Papers, and documents that claim "slow growth" (for example) is an official interpretation.
There are documents that claim the Foundation is a commercial publisher of educational goods, and documents that claim the Foundation is organized exclusively for religious purposes and to disseminate a revelation.
There are documents that claim the revelators told them must "protect" the text with copyright, and documents that say their purpose has nothing to do with either copyright or trademark.
There are documents that claim they are a non-profit organization dedicated to religious purposes (to gain their IRS tax-exempt status), and documents that claim they are nothing but commercial (to sue for commercial trademark and copyright infringement).
There are documents that claim we must call ourselves "readers" (to ensure their commercial control), and documents that call us "believers" (to ensure their religious control and collect tithes).
There are documents that claim the revelation was given "long before" the planet is ready, and documents that tell us to "go into all the world," and that "suddenly, in one generation" is the way evolutionary growth takes place.
There are Foundation documents that define a loyal Urantian as someone who believes in Jesus, and Foundation documents that define a "loyal Urantian" as someone who believes in the Foundation's copyright and trademarks and "slow growth" policies.
There are Foundation documents that claim I only "say" it's my religion to avoid the consequences of commercial infringement, and Foundation documents that claim their fight with Martin Myers should be thrown out of court because it is nothing but a religious in-fight.
There are documents that claim the Foundation "created" the revelation they crave to control, and there are documents claiming the revelators materialized the Papers by no technique known to humans.
There are documents that show the Foundation - after soliciting tithes and donations from the public to ensure wide distribution of the Urantia Papers - delisted the book from all major book distributors, and there are documents that claim the book is easily available and relisted with distributors.
There are documents that show the Foundation has refused to sell copies of the Urantia Book to individuals, groups, and bookstores who do not support its copyright, trademark, and "slow growth" policies, and there are documents that claim they are "different."
There are documents that claim that the activities of the Foundation won't change at all without copyright, and documents that claim "protecting" the copyright is their main purpose.
There are documents that claim the Urantia Book is listed in a category "other" than religion, and documents asking the Library of Congress to list it in religion.
QUOTES FROM MO SIEGEL
1. Mo Siegel put it well, I think, before he became a trustee, when he wrote an open letter to the Foundation in March of 1991: "As devoted believers in the revelation, we can only pray the Trustees have been making unintentional errors answering the authorship question. Nothing could destroy the revelation's long-term success quicker than the original publisher giving sworn court testimony that The Urantia Book was authored by human sources. Imagine how discredited the revelation would appear when church leaders gave their congregations copies of Urantia Foundation's disclosures on authorship." Mo Siegel, March 27, 1991. On March 27, 1991, Mo Siegel wrote: "What prevents Urantia Foundation from precisely speaking the truth about the book's unseen authors? ...don't the trustees see that their tactics will discredit, then annihilate the very object they covet for their sole possession?"
Mo Siegel wrote in 1991: During the last three years the authenticity of The Urantia Book has been put into question three times by the Trustees charged with the book's protection. These instances were:
A. In the files of U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on July 26, 1988, Urantia Foundation, when asked to respond to the following statement in Paragraph 10, "The Urantia Book is the fifth epochal revelation to the planet, Urantia, also known as the planet Earth." answered, "Plaintiff is without knowledge or information sufficient to admit or deny the allegations of paragraph 10 of defendant's counterclaim and therefore denies same." When asked to respond if the book was written by divine beings they also responded they could not confirm nor deny therefore they denied.
B. In 1989 and 1990, Bowkers "Books in Print," the foremost listing of published books in the United States, noted the Urantia Foundation staff as author of The Urantia Book. When "Books in Print" was contacted, they furnished the date and name of the individual within Urantia Foundation who instructed Bowkers, to list the "staff" as The Urantia Book author.
C. In U.S. District Court on March 15 1991, with Marty Myers in the room, Urantia Foundation lawyers testified "The Urantia Book is a work for hire." "There was a Trustee of the Urantia Foundation, William Sadler Jr., not Sr. who wrote, authored, however you want to look at it, parts of The Urantia Book."
VARIOUS AUTHORSHIP STORIES THE FOUNDATION HAS TOLD
1. Urantia Foundation is the author of the Urantia Papers: A. Original Copyright Registration, October 12, 1955: Urantia Foundation listed as, "Author." B. Certificate of Renewal, January 3, 1983: Urantia Foundation listed itself as, "Proprietor of copyright in a work made for hire,"
2. Contact personality (or sleeping subject) is the author of the Urantia Papers. A. Bob Burton Lawsuit, 1975. (Since the Foundation can't get a renewal from the contact personality, the Burton arguments have been subsequently abandoned.) B. Plaintiff's Brief in Reply to the Defendant's Main Brief, Burton lawsuit, 1975, page 14: "...the spirit originator of the text of the Urantia Book gave the subject matter thereof to the world through the subject who wrote the text as a conduit. Thereafter said "subject" had possession of and owned the manuscripts and the common law copyright therein." C. Affidavit of Foundation lawyer, Lloyd C. Root, February 11, 1980, Page 2: "That the Urantia Book is not a collective work, since the material therein was not in existence before the arrangement of it was placed in tangible form, and it was in existence prior to publication thereof only in manuscript form; That there was a common law copyright in the said manuscript which was owned by the person who wrote it; That the transfer of ownership in a common law copyright did not have to be in writing but could be made orally; and That Urantia Foundation, through its trustees, owned the common law copyright in the Urantia Book by reason of such oral transfer from the owner thereof, and thus had the right to obtain the statutory copyright therein." D. Plaintiff Foundation "Facts" for Appeal Court, No. 10. The "contact personality" is not the author of any portion of the "Urantia Papers." (Second Maaherra Depo., p. 47; Defendant's Statement of Facts, 133; Defendant's Memorandum, pp. 10-11.)
3. "Work for hire:" A. Certificate of Renewal, January 3, 1983: Urantia Foundation listed itself as, "Proprietor of copyright in a work made for hire," B. Hearing in Arizona, March 15, 1991: Page 23*, line 2, Craig Fochler: "The Urantia Book is a work for hire, it is also a joint work." C. Hearing in Arizona, March 15, 1991: Page 27, lines 1-3, Craig Fochler: "First of all, it is a work for hire. It can be renewed. The work does qualify as a work for hire, part of work by the author, who's discussed in the Burton case."
4. Bill Sadler, Jr., is the author of the Urantia Papers. A. Plaintiff Foundation claims William Sadler, Jr., is the author: March 15, 1991, Hearing, page 27, lines 8-12, plaintiff lawyer, Craig Fochler: "There was a trustee of the Urantia, Foundation, William Sadler, Jr., not senior, who wrote, authored, however you want to look at it, parts of the Urantia Book And that was part of the work, and it was clearly work for hire, also a joint work. And that was also a basis for the renewal." B. Plaintiff's Responses to Defendant's Requests for Admissions, April 25, 1994, request 49: "Urantia Foundation does not contend that any person other than William S. Sadler, Jr. created any portion of the Urantia Book as an employee for hire."
5. The forum is the author of the Urantia Papers. A. Plaintiff's Responses to Defendant's Requests for Admissions, April 25, 1994, Request 8: "Therefore, because of the acknowledgment by the listed authors of the numerous human sources or originators for the text of the Urantia Papers, as well as the active participation of the contact personality, the Contact Commission, and the Forum in the originating process of the material. . . " B. Plaintiff's Responses to Defendant's Requests for Admissions, April 25, 1994, Request 32: "...because of the acknowledgment by the listed authors of the participation in the origination of the content of the Urantia Papers by the midwayers, who are not defined in The URANTIA Book as "superhuman beings;" the acknowledgment of some 3000 human sources or origins for the text of the Urantia Papers; as well as the active participation of the contact personality, the Contact Commission, and the Forum in the originating process of the text of The URANTIA Book. . ." C. Plaintiff's Responses to Defendant's Request for Admissions, April 25, 1994, Response 49: "Any person who served as a conduit through whom the text of The URANTIA Book was transmitted by the anonymous authors described therein, including the "Contact Personality," was a person who is an "employee for hire" within the meaning of the Copyright Act. The contributions of the individual members of the Contact Commission and the Forum described in response to Request No. 3 above also were made as "employees for hire" within the meaning of the Copyright Act." D. Plaintiff's Answers to Defendant's Third Set of Interrogatories, September 27, 1994: "...the Foundation contends that members of the Contact Commission and the Forum are included as "authors" (within the meaning of 17 USC 201) of the Copyright Act..." E. Plaintiff's Second Supplemental Answers to Defendant's Third Set of Interrogatories, October 24, 1994: "Members of the Contact Commission and the Forum are also "authors," as the term "authors" is used in 17 U.S.C. 201, (within the meaning of 17 U.S.C. 201) of various Urantia Papers by virtue of their contribution of questions and input during creation of consecutive versions of individuals Papers culminating in the publication of the Papers in their final form as the Urantia Book."
6. The contact commission is the author of the Urantia Papers. (Also see under "forum," above). A. Plaintiff Foundation "Facts" for Appeal Court, No. 11. William S. Sadler, M.D., Lena Sadler, M.D., Emma Christensen, Wilfred Kellogg, and William S. Sadler, Jr., all deceased, were members of the Contact Commission. Dr. Sadler was the leader of the Contact Commission. B. Plaintiff's Appeal Motion, US District Court of appeals for the Ninth Circuit, page 1, paragraph 1; page 3, paragraph 2; page 4, paragraph 1. "...the Urantia Papers were created at the instance and expense of the Foundation's predecessor (a group known as the Contact Commission)..." B.1. On page 865 of the Urantia Papers, it is made clear that the secondary midwayers (superhumans) induced the planetary celestial supervisors (superhumans) to initiate those petitions which resulted in the granting of the mandates (from the Ancients of Days) making possible the fifth epochal revelation. The Papers were not created at the instance of the contact commission, the Sadlers, the forum, the Foundation, the human contact personality, or any other human agency or person. B.2. Bill Hales' Deposition identifies the Foundation's tax statement where Hales (as the Foundation's first President) marked the box claiming the Urantia Foundation had "NO PREDECESSOR ORGANIZATION" - and that includes the contact commission.) C. Page 3, 2: "The Contact Commission subsequently began to devise, solicit, compile and submit questions about a wide variety of topics to these entities." C. Plaintiff Foundation "Facts" for Appeal Court, No. 12: The Urantia Papers were created in response to the questions which were presented by the Contact Commission to the spiritual beings whom the parties believe to have originated the Urantia Papers in tangible form. Without those questions, there would be no "Urantia Papers." C.1. What the Foundation neglects to add is that the revelators asked the humans to ask questions. C.2. The revelators are the authors who answered the questions. Doc's History, Page 6: "The first group of papers numbered 57. The revelators then suggested that since the forum could now ask more intelligent questions, they would undertake to enlarge the revelation and to expand the papers in accordance with new questions." D. Page 3, 2: "The text of the initial versions of the Urantia Papers were created in tangible form in response to those questions." ... " D.1. On page 18 of Doc's history, it says, "The first group of Papers numbered 57. We then received a communication suggesting that since we could now ask many and much more intelligent questions, the superhuman agencies and personalities responsible for transmitting the 57 Papers would engage to enlarge the revelation and to expand the Papers in accordance with our new questions." E. Page 4 1: "The only available evidence shows that but for the questions posed by the Contact Commission, and the Contact Commission's continuing participation, there would be no Urantia Papers." E.1 The contact commission isn't even mentioned in the Papers; neither are any "questions" identified or discussed. F. Plaintiff Foundation's Responses to Defendant's Requests for Admissions, April 25, 1994, Request 8: "Therefore, because of the acknowledgment by the listed authors of the numerous human sources or originators for the text of the Urantia Papers, as well as the active participation of the contact personality, the Contact Commission, and the Forum in the originating process of the material. . . "
THE ORIGIN OF THE URANTIA PAPERS
1. The revelators call their revelation to this planet, Urantia, the Urantia Papers: "The Urantia Papers. The papers, of which this is one, constitute the most recent presentation of truth to the mortals of Urantia. These papers differ from all previous revelations, for they are not the work of a single universe personality but a composite presentation by many beings. But no revelation short of the attainment of the Universal Father can ever be complete. All other celestial ministrations are no more than partial, transient, and practically adapted to local conditions in time and space. While such admissions as this may possibly detract from the immediate force and authority of all revelations, the time has arrived on Urantia when it is advisable to make such frank statements, even at the risk of weakening the future influence and authority of this, the most recent of the revelations of truth to the mortal races of Urantia." (Paper 92, Section 4, No. 5).
2. Schroeder's Opinion: "The Papers were therefore protected by common law copyright from the moment they were created by the members of the Contact Commission until publication of the Book." (Ownership of the Copyright at the Time of Original Publication, [6]).
3. Believers know that the actual composition of the Urantia Papers was assigned to three special commissions of universe personalities. A. Part I was formulated by a high commission of twenty-four Orvonton (superuniverse) administrators headed by a Divine Counselor and was presented in 1934. B. Parts 11 and III were authorized by a Nebadon (local universe) commission of twelve, acting under the direction of Mantutia Melchizedek and were indited in 1934 and 1935. C. Part IV was sponsored by a commission of twelve Urantia midwayers acting under the supervision of a Melchizedek revelatory director.
4. In over 2000 pages of Urantia Papers, the revelators never mention questions asked by humans; the revelators never mention the forum; the revelators never mention the contact commission; and the revelators never mention the Foundation or the Foundation's Declaration of Trust.
5. The oft-touted Declaration of Trust, in turn, never mentions either copyright or trademark. Instead, the Declaration of Trust mandates the Foundation to keep the text "inviolate," perpetually preserve the printing plates (the "substantive estate" which created the Foundation), "disseminate the revelation," and "foster a religion."
6. Plaintiff Foundation claims: "The final origin of the Urantia papers lies in the authors themselves. All of the papers in the first three parts are signed by their author while credit for their presentation of Part IV is given to a commission. These are all superhuman beings." (Caston dep, Ex. 11).
7. "The Urantia Book is a meaningful whole constituting the Fifth Epochal Revelation of Truth to Urantia, our planet. The authors, all superhuman beings, composed the Urantia Book with the intention of giving men a balanced view of his past, present and future, especially his eternal destiny that is his for the choosing...." (Mundelius dep., Exs. 12, 14).
8. The Urantia Papers by the revelatory commission - the superhuman authors - constitute the Foreword and Papers 1 through 196 of The Urantia Book. Page 38 from plaintiff Foundation's Admissions answers, Response to Request No. 13: "The Urantia Foundation admits and states that in each instance in which the sources of the portions of The Urantia Book that are denoted as the Foreword and the individual Papers which are numbered 1-196 and which are printed at pages 1-2097 of The Urantia book utilized any human person or persons to transmit any of those portions, the human person or persons did not add any style or manner of expression to the text. The Urantia Foundation further admits and states that the text of those Papers as contained in the text of the Urantia Book is in the most recent form that was transmitted by the sources of those Papers, and that those sources are the entities who are identified as the sources in the Urantia Book at the end of each portion. The Urantia Foundation admits and states that the arrangement of each individual Paper is that established by the source of that Paper, who is identified in the Urantia Book at the end of the Paper." (Admissions by plaintiff Foundation, Docket No.152, page 38, Admission No. 13.)
THE DUST JACKET
1. Michael Painter, Administrative Assistant for plaintiff Foundation, wrote this typical answer on Foundation letterhead in response to a question about the origin of the Urantia Papers: "We are pleased to learn of your interest in The Urantia Book and we understand that the question of the origin of the Book is one that most readers are at some time curious about. To answer your question about the origin of the Book, we are enclosing a paper entitled 'The Urantia Book: The Question of Origin.' Also, we would refer you to the 13 references on the back side of the dust cover of the Book which are very helpful. Keep in mind that certain factual details, such as the name of the human contact person and the technique of the transmittal of the teachings are wisely withheld from us so that we concentrate on the teachings and do not get sidetracked by peripheral concerns. The papers have not been edited by human authors and all the Papers that were authored by the Revelatory Commission are included in the Book." Exhibit P-1. (Also see letters from Emma Christensen on 8/06/62; 05/07/65; 07/16/68; 07/24/68; 08/18/69; 02/06/70; 07/01/70; 07/24/70; 02/17/71, & more.)
2. Consideration of Some Criticisms of the Urantia Book, by Dr. William S. Sadler, No. 5. "The book itself tells about how the Urantia Papers came to be. (See citations on the back of the dust jacket of the Urantia Book). The reason given us for not disclosing the identity of the subject employed in this transaction was: We do not want future generations to be concerned with the adoration of a Saint Peter or Saint Paul, a Luther, Calvin, or Wesley. We want no individual to be exalted by the Urantia Papers. The book should stand on its own nature and worth." "Remember: when we are asked 'just how did you get the Urantia Book?' if each of us told everything we know about the origin of the Urantia Papers, such a narrative would not fully satisfy the inquirer, for there is too much concerning the transmittal of the Urantia Papers that none of us fully understands. If you knew all we know you would still be ignorant of much concerning the phenomena of factualizing these documents. No living person fully understands just how the Urantia Papers got translated into the English manuscript which was authorized for publication."
3. The Dust Jacket of The Urantia Book as published by plaintiff Foundation, references pages 1, 17, 16, 1109, 215, 865, 1258, 1008, 32, and 1007 "Concerning . . .the Nature, Origin, and Organization of The Urantia Book."
4. Meredith Sprunger's pamphlet, "Origin of the Urantia Papers."
5. Letter from Scott Forsythe, December 11, 1980: "In response to your request for information about the origin of the book, we are enclosing a copy of a paper entitled, 'The Urantia Book: The Question of Origin.' This is the only publication of the subject of origin available from our offices. We are aware of no other publication of the subject." Exhibit F-3 and F-4.
RE: COMPILATION
1. Schroeder's Opinion: "Thus, notwithstanding the Urantia Book's claimed non-human origin, the Papers in the form in which they were originally organized and compiled by the members of the contact commission were at least partially the product of human creativity." (Ninth Circuit Opinion filed with this Court by Plaintiff, page 6756, No.5).
2. The words of the superhuman revelators are clear and compelling: "These thirty-one papers depicting the nature of Deity, the reality of Paradise, the organization and working of the central and superuniverses, the personalities of the grand universe, and the high destiny of evolutionary mortals, were sponsored, formulated, and put into English by a high commission consisting of twenty-four Orvonton administrators acting in accordance with a mandate issued by the Ancients of Days of Uversa directing that we should do this on Urantia, 606 of Satania, in Norlatiadek of Nebadon, in the year AD 1934." (Urantia Papers, Page 354).
3. Urantia Foundation attorney Lloyd C. Root filed an affidavit with the copyright office swearing that the Urantia Book was "not a collective work." Root's Affidavit: "The Urantia Book is not a collective work, since the material therein was not in existence before the arrangement of it was placed in tangible form, and it was in existence prior to publication thereof only in manuscript form." (Affidavit of Lloyd C. Root, February 11, 1980.)
4. However, Judge Schroeder has ruled that the Urantia Book is a compilation: "This is a copyright dispute between parties who believe the copyrighted work, the Urantia Book, was authored by celestial beings and transcribed, compiled and collected by mere mortals." (Ninth Circuit Opinion, page 6750, Par. 1). "For copyright purposes, however, a work is copyrightable if copyrightability is claimed by the first human beings who compiled selected, coordinated, and arranged the Urantia teachings, 'in such a way that the resulting work as a whole constitutes an original work of authorship.' 17 U. S.C. S 101 (defining a 'compilation')." (Ninth Circuit Opinion, page 6754, No.2).
5. The only "compilation" I know about in the Urantia Papers is described like this by a contact commissioner: "The authors of the Urantia Book are those who have signed each of the Papers in the first three sections of the book. Part IV, the Life and Teachings of Jesus, is the work of a composite group, the acknowledgment for which appears at the beginning of Part IV." (Emma Christensen, November 29, 1973. (1193).*
6. The beginning of Part IV of the Urantia Papers says: "This group of papers was sponsored by a commission of twelve Urantia Midwayers acting under the supervision of a Melchizedek revelatory director. The basis of this narrative was supplied by a secondary midwayer who was onetime assigned to the superhuman watchcare of the Apostle Andrew." (Urantia Papers, page 1321).
7. Plaintiff Foundation agrees in their Admissions: "These listed authors determined what would be included in the text of the Urantia Papers." (Plaintiff's Response to Requests for Admission No. 3, page 13).
8. List of Authors of the Urantia Papers.
9. Second Set of Interrogatories, page 14: "plaintiff states that the foregoing list of names (Divine Counselor, Universal Censor, Perfector of Wisdom, Mighty Messenger, One High in Authority, Divine Chancellor and One Without Name and Number, Chief of Archangels, Vorondadek Son, Brilliant Evening Star, Melchizedek, Archangel, Malavatia Melchizedek, Secondary Lanonandek, Manovandet Melchizedek, Machiventa Melchizedek, Life Carrier, Solonia, Chief of Seraphim, Chief of Midwayers, Solitary Messenger, Chief of Evening Stars, Mantutia Melchizedek, Midwayer Commission) was obtained from The URANTIA Book and that plaintiff has no knowledge or materials respecting such identities other than the materials which can be found in The Urantia Book."
10. Plaintiff's Answers to Defendant's Second Set of Non-Uniform Interrogatories, pages 2, 13, and 14. "Plaintiff has no knowledge or materials respecting such identities other than the materials which can be found in The Urantia Book."
11. Plaintiff Foundation "Facts" for Appeal Court, No. 7: The spiritual beings whom the parties believe to have originated the Urantia Papers in tangible form are described in The URANTIA Book but are not specifically identified. (Notice of Filing of The URANTIA Book (pages vii 1xvi) ; Second Maaherra Depo., pp. 8, 15-16; Carlson Depo., p. 13.)
12. Plaintiff Foundation "Facts" for Appeal Court, No. 8: "The individual authors of the Urantia Papers are anonymous." (Notice of Filing of The URANTIA Book; Bondi Aff., Exs. F and G; Second Maaherra Depo., pp. 24-25, 33; C. Kendall Depo-, p. 29; M.L. Hales Depo.,-pp. 22-23; W. Hales Depo-, p. 10, Wharton Aff., Exs- E and F.)
13. The authors are NOT "Anonymous."
THE FORUM'S QUESTIONS
1. Judge Schroeder writes in her Opinion: "The answers to these questions, as transmitted to the humans and arranged by them, became the Urantia Papers," (Ninth Circuit Opinion filed with this Court by Plaintiff, page 675 1, Par. 2)
2. The Foundation has argued that the contact commission's submission of questions to the superhuman authors of the Urantia Papers was a basis for sustaining the copyright on the ground that this act was sufficient to have made the book a "work for hire."
3. Plaintiff Foundation's History (evidence already of record) contradicts the Foundation's story about the Papers resulting from questions. This History (attributed to Dr. Sadler) states that "the contact commissioners had no editorial authority. Our job was limited to 'spelling, capitalization, and punctuation."
4. The superhuman revelators told the forum to ask them questions. "How The Urantia Papers Started: After about twenty years of contact experience, an alleged student visitor, speaking through this sleeping subject during one of these nocturnal vigils, in answer to one of our questions, said: 'If you only knew what you are in contact with you would not ask such trivial questions. You would rather ask such questions as might elicit answers of supreme value to the human race. "' (History).
5. A note in Dr. Sadler's handwriting on the margin of p. 6. says: "The Forum members would bring to the meeting their questions on the Paper read the previous Sunday."
6. The forum was the superhuman revelators' "comprehension barometer." It was like a first grade teacher using her class as a "comprehension barometer" to write a text book for first graders. (The first graders do not get to copyright their teacher's book.) The forum was to the revelators as the apostles were to Jesus. Jesus needed the apostles as a "comprehension barometer." The apostles asked questions. These questions were a vital part of bringing Jesus' teachings to the planet. Jesus expanded his teachings in response to the apostle's understanding, as gauged by their questions. Then the apostles went "out into all the world" to share Jesus' words with others. The apostles can't copyright, or "own" or control Jesus' words, any more than the forum can copyright or "own" or control the revelators' words. The important thing, in terms of whether or not the revelators intended anyone to "own" the revelation, was that in over 2000 pages of Urantia Papers, the revelators never mention questions asked by humans; the revelators never mention the forum; the revelators never mention the contact commission; and the revelators never mention the Foundation or the Foundation's Declaration of Trust.
7. Plaintiff's Answers to Defendant's Second Set of Non-uniform Interrogatories, page 2: "plaintiff states that it is unable to identify each individual who contributed to the creation of The Urantia Book but that those individuals include members of a group known as the Forum who in the 1920's and 1930's contributed by considering inter alia versions of text, which were provided to them by Dr. Sadler, the head of the Forum, and associated with an unidentified individual, and by providing comments and feedback resulting in inter alia expansions and clarifications to such text and the creation of papers contained in The URANTIA Book and that the Forum members included William S. Sadler, Jr., who subsequently wrote various introductory materials as a Trustee of URANTIA Foundation and assisted in the preparation of The URANTIA Book for publication, and Emma L. Christensen, who typed manuscripts from handwritten text and also assisted in preparation of the materials for publication."
8. Letter from Thomas Kendall, September 17, 1980: "The Forum existed over a period of many years and its composition constantly changed. There were many members, so many that it would be difficult or impossible to give all of the names and the level of education and achievement of each individual. They were really a cross section of humanity. If they had anything in common, it was an attitude of searching for higher realities. The important thing is that these people did not write The Urantia Book. It is entirely revelatory. The Forum members merely studied the Urantia papers prior to initial publication in 1955. No examination of Forum members ambitions, intelligence or community involvement would shed any light on the authenticity of this work which purports to be the latest revelation of truth to our world. The Urantia Book authenticates itself through the recognition by the reader of the truth contained in its teachings. The identity of the person who was the contact personality has been wisely withheld from us by the revelators. They must know only too well how we would tend to venerate someone who was involved in an epochal development such as this. The revelators did not want any human to be mystically associated with The Urantia Book. The contact personality was not a Forum member, to my knowledge. The origin of this revelation and its advent on our world is described in The Urantia Book itself in scattered references. No doubt you have read these passages during your several years of reading." Mundelius Exhibit 20. (0916).* Addendum 1. Memorandum in Support of Defendant's Motion for a Partial Summary Judgment. I believe page 7 is where we lost the Appeal. Under Section 2, after the first sentence, it should read something like: "Neither the contact commission nor the forum are mentioned even once in the Urantia Papers. For over 40 years, the Foundation has been telling people that all the information about authorship and origin that exists appears in the Papers themselves." (For example: Letter from Thomas Kendall, June 19, 1980: "The nature, origin and organization of the Urantia Book is explained within the pages of the Book itself in scattered references." Exhibits K-8, K-9.)
9. Helen Carlson deposition, June 29, 1994. Page 17: "I remember at that time everybody was puzzled about personality. Somebody asked the question, well, what is personality? In a short time it just came through in a Paper, the definition of personality. That had been in the Urantia Book, and I know that was a direct answer to the question."
10. July 3, 1972, letter by forum member Robert Burton (who was also a lawyer) to Jacques Weiss, translator of the French edition: "The Urantia Papers came, completely edited by their superhuman authors, one Paper at a time, in chronological sequence, as now appear in the Urantia Book. The last and final Paper completing the entire Urantia Revelation was received in 1934."
NO PREDECESSOR ORGANIZATION
1. The "mere mortals" Judge Schroeder sarcastically refers to in the first sentence of her Opinion were the contact commission. The contact commission was not even a predecessor of the Foundation - in fact, according to legal documents, Urantia Foundation had no predecessor organization.
2. No Predecessor Organization: Plaintiff Foundation's Application for Tax Exempt Status. In answer to the question, "Is this organization the outgrowth or continuation of any form of predecessor?" plaintiff Foundation marked, "NO." Bill Hales, first President of plaintiff Foundation, confirmed this in his deposition: "Q. Box 4E says 'Date of Organization,' and the response there is 'January 11, 1950.' Is that a correct answer to that question? A. Uh-huh. Yes. Q. The next box, box 5A asks 'Is the organization the outgrowth or continuation of any form of predecessor? A. No. Q. Okay. And you said 'no' on that, and the box is checked 'no.' So I guess my question is was the response check 'no' here an accurate answer? A. (Nodding.) Yes." (Discovery Deposition of William M. Hales, taken October 21, 1994, page 29, lines 15-24, and page 30, lines 1-3).
3. Plaintiff Foundation "Facts" for Appeal Court, No. 15. From the time the Urantia Papers were created, until the manuscripts were given to the Foundation as the Contact commission's successor, the Contact Commission had exclusive possession of the manuscripts and exercised exclusive control over them.
THE DECLARATION OF TRUST
Plaintiff Foundation's Declaration of Trust with list of first board of trustees: William M. Hales, President; William S. Sadler, Jr., Vice President; Wilfred C. Kellogg, Treasurer; Emma L. Christensen, Secretary; Edith E. Cook, Asst. Secretary.
1. "ARTICLE II, 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." "ARTICLE III, DUTIES OF TRUSTEES, 3.1. PRESERVATION OF TEXT OF THE URANTIA BOOK: It shall be the primary duty of the Trustees to perpetually preserve inviolate the text of THE URANTIA BOOK, and the Trustees shall use and employ such means, methods, and facilities and apply and expend as much of the Trust Estate as in the judgment of the Trustees shall be necessary, proper, or appropriate, for the preserving and the safekeeping of copies of the original text of THE URANTIA BOOK, duly authenticated by the Trustees, from loss, damage, or destruction and from alteration, modification, revision, or change in any manner or in any particular." "3.4. DISSEMINATION OF TEACHINGS OF THE URANTIA BOOK: It shall be the duty of the Trustees to disseminate the teachings and doctrines of THE URANTIA BOOK and to devise. to develop, and to effectuate means and methods for such dissemination, and to apply and use the Trust Estate for the accomplishment of that end."
DECLARATION OF TRUST KEEPING THE TEXT "INVIOLATE"
1. Martin Myers speech, Unity Not Uniformity, Section 3, page 4 of the Special Report. Plaintiff Foundation had this speech copyrighted in 1973, and broadcast copies of it to believers in 1990. "The early leaders of the Urantia Movement devised an ingenious plan. Their strategy was twofold. In order to protect the text from editing, alterations, and distortions, they foresaw the necessity of placing The Urantia Book under the United States and International copyrights, thus guaranteeing future generations the privilege of having the unadulterated Fifth Major Epochal Revelation. To that end the Urantia Foundation was formalized and the Book was lawfully copyrighted in its name."
2. Thomas Kendall deposition, October 19, 1994. Exhibit: "The Copyright and Trademarks," by Thomas Kendall, with August, 1942, "message." Page 3: "A copyright is the means to accomplish this task." [Keeping the text "inviolate"].
3. "Changes Between Printings" made by plaintiff Foundation. Plaintiff has refused to print an inviolate text since 1955. Believers can't force plaintiff Foundation to print an inviolate text.
4. Plaintiff Foundation's Newsletter in which they claim they do not need a copyright to do their job: Urantian News from the Urantia Foundation, May, 1995, page 3 of an article titled, "Copyright Update": "In closing, the policies, programs, and plans of Urantia Foundation and of IUA have not been based on the copyright in the Urantia Book but instead, on the contents of the book. Therefore, with or without the copyright, the Foundation will carry on."
5. Georges Du Pont's speech in which he says copyright is essential to translations. From his opening statement: "I would like to speak a little bit about what the Foundation is doing in terms of translations. And also in our opinion why the copyright is important in terms of translation..." (He said this twice). He went on to make the point that translations are important, but that "it is more important to accurately translate the book. And...to translate that book require some skill and knowledge. And to be able to present to the world a good translation, someone has to take care of it, someone has to control the quality, and how can we control that quality? By copyright. It is quite ironic that this revelation came in this country. And by virtue of some people, this copyright - there are people who try to kill the copyright. If you kill the copyright in your country, you kill the copyright everywhere... This copyright will be finished in the year 2030. And we need that time to make translations."
"COMPETITION FOR CONTROL"
1. The Special Report. Special Report, page 2. "There had not in 1900 years been anything about which there could be so much competition for control as The Urantia Book." It was the idea of the "early leaders" to copyright the Urantia Book - it was not a mandate from the revelators, nor was a copyright demanded by plaintiff Foundation's Declaration of Trust.*
2. "How safe can the revelation be under these management circumstances? Human history is replete with examples of the disasters which occur when a small group of isolated people obtain unlimited power. Even the best intentioned individuals usually fall when given absolute power. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Mo Siegel, March 27, 1991.
3. Letter by Dr. William S. Sadler, November 2, 1932: "how extensively would the text require rewriting in order to secure such protection?" (1681*).
4. Wilfred Kellogg letter to Copyright Office.
5. Urantian News, November, 1992. "In addition, we believe that the purpose of organization is to prevent organization."
6. Richard Keeler deposition, November 17, 1994. Page 41: "I would define somebody who is loyal to Urantia Foundation as someone who supports the Foundation's ownership of the copyright and marks, and someone who supports the distribution and dissemination policies of the Urantia Foundation."
7. Richard Keeler deposition, November 17, 1994. Page 51: The Foundation has "removed [from our mailing lists] the names of persons who we feel are strongly opposed to our policies, or strongly opposed to our ownership of the copyright and marks or both."
PRINCIPLE OF "SLOW GROWTH"
1. Special Report, "Principle of slow growth," page 3, under "Guiding Principles." "In furthering the goals and purposes of URANTIA Foundation, the Trustees have relied upon certain principles to govern the activities of the Foundation, the Brotherhood, and the dissemination of the teachings of the URANTIA Book: 1. The Principle of Minimal Organization. 2. The Principle of Proper Procedures. 3. The Principle of Slow Growth."
2. Plaintiff's Statement of Facts in Support of its Motion for Partial Summary Judgement on First Amendment Defenses and Counterclaims, Number 11, page 4, last paragraph: "As shown in past publications of the Foundation, it believes that the doctrines and teachings of The URANTIA Book, a religious revelation, establish the "Principle of Slow Growth" and that this principle should control the practice of disseminating The URANTIA Book and its teachings and doctrines." A. Urantia Foundation Trustee Patricia Mundelius stated under oath November 16, 1994, in her deposition in this case that Urantia Foundation has no official interpretation of the Urantia Papers. B. Urantia Foundation Trustee Rich Keeler stated under oath November 17, 1994, in his deposition in this case that Urantia Foundation has no official interpretation of the Urantia Papers. C. Urantia Foundation Trustees Hoite Caston stated under oath November 15, 1994, in his deposition in this case that Urantia Foundation has no official interpretation of the Urantia Papers.
3. In the History, Dr. Sadler wrote: "While it is the policy of the Brotherhood to work slowly in the distribution of the book, nothing is done to interfere with the energetic and enthusiastic efforts of any individual to introduce the Urantia Book to his friends and associates." "Distribution of the Urantia Book," Section X, History of the Urantia Movement, attributed to Dr. Sadler, Sr., by plaintiff Foundation in 1994.
4. When the Papers were first published, copies were sent to every famous person in every field.
THE DECLARATION OF TRUST "THE FOSTERING OF A RELIGION"
1. Letter by Dr. Sadler to Meredith Sprunger, September 25, 1962: "You helped me get up the Urantia funeral service which we have used several times and which I used at the services for our Brotherhood President, Warren Kulieke. I am wondering if you would prepare for us a suggested marriage ceremony which could be used by an minister in the future and by Ordained Teachers if the lawyer finally determines that they have the right thus to function. I am writing the attorney today to stir him up again for an opinion as to whether Ordained Teachers of Urantia Brotherhood have authority to perform marriages."
In 1958, Bill Sadler said: "I think there is a possibility of developing, from this blue book, a religion the like of which this world has never yet seen. A religion that's full of good humor. A religion which is full of the joy of existence. A religion which is totally devoid of fear on the theological or spiritual nature." (From Bill's audiotaped lectures, 1958).
It is interesting to compare some of the statements made by plaintiff Foundation Trustees in their lawsuit of the Foundation vs. Maaherra with the statements they made in the Martin Myers lawsuit:
2. Craig Fochler, Urantia Foundation lawyer, in the presence of Martin Myers and Rich Keeler in a hearing on March 15, 1991, in this lawsuit: "FOCHLER: The contention, Your Honor, is that Urantia is a religion. The Foundation in its submission and its registration indicated, you know, there are (sic) some religious subject matter in the book, things like that. It was all presented to the Patent and Trademark Office. It was before the examiner. There was nothing hidden. The test for fraud in registration is you have to lie to the Patent and Trademark Office and intend to deceive them. There's nothing in the record to show anybody lied to the Patent and Trademark Office. This is a hold-over from I guess whoever is giving her advice from another case. It's never been sustained."*
3. March 15, 1991, Hearing: "FOCHLER: You know, as I indicated, The Urantia Book is a work for hire, it is also a joint work which Ms. Maaherra doesn't address. But, secondly, these religion issues, there's nothing been presented that the Urantia Foundation in any way, shape or form is a religious organization, or a church. It doesn't have ministers. It doesn't have a creed. It doesn't have Sunday school. It's a fact that members of other denominations go to study groups. It's not a religion under the IRS test. There is absolutely nothing that's been presented, except for this conclusion, about it being a religious. (sic). The book clearly has some religious subject matter, but from the materials we submitted, Your Honor, it's got scientific subject matter, it's got historical subject matter, it's got subject matter on cosmology. It's taught in philosophy courses, Your Honor, not in religious courses. And, by the way, the current correct indication in the Library of Congress is "Religion - Other," not just religion. And it's been listed under different card indexes under other headings, Your Honor.*
4. Urantia Foundation attorney Craig Fochler in the hearing of March 15, 1991, of this lawsuit stated the following: "But, Your Honor, I think the most telling aspect of this, if you think the book's (The Urantia Book) really in the public domain, and by the way it's not a religious book..."*
5. Plaintiff's Statement of Facts in Support of its Motion for Partial Summary Judgement on First Amendment Defenses and Counterclaims, Number 9, page 4, paragraph 2: "The Foundation and Maaherra both believe that The URANTIA Book is a religious revelation."
6. President of Urantia Foundation Trustee Patricia Mundelius stated under oath November 16, 1994, in her deposition in this case that she does not believe the Urantia Book is a religious revelation.
7. The affidavit of Urantia Foundation Trustee Martin Myers filed with Urantia Foundation's original Complaint in this Lawsuit states the following: "URANTIA Foundation provides a variety of educational and publication services and goods, including the publication and dissemination of a major literary work more than two thousand pages in length, entitled The URANTIA, Book, and pamphlets, newsletters, brochures, and other publications."
8. Martin Myers lawsuit, specifically the Foundation's Third Defense: "Plaintiff purports to base his claim of a "contractual due process property right" on The URANTIA Book, which identifies itself as a "religious revelation." A copy of pages 1007-1008 of The URANTIA Book, describing that it is a "religious revelation," are attached to this Answer as Exhibit A. As shown in its Table of Contents, The URANTIA Book consists of over 2,000 pages addressing a broad spectrum of spiritual and religious subjects, including discussions about God, Jesus, Paradise, angels, spiritual beings, and numerous matters and principles of spiritual faith. A copy of the Table of Contents of The URANTIA Book is attached to this Answer as Exhibit B. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution precludes Plaintiff's claim that this Court should decide or interpret the correct meaning and application of The URANTIA Book, and the First Amendment prohibits this Court from making any such determination. 9. Letter by Dr. William S. Sadler. October 10, 1960: "supplies us with a religion and a God." (466*).
10. AAR Papers. Testimony by Meredith Sprunger.*
11. October 31, 1985, memo by Scott Forsythe to the trustees: "American Academy of Religion (AAR) Consultation (Seminar) on the Urantia Book." Summary: Memo with 3 pages of information about the Nov 22-26, 1985 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion in Anaheim, CA, "As the annual meeting will attract a number of eminent religious scholars who will be reporting on their research, it is not surprising that journalists will be present. However, the journalists who will attend are likely to have a specialized interest in religious matters and probably function as religion editors or reporters for newspapers and magazines." Six presentations on the Urantia Book: "The Urantia Book in Religious Studies; The Urantia Book and Religious Studies; Urantia: Religion as Texture; The Origin and Proliferation of Reality Seen from Perspective of the Urantia Book; The Cosmology of the Urantia Book and Contemporary Scientific Cosmology; The God-Concept of the Urantia Book." (1934).*
12. November 30, 1965, Correspondence with the Library of Congress concerning reclassification of the Urantia Book.
13. December, 1987, Newsletter from plaintiff Foundation, Urantian News, "Erroneous Library Cataloguing of Book" article.
14. November 15, 1957, fundraising letter by Thomas Kendall.
15. Dewey Decimal Classification change.
16. Letter cc'd. to J.J. Johnson regarding reclassification.
17. Schaveland's Affidavit on Dictionaries and Encyclopedias of Religion. Also live testimony.* Also photocopies from the books.
18. Plaintiff Foundation's Application for Tax Exempt Status where they checked "Religious" in the box to mark purpose.
19. December 16, 1959, letter from tax office (Treasury Department). "...you are organized and operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes."
20. January 12, 1960, letter from Marian Rowley. "The Government has recognized that we are organized and operated exclusively for religious and charitable purposes. (2456).
21. Plaintiff's Memorandum of Law in Support of its Motion for Partial Summary Judgement on First Amendment Defenses and Counterclaims, Section II: Plaintiff argues that the "religious property" of the Urantia Foundation is in dispute.
22. Plaintiff Foundation has claimed in earlier proceedings of this lawsuit that it is not a religious organization and that the property in question is secular and commercial - not religious. Plaintiff Foundation stated before this court: "But secondly, these religion issues, there's nothing been presented that the Urantia Foundation in any way, shape or form is a religious organization, or a church. It doesn't have ministers. It doesn't have a creed. It doesn't have Sunday school. It's a fact that members of other denominations go to study groups. It's not a religion under the IRS test. There is absolutely nothing that's been presented, except for this conclusion, about it being a religious. (sic)." (Proceedings of Hearing, plaintiff Foundation Attorney Craig Fochler in a hearing in this lawsuit, March 15, 1991.)*
23. "Your Honor, the Urantia Foundation is a non-profit corporation, doesn't qualify under the IRS as a religious organization. For instance, the IRS sets up 14 criteria for determining what's a religious organization, what's a church and the Foundation doesn't meet any of those that I know of." (Proceedings of Hearing, Urantia Foundation Attorney Craig Fochler in a hearing in this lawsuit, March 15, 1991.)
24. "At the same time, the URANTIA Foundation has always made it clear that even though it is charged to disseminate the principles, teachings and doctrines of The URANTIA Book, more specifically 'the true teachings of Jesus Christ,' it is not the purpose of The URANTIA Book, the URANTIA Foundation, the former URANTIA Brotherhood, or the new membership organization licensed by the Foundation, the International URANTIA Association, to start a new religion, a new denomination, or a new sect, either within Christianity or distinct from Christianity." (4/25/94 Plaintiff's Response to Admissions Requests, page 112).
25. In Urantia Foundation vs. Maaherra, 2/27/91, Summons in a Civil Action (CIV 91-0325-PHX-SMM), plaintiff Foundation states: "URANTIA Foundation is a non-profit foundation existing under the laws of the State of Illinois, which was established on January 11, 1950. URANTIA Foundation provides a variety of educational and publication services and goods, including the publication and dissemination of a major literary work more than two thousand pages in length, entitled The URANTIA, Book, and pamphlets, newsletters, brochures, and other publications."
26. From Urantia Foundation vs. Maaherra, March 15, 1991, Proceedings of Hearing: The Court: "And before I enter my final order it wouldn't hurt Mr. Fochler [Foundation lawyer] to just sort of re-emphasize his position as to why the Urantia Foundation is not a religion that would maybe somehow dilute the value of the copyright." Mr. FOCHLER: Well, first of all, Your Honor, if it were a religion, which it's not, that at most would go to the trademark as opposed to the copyright issues. And the only issue that would pertain to is whether or not the term Urantia was the name of a religion."
27. In their application to the Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America for tax exempt status, plaintiff Foundation marked that it was "Religious."
28. The IRS ruled that Urantia Foundation should receive a tax exempt status because it was "organized exclusively for religious and charitable purposes."
29. A Statement of Belief by Urantians with signatures. A Statement of Belief by Urantians signed by Mo Siegel December 2, 1994: "The undersigned believers in the Urantia revelation herewith declare our conviction that the Urantia papers are a religious epochal Revelation that was authored exclusively by Celestial Beings and that the text was preserved inviolate by those human personalities to whom it was originally entrusted. We further believe that the Urantia Revelation is a gift to all the people of this planet from God, our Father. The undersigned affirm that their personal religion is based upon the teaching of the Urantia Papers."
30. Urantia Believers Resolution. Colorado and FEF.
31. "Ordination Certificate" from the Brotherhood School.
32. Urantia Wedding Photos: Joan Batson and Larry Mullins; Karen and Tom Allen; Susan Ransbottom and Lenny Cowles.
33. New Trademark Guidelines from plaintiff Foundation (from Schaveland's Colorado lawsuit: "permitting" use circles and name Urantia for religious purposes
34. "Urantia Bible" Newspaper article.
35. Transcript from March 15, 1991, Hearing when plaintiff Foundation lawyer claimed, "And, by the way, the current correct indication in the Library of Congress is 'Religion - Other,' not just religion. And it's been listed under different card indexes under other headings, Your Honor." "But, Your Honor, I think the most telling aspect of this, if you think the book's really in the public domain, and by the way it's not a religious book..." (Page 44). Eric Schaveland's Testimony from December 13, 1996, Hearing. when plaintiff Foundation lawyer claimed, "it's not a religious book."
36. "About the Urantia Foundation," 1973? "The Urantia Foundation, a not-for- profit non-denominational religious organization with no secular orientation, was created in 1950 by Declaration of Trust which stated the objects of this foundation as follows:"
37. Grand Canyon Society newsletter, June 7, 1992: "Our Society members view the Urantia Foundation vs. Maaherra lawsuit as the most crucial event affecting our beloved Book and the whole readership today. The decisions that will be made in court will not just impact upon the Foundation and Kristen but upon everyone's right to study and interpret The Urantia Book, to create art or study aids inspired by the Book, and to simply buy the Book. We openly support Kristen Maaherra spiritually, morally and financially."
THE URANTIA PAPERS - NOT CHANNELED
"The Adjuster . . . through whom this communication"
1. The Papers were not channeled - it was the human contact personality's Thought Adjuster who was used: "The Adjuster of the human being through whom this communication is being made enjoys such a wide scope of activity chiefly because of this human's almost complete indifference to any outward manifestations of the Adjuster's inner presence; it is indeed fortunate that he remains consciously quite unconcerned about the entire procedure. He holds one of the highly experienced Adjusters of his day and generation, and yet his passive reaction to, and inactive concern toward, the phenomena associated with the presence in his mind of this versatile Adjuster is pronounced by the guardian of destiny to be a rare and fortuitous reaction. And all this constitutes a favorable co-ordination of influences, favorable both to the Adjuster in the higher sphere of action and to the human partner from the standpoints of health, efficiency, and tranquillity." Paper 110, Section 5, penult (page 1208).
2. In spite of evidence in the record (and on page 1208 of the Papers) to the contrary, Schroeder writes as if the Urantia Papers were "channeled." From Schroeder's Opinion: "These spiritual entities are thought to have delivered the teachings, that were eventually assembled in the Book, 'through' a patient of a Chicago psychiatrist, Dr. Sadler." (Background, 1, last).
3. Doc Sadler wrote, after listing a whole page of various Psychic Phenomena: "Note: The technique of the reception of the Urantia Book in English in no way parallels or impinges upon any of the above phenomena of the marginal consciousness." (History, following the list).
4. Doc Sadler also wrote, "the phenomena connected with the personality, who was later associated with the Urantia Papers, was in no way similar to any other well-known type of psychic performance - such as hypnotism, automatic writing, clairvoyance, trances, spirit mediumship, telepathy, or double personality. It should be made clear that the antecedents of the Urantia Papers were in no way associated with so-called spiritualism." (History, Page 000292).
5. List of Psychic Phenomena by Dr. Sadler used in the talk given to Dr. Sprunger's group of ministers - this is the list of ways Doc Sadler claimed the Papers were NOT materialized:
6. Plaintiff Foundation's lawsuit against forum member Robert Burton was won by claiming that the human contact personality, or "sleeping subject" was their author. "The facts are essentially undisputed. The Urantia Book came into existence between 1926 and 1935 and was originally in the possession of Dr. William S. Sadler, Sr. of Chicago. The book, which consists of 196 separate papers, was read to a group of people who gathered at Dr. Sadler's home for that purpose on many occasions over that nine year period. The book at the time was in typed manuscript form. Dr Sadler explained to his guests that the book had been written by one of his patients while in an unconscious or semi-conscious state and that the patient claimed to have no memory of having written the book. Dr. Sadler then had the handwritten manuscript transcribed into typed form. The defendant was one of the persons who came to these meetings but he never knew the identity of the patient/author. The plaintiff claimed that everyone who knew the identity of the patient took a vow never to reveal that identity, and further states that the patient is now dead. Dr. Sadler died in 1969. The Urantia Book is a religious-philosophical text which purports to give a blueprint for a better world. Dr. Sadler claimed, and both parties to this action apparently believe, that the book was written down as the result of divine or spiritual inspiration. As a result, in both written and oral arguments, there has been some discussion as to whether Dr. Sadler's patient was the author of the book or was merely a conduit for some spiritual author. Legally, however, the source of the patient's inspiration is irrelevant. No one contends that The Urantia Book was not original and therefore not copyrightable. The patient, as author, had an immediate, common law copyright, or right of first publication, in the book. [1980 WL 1176 (W.D.Mich.) The Urantia Foundation v. Robert Burton. No. K 7S-255 CA 4 United States District Court; W.D. Michigan. Dated August 27, 1980.]
7. Burton case: "the possession of the manuscript from which the plates were made which resulted in the printing of the Urantia Book were in the possession of Plaintiff for at least twenty years after the Foundation was formed." Plaintiff's Brief in Reply to the Defendant's Main Brief, page 15.
8. Hearing in Arizona, March 15, 1991: Page 23*, line 2, Craig Fochler: "The Urantia Book is a work for hire, it is also a joint work." And page 27, lines 1-3, Craig Fochler: "First of all, it is a work for hire. It can be renewed. The work does qualify as a work for hire, part of work by the author, who's discussed in the Burton case."
9. Plaintiff Foundation's copyright fact No. 28 says: "The claim that the written works of spiritual beings do not constitute copyrightable subject matter was made and rejected in Urantia Foundation v. Burton." [Wharton Aff., Exs A through D; The Urantia Foundation v. Burton, 210 U.S.P.Q. 217 (W.D. Mich. 1980)]. However, plaintiff Foundation won the Burton case because the Judge said that just because they filled out their copyright application incorrectly, they shouldn't lose their copyright. If Burton had been alive, he could have asked the crucial question, "And what if they did fill out the copyright application with the names of the superhuman authors - would the copyright office have granted them a copyright then?"
10. From the Appendix to "Mind at Mischief," by William S. Sadler, SR: "I was brought in contact with it, in the summer of 1911, and I have had it under my observation more or less ever since, having been present at probably 250 of the night sessions, many of which have been attended by a stenographer who made voluminous notes."
11. Page 744 of Theory and Practice of Psychiatry, by William S. Sadler, Sr.
12. Letter by Dr. Sadler, December 10, 1959: "I thought you might be interested, in connection with the Urantia Book, that it was not a product of automatic writing or any of the techniques of the psychic cults." (2847).
13. History, page 000292: "It should be made clear that the antecedents of the Urantia Papers were in no way associated with so-called spiritualism."
14. Consideration of Some Criticisms of the Urantia Book, by Dr. William S. Sadler, No. 10: "I can testify that the Urantia Papers were not the product of automatic writing or any other technique of psychic legerdemain known to me. While we are not at liberty to tell you even the little we know about the technique of the production of the Urantia Papers, we are not forbidden to tell you how we did not get these documents. Let me call your attention to the following outline of present-day psychologic and psychic phenomena." (Followed by the list of "Unusual activities of the marginal consciousness.") "Note: The technique of the reception of the Urantia Book in English in no way parallels or impinges upon any of the above phenomena of the marginal consciousness."
15. Dr. Sadler's letter to Rev. Adams, March 17, 1959: "I am taking the liberty of sending you a copy of an outline which I gave to a dozen ministers who came to meet with me about six months ago. I told them that while I was unable to explain to them about how we had got the Book I was able to explain to them how we had not got the Book."
16. Letter from Emma Christensen, February 25, 1960: "the Urantia Book was not written by any one or any number of human beings." "Quite recently Dr. William S. Sadler, a psychiatrist, in meeting with a group of a dozen ministers who had paid him a visit and who were interested in the study of the Urantia Book, presented all of the different psychic techniques he had encountered in his long practice and explained to these ministers that the reception of the Urantia Book was not concerned with any of these techniques."
17. The Historicity of The Urantia Book, by Meredith Sprunger. Page 11 discusses the visit of the ministers with Dr. Sadler. Also discussed in "The Origin of the Urantia Book" by Meredith Sprunger.
18. Dr. Sadler's letter to Rev. Adams, March 17, 1959, goes on to say: "Our mandate forbade us in any way to alter the text of the manuscript, but gave us jurisdiction over capitalization, spelling, and punctuation. We were told to select our authority and stick to it." This information is repeated in the History.