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Conant Stresses Need of “historical Perspective” at Seminary Celebrate

March 16, 1937
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The necessity of historical perspective for leaders of opinion was stressed tonight by President James B. Conant of Harvard University at a semi-centennial celebration of the Jewish Theological Seminary. He warned against the “levelling spirit in human affairs.

Lucius N. Littauer, the philanthropist, opposed government regulation in aid to men in time of need. “The world,” he said, “is inclined to believe that loving-kindness can best be performed by government regulated administrative machinery; but experience is making it clear that such centralized help is fraught with a danger, that in helping our fellow-men, we help many of them to remain helpless.”

Felix H. Warburg said that “we should not neglect the development of reverence and piety, especially if attention is called to them–not with regard to the old rites, which sometimes seem old-fashioned and out of date, but to the philosophy which lies behind them.”

His message was read to the audience.

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