Rousas John Rushdoony: a Brief History, Part V Year-End Sale Martin Selbrede “An Opportunity
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Faith for All of Life September/October 2016 Publisher & Chalcedon President Editorials Rev. Mark R. Rushdoony 2 From the President Chalcedon Vice-President Rousas John Rushdoony: A Brief History, Part V Year-End Sale Martin Selbrede “An Opportunity... Thanks Be to God!” 30% OFF Editor 20 From the Founder All orders thru Martin Selbrede 2 Corinthians, Godly Social Order Jan. 31, 2017 Managing Editor The True Perspective (2 Cor. 4:8-18) Susan Burns Features Contributing Editor Lee Duigon 7 Rousas John Rushdoony as Philosopher Jean-Marc Berthoud Chalcedon Founder Rev. R. J. Rushdoony 14 Rushdoony on History (1916-2001) Otto J. Scott was the founder of Chalcedon 17 For Such a Time as This and a leading theologian, church/ state expert, and author of Andrea Schwartz numerous works on the applica- Columns tion of Biblical Law to society. 19 Fragile World Receiving Faith for All of Life: This Movie Reviewed by Lee Duigon magazine will be sent to those who request it. 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The editors are not responsible for the return of unsolicited manu- your full postal address to our office: scripts which become the property of Chalcedon unless other arrangements are made. Opinions expressed in this [email protected]. magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of Chalcedon. It provides a forum for views in accord with a relevant, active, historic Christianity, though those views may on occasion differ somewhat from Chalcedon’s and from each For circulation and data other. Chalcedon depends on the contributions of its readers, and all gifts to Chalcedon are tax-deductible. ©2016 Chalcedon. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint granted on written request only. Editorial Board: Rev. Mark management contact Rebecca R. Rushdoony, President/Editor-in-Chief; Martin Selbrede, Editor; Susan Burns, Managing Editor and Executive Rouse at (209) 736-4365 ext. 10 Assistant. Chalcedon, P.O. Box 158, Vallecito, CA 95251, Telephone Circulation (9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m., Pacific): (209) or [email protected] 736-4365 or Fax (209) 736-0536; email: [email protected]; www.chalcedon.edu; Circulation: Rebecca Rouse. From the President Rousas John Rushdoony: A Brief History, Part V “An Opportunity... Thanks Be to God!” By Mark R. Rushdoony y early 1962, my years. Volker had focused much of his Bfather had been philanthropy on charitable and commu- a pastor for eighteen nity projects and was centered around years, but his desire had Kansas City, Missouri. He was a major always been to write. contributor to the fledgling University His first two books had of Kansas City (later the University of been published and a third manuscript Missouri-Kansas City). Later, under was completed. Years later, when near Luhnow, the Volker Fund focused on death, he gave me instruction on his un- conservative and free-market educa- published work. When asked, in 1994, tion. It was Luhnow’s goal “to stimulate which of his books were his best, he the private sector into assuming greater replied, “The next ones.”1 Grandpa Y. responsibilities in every area.”5 The idea K. Rushdoony had often encouraged his behind the Fund’s giving was to provide work in his regular letters. Once, during seed money “to stimulate the birth of a visit to Santa Cruz, my father noted new organizations to meet new crises or in his journal that he studied until 1:30 needs. As a result, numerous grants have a.m. then, “Read to my father. Went to been made in various fields to help start bed after his blessing and prayer for a new organizations and to further their world-wide ministry through writing.”2 activities for a few short years until they That ministry would begin full-time in are able to gain support from a variety 1962. public fanfare. Recipients of grants were of continuing sources.”6 As early as October of 1961, Dad required to make no public acknowl- Few have today heard of the Volker 4 had told the church session that he edgement, but Volker was, in fact, Fund, though it it was largely responsi- planned on leaving. He had, in August known in at least some circles as “Mr. ble for the development of much of the and September, spoken with Ivan Bierly Anonymous.” right after the war. Volker had success- and F.A. “Baldy” Harper of the Volker The organization was later re- fully fought the Democratic machine in Fund, at least in part about his hope to named the William Volker Fund Kansas City, but Luhnow wisely turned establish a Christian college.3 (“Volker Fund”) and was entrusted, the Fund’s efforts toward developing along with the business, to Volker’s a broad spectrum of individuals and The William Volker Fund nephew, Harold W. Luhnow by 1944. organizations with ideas that challenged William Volker (1859–1947) was He expanded the Fund’s work well be- the political, academic, and economic a Kansas City, Missouri, magnate who yond charity centered in Kansas City to orthodoxy of the time. made a fortune in home furnishings. In broad educational activities. In the early In 1946 Volker money funded the 1932 he established the William Volker 1960s, the Fund’s offices were moved to establishment of the Foundation for Charities Fund to oversee his charitable Burlingame, California. Economic Education (FEE). Its founder, work which at first focused on Kan- Luhnow’s management of the Leonard Read, coined the term libertari- sas City. By that time, he had already Volker Fund produced tremendous anism about that time. In 1956, FEE’s become a major philanthropist, but the results. No history has ever been written flagship publication,The Freeman, was extent of his giving will likely never be of its impact and likely never can be, as introduced and quickly became the known, as he preferred to give with no its records have been missing for many most important free market resource 2 Faith for All of Life | September/October 2016 www.chalcedon.edu Faith for All of Life in the country. In addition, FEE’s free Few have today heard of the six children must have weighed heavily teacher seminars educated thousands Volker Fund, though it it was on him. He rarely expressed the strain, in free market ideas. Volker funded but a few days before Christmas, 1961, largely responsible for the the start of the Intercollegiate Society he concluded his journal with: “Another of Individualists (later the Intercol- development of much of the day ended: 5 hrs. spent in housework legiate Studies Institute, ISI). William right after the war. Volker (washing done at laundromat), 4 hrs. F. Buckley, Jr., was its first president had successfully fought the in calling and study for church services, and E. Victor Millione its second. The 12 Democratic machine in Kansas three hours study for writing.” Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) A few months earlier he had noted was founded in 1960 and soon attracted City, but Luhnow wisely another difficult situation. A church large numbers of college students. By turned the Fund’s efforts member informed him that, “according 1964 it was a tremendous asset to the toward developing a broad to gossip, she is my latest prospective Barry Goldwater campaign, which 13 spectrum of individuals and wife.” By the spring of 1962 when was the last time an outsider bucked he was in negotiations with the Volker organizations with ideas the party hierarchy and defeated their Fund he was, in fact, contemplating candidate (Nelson Rockefeller) for the that challenged the political, remarriage, but there were several 7 nomination. A student libertarian jour- academic, and economic eligible women in the church and he nal, , was The New Individualist Review orthodoxy of the time. apparently felt it best to wait until he produced from 1961–1968. In 1967 it stepped down as pastor in order to came out strongly in favor of abolish- avoid any conflict it might cause in the ing the draft, an idea later advocated by Ivan Bierly asking him “to write a state- church. Many in the church had gone 8 Richard Nixon and made law in 1973. ment on the roots of liberty for [the] through the Trinity Church trauma Many grants were provided to con- foundation.” The following week he and would have been supportive, servative scholars. “A very large number, finished “The Ground of Liberty” and but, as in many denominations, there if not the major share, of conservative a short time later “Bierly and friends” were many disparate views on divorce books published in the past twenty attended his evening class on the Con- and remarriage in the Orthodox years were written on grants by Volker.