The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Best, James S.

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1966-1967

Volume: 7 item(s); 8 pg(s)

Scope and Content

In these letters, Merton makes arrangements for the publication of his article "Blessed are the Meek". Best forwards a letter to him from Lillian Marks, who had read his article in Fellowship and complains about a comment about Jews that she considers inappropriate.

Biography

Jim Best was Director of Publications for the Fellowship of Reconciliation in New York and their magazine Fellowship.

Usage Guidelines and Restrictions

Related Information and Links

See also "Marks, Lillian" file.

Other Finding Aids

If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1966/12/16 TLSto MertonI feel very apologetic this morning. It could be that the copy of your paper "Blessed are the Meek"  apologies of the delay in seeing "Blessed are the Meek" article and its late anticipated publication in the March 1967 issue of <u>Fellowship</u> magazine - John Heidbrink gave Best the article and Jim Forest reminded him of what it was - article's contribution to the theology of non-violence / Catholic Peace Fellowship
 1966/12/23 TL[c]from MertonAbout the paper "Blessed are the Meek". I am under the impression it was printed in amagazine [sic]  possible publication of "Blessed are the Meek" in <u>Cowley</u> by the Cowley Fathers - possibility of Jim Forest putting out article as a pamphlet
 1967/01/16 TALSto MertonI've written <u>Cowley</u> for permission and will use the article in March, and in such form as can  permission from <u>Cowley</u> to use article in March - reprint as pamphlet - Jim Forest getting art and money to publish pamphlet
 1967/07/28 HLSfrom Marks, LillianI had set aside the May issue of <u>Fellowship</u> in order to read Thomas Merton's article,  [sent by Best to Merton with Best's 1967/07/29 or 1967/07/31 letter] objects to Merton's use of "international Jewry" between the words "traitors" and "racists" in a sentence in the article "Blessed are the Meek" - does not think his criticism of "pharisaism" in the peace movement is appropriate for the audience of <u>Fellowship</u>
 1967/07/29 TLSto MertonI expect you too will want to answer Lillian Marks. I hope I did not apologize unduly but I feel we  feels that he and Merton made a mistake by Merton's remark appearing in <u>Fellowship</u> to which Lillian Marks objects
 1967/07/31 TL[c]to Marks, LillianI am sending your letter, with considerable distress, on to Thomas Merton. The distress I feel is  apology by Best to Marks concerning the decision to include Merton's remarks / clarifies that Merton was using terms "conjured up in the minds of those who fail and look for scapegoats" and not an expression of his own sentiments / feels Merton's words were insensitive and likely to be misconstrued, even given the context
 1967/08/04 TL[c]from MertonThanks for your note and the letter of Lillian Marcks [sic]. I am sending a carbon of my reply to  apology for inclusion of his remark - written for a different audience than <u>Fellowship</u> and realizes that some would not know when he is speaking ironically / Merton's pain in getting this kind of reaction
        

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