'Who's Who in Religion' Makes Debut
RUSSELL CHANDLER
Los Angeles Times (1886-Current File); Jan 31, 1976; ProQuest Historical Newspapers Los Angeles Times (1881 - 1986)  pg. A23

'Who's Who in Religion' Makes Debut

Omission of Some Prominent Names Causing Raised Eyebrows

RUSSELL CHANDLER
Times Religion Writer

Three-quarters of a century after putting out the first "Who's Who in America," the Marquis company in Chicago has just added to its growing ltine of biographical reference works by publishing the first "Who's Who in Religion."

The voluminous (16,000 biographies) and expensive ($52.50) work, more than two years in the making, is said by its editors to be "the result of examination by trained researchers, writers and editors of all literature and data available to them.

"In addition to their own skilled research methods, the Marquis Who's Who staff sought the cooperation of national religious associations, theological institutions and many prominent individuals of every faith."

As in all Marquis Who's Who directories, the preface points out, an individual's desire to be listed was "not a determining criterion for inclusion" in 'Who's Who in Religion."

Rather. the person's "demonstrated merit in some area of religious activity" governed selection.

This being true, the first edition is causing some raised eyebrow's in religion circles - particularly in light of some prominent names omitted. And in light of a few that are included.

The directory is of value, especially since there has been no previous biographical compilation of these distinguished people. And some little-known information about certain biographees is surfaced.

Several prominent Southern California churchmen are listed, including the Rev. Vahe H. Simonian, pastor of the Pasadena Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Robert H. Schuller, pastor of Garden Grove Community Church. But Simonian's predecessor, the Rev. Hervey Ganse Little, a former moderator (top elected officer) of the denomination who is listed in "'Who's Who in America," is not listed. Neither is the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, the noted New York minister whose "positive thinking" was the pattern for Schuller's "possibility thinking."

The Rev. Lloyd John Ogilvie, pastor of Hollywood's First Presbyterian Church, is not included, though he's in "Who's Who in America." But the former associate pastor at Ogilvie's church, the Rev. Lane Adams, is in the religious Who's Who.

These well-known churchmen are omitted: John A. Mackay, retired president of Princeton Theological Seminary and pioneer of the ecumenical movement; retired Method. Bishop Gerald H. Kennedy; John Cobb Jr., professor and author at the School of Theology at Claremont;

Harvey Cox of Harvard Divinity School; Howard Thurman, educator-author picked by Life magazine as one of 12 "great preachers" of the 25th century: David Elton Trueblood., Quaker professor, chaplain and author, and Jacodas J. Pelikan, religion professor at Yale.

With the exception of Cobb and Mackay, all of the above are listed in "Who's Who in America."

Los Angeles Rabbis Edgar F. Magnin, 85, of Wilshire Blvd. Temple since 1915, and Hillel E. Silverman of Sinai Temple, are in. But omitted are national figures Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum of the American Jewish Committee and Joseph Soloveichik head of the seminary at Yeshiva University, New York, and the outstanding Orthodox authority in the United States.

Cardinal Timothy Manning is in, but his predecessor, Cardinal James Francis Aloysius McIntyre, who will be 90 this June, is out. He, also, is in "Who's Who in America." Herbert W. Armstrong and his son, Garner Ted Armstrong, leaders of the Pasadena-based Worldwide Church of God, are in. So is "Rev. Ike" - also listed under Frederick J. Eikerenkoetter II - the flamboyant black preacher, and Kathryn Kuhlman, whose birthdate is given as 1910 (she doesn't reveal this when asked).

Evangelist Billy Graham is listed, of course, but his wife, Ruth, is not - nor is she in "Who's Who in America" or "Who's Who of American Women."

Maharaj Ji, the guru who founded the Divine Light Mission and whose chief residence is in Malibu, has reached the ripe age of 28, according to data in the religion book.

The Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder-messiah of the Unification Church, is not listed. Neither is the mail-order ordination king, "Bishop" Kirby Hensley of Modesto.

"Who's Who in Religion" only covers religious leaders in America. But one foreigner slipped in on page 434. Giovanni Battista Montin: lives in Vatican City.

But you wouldn't find him unless you knew to look under Paul VI, His Holiness.