{"product_id":"moral-re-armament-assembly-mackinac-island-michigan-july-september-1954","title":"Moral Re-Armament Assembly — Mackinac Island, Michigan — July–September 1954","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOffered here is an original \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1954 Moral Re-Armament Assembly publication\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e produced for the summer gathering at Mackinac Island, Michigan, covering \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eJuly through September 1954\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIllustrated on the front with a drawing of historic \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eFort Mackinac\u003c\/span\u003e, the substantial booklet documents the international Moral Re-Armament gathering through reproduced contemporary newspaper coverage, photographs, messages of welcome, and practical information for those traveling to the Assembly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe spine of this example bears the name \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“John D. Strange.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMoral Re-Armament at Mackinac Island\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMoral Re-Armament, commonly known as \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMRA\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, grew directly from the movement earlier known as the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eOxford Group\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, founded and led by Frank Buchman. For collectors of Alcoholics Anonymous history, that connection is particularly significant: the Oxford Group was the spiritual fellowship through which several of the people instrumental in the beginnings of A.A.—including Bill W., Dr. Bob, and Ebby Thacher—encountered principles that influenced early Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBy the 1950s, Moral Re-Armament had developed into an international movement addressing spiritual, social, labor and political questions. Mackinac Island became one of its important American gathering places, attracting participants from around the world. Smithsonian collections preserve photographs and correspondence from MRA conferences held on Mackinac Island during this period, while the Library of Congress specifically catalogs extensive material from the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1954 Mackinac Assembly\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe 1954 Assembly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis publication provides an unusually detailed contemporary record of the Assembly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eRather than simply presenting an event schedule, its contents reproduce \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003enewspaper articles concerning Moral Re-Armament and the Mackinac gathering\u003c\/span\u003e, allowing the event to be viewed through contemporary press coverage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAmong the newspapers represented are the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eDetroit Free Press, Detroit Times and Windsor Daily Star\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHeadlines reproduced within include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“M.R.A. Delegates Gather For Mackinac Assembly”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Filipino Calls MRA ‘Greatest’ U.S. Help”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Guatemala Needs Our Help, MRA Told”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“MRA Ideals Hailed By Business, Labor”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eand\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Leader Calls MRA ‘A Global Ideology’”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe articles document an international gathering involving representatives from government, industry, organized labor, journalism and other fields.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrank Buchman and an International Movement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDr. Frank N. D. Buchman, founder of the Oxford Group and leader of Moral Re-Armament, appears repeatedly throughout the contemporary coverage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOne article reproduced in the booklet reports Buchman’s address to the Mackinac Assembly and describes delegates being brought together to train in the movement’s ideology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOther material documents participants arriving from around the world, including representatives connected with the Philippines, Ethiopia, India, Canada and Latin America.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePhotographs reproduced within show international delegates as well as representatives of American and Canadian industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe international character of the Mackinac gatherings is also documented in institutional collections today. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture preserves photographs of international attendees at MRA Assemblies on Mackinac Island during the 1950s. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWelcome from the United States Congress\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAn especially interesting page reproduces a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eJuly 9, 1954 message of welcome from Michigan members of the United States Congress\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe message welcomes attendees to Michigan and Mackinac Island and carries the names of Senator Homer Ferguson and numerous members of Michigan’s congressional delegation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Contemporary Record of the Assembly\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe final portion includes detailed travel information for attendees arriving at Mackinac Island by railroad, bus, air and ferry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eRail connections from Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis and Canada are described, along with \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eGreyhound bus service, Capital Air Lines, Trans Canada Airlines\u003c\/span\u003e, and connecting ferry service to Mackinac Island.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThose seeking information about continuing sessions were directed to:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p3\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMaj. Robert Amen (Ret.)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eBennett Hall\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eMackinac Island, Michigan\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u2028\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eTelephone 3946\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThese details give the publication an additional documentary quality beyond its collection of contemporary news reports.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eItem Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTitle:\u003c\/b\u003e Moral Re-Armament Assembly\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLocation:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Mackinac Island, Michigan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDates:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e July–September 1954\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrganization:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Moral Re-Armament\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMovement:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Moral Re-Armament \/ Oxford Group\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFounder:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Frank N. D. Buchman\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Illustrated assembly publication\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eContents:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Reproduced contemporary newspaper coverage, photographs, congressional welcome and Assembly information\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eName on Spine:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e John D. Strange\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCover Illustration:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Fort Mackinac\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinted:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e United States\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe publication remains \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ecomplete and in Good vintage condition\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA clear protective plastic covering has been placed over the front and rear covers and is \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eadhered along the spine\u003c\/span\u003e. Several pieces of aged transparent tape are visible along the spine area, and a label bearing the name \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“John D. Strange”\u003c\/span\u003e is present there as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe covers and pages show expected age toning, light edge and corner wear, occasional marks and handling wear. The interior remains well preserved and readily legible, with the numerous reproduced newspaper articles and photographs presenting clearly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe protective covering appears to be an older addition rather than part of the original publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the most complete representation of condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis is an interesting primary-source artifact from the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003epost-Oxford Group history of Frank Buchman’s movement\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFor an A.A. or recovery-history collection, its significance lies not in being an Alcoholics Anonymous publication—it is not—but in documenting what became of the Oxford Group movement that had played such an important role in the spiritual environment from which early A.A. emerged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe combination of its \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e1954 date, Mackinac Assembly connection, extensive contemporary newspaper coverage, Frank Buchman content, photographs, and original event information\u003c\/span\u003e makes it particularly useful for a collection examining the Oxford Group, Moral Re-Armament, Frank Buchman, and the broader historical influences surrounding the development of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67575208313074,"sku":null,"price":175.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/B9F8518B-ECEA-4F65-B839-608A50628926.jpg?v=1790484376","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/moral-re-armament-assembly-mackinac-island-michigan-july-september-1954","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}