[asa] Our ASA name

The following information comes courtesy of Mark Kalthoff, whose
dissertation was about the history of the ASA.

Determining a name for their new organization in 1941 occupied
substantially more time than might have been anticipated. The five founders
engaged in considerable debate of the merits and deficiencies of each of
sixteen proposals. Although the name "American Scientific Affiliation"
stood among the original candidates, it failed to generate unqualified
enthusiasm. That it ignored the group's theological motivation stood as a
genuine deficiency in the minds of some. On the other hand, Everest and
others felt that an explicitly Christian name "would limit the broader
influence of the organization." (Everest's words). Of the sixteen, all but
three prospective names (American Scientific Affiliation, American
Affiliation of Sciences, and National Affiliation of Scientists) made
explicit the Christian connection, with ten including overt reference to the
Bible. The lead candidate was "Bible and Science Investigation Society
(BASIS)." Other near favorites included "Society for the Investigation of
Correllations [sic] between Science and the Bible," "Society of Christian
Scientific Men for Biblical Research," and "Bible and Science Interpretation
Society." As discussion wore on at their founding meeting, it became
increasingly clear that no consensus was forthcoming. The group adopted
Peter Stoner's motion to have Everest render a final decision at a later
date in consultation with Houghton and Moon. So it seems that Everest, Will
Houghton, and Irwin Moon determined the name and probably chose ASA because
of a belief that it would open more doors for the new organization.

Ted (thanks to Mark)

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Received on Tue Feb 10 14:10:10 2009