Activities of the A. Powell Davies Memorial Fund

A nationwide Advisory Committee in 1958 established the A. Powell Davies Memorial Fund, entrusting a national A. Powell Davies Memorial Committee with the responsibility of continuing the work and memory of A. Powell Davies. In 1992 when All Souls church took over trusteeship of the Memorial Fund, the Church assumed this responsibility and the All Souls A. Powell Davies Memorial Committee was appointed to assist the church Board in carrying on this work. Over the years the Fund has been used to finance a variety of projects, including the publication of three biographies and two books and several leaflets of Dr. Davies' writings, keeping in print books authored by Dr. Davies, and many special activities, of which the following are examples:

Jan. 18, 1959: Memorial Address: Adlai E. Stevenson: The Political Relevance of Moral Principle.

1960-1963: Following in the tradition of Dr. Davies, who carried his belief in the principles of liberal religion throughout the country (in one year, he logged 30,000 miles of lecture tours, much of them by train), the National Committee financed three Circuit Riders programs:

Fall 1960: Duncan Howlett and Peter Putnam--Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina.

Dec. 1961: Paul Blanchard Texas.

1963: Harold B. Scholefield: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oregon, Washington.

1959-1969: Loans of $1,500 to $12,500 were made from the principal of the Memorial Fund to newly organize Unitarian churches in the area (Cedar Lane, Mt. Vernon, Fairfax, Paint Branch, Davies Memorial and River Road); all were paid back in full.

1966: Donation of memorial fireplace and plaque for new building of Davies Memorial Unitarian Church, Camp Springs, Md.

Nov. 5, 1967: Memorial Address: Whitney Young: Community Responsibility in Civil Rights.

1967: Series of weekly radio programs, broadcast over WAMU-FM and 50 other educational radio stations, featuring 13 of Dr. Davies' recorded sermons, the 1959 Memorial Address by Adlai Stevenson and the 1967 Memorial Address by Whitney Young.

1969-1977: Loan of $17,500 was made from the principal of the Memorial Fund to All Souls Church and repaid in full.

1971-1972: provided financial support for six special services commemorating the 150th anniversary of All Souls church, including research, writing and printing of six historical anniversary programs.

Dec. 3, 1972: Memorial Address: Adlai E. Stevenson III: Rekindling the Spirit of Reform.

Sept. 22, 1974: Memorial Concert: Cherry Rhodes, Organ; Barbara Blegen, Piano; Two Percussionists.

Nov. 20, 1977: Memorial Address: Russell W. Peterson: Growth in Quality of Life.

Jan. 20, 1980: Memorial Address: F. Forrester Church: The New Order Changeth.

Apr. 29, 1989: Memorial Address: George N. Marshall: Religious Freedom and the A. Powell Davies Heritage.

Jan. 1-1998 June 30, 2001: Series of Sunday Services at All Souls Church (13 speakers, including four who were honored with the title Davies Preaching Fellow); Special Music for 13 services.

Nov. 14, 1999: Memorial Concert: Cherry Rhodes, Organ

Oct. 6, 2002: A Day of Homecoming and Celebration of the 100th birthday of Dr. Davies. Special service at All Souls Church followed by a reception honoring Mrs. Davies and representatives of the daughter churches that were founded during Dr. Davies' ministry.

2002-2003: Four Sunday Services, at which the speakers were designated Davies Preaching Fellows.

2004: Establishing this Web site.