BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY

PROV0, UTAH

January 31, 1953

ERNEST L. WILKINSON, PRESIDENT

President David O. McKay

47 East South Temple

Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear President McKay:

On our trip to Washington you confided in me that the relationship of the Church to the colored person was one of the most pressing problems that had to be faced and resolved.

On my way back from Washington I stopped off again in Chicago and had a long talk with Dr. Chauncy Harris, of the University of Chicago. I found that Dr. Harris had been giving a great deal of thought to the question, and I have learned from a letter which I received today from him that he has sent a copy of a memorandum on that subject to you. I should merely like to state that Dr, Harris had a very fine attitude. He disagrees.with men like Dr. Lowry Nelson of Minnesota, who think that the problem should be approached fromn a Sociological point of view, but Dr. Harris agrees that it must be approached from the standpoint of the revealed word of the Lord. But he personally came to the conclusion that we have taken too much for granted in interpreting what has been revealed, and he thinks that the subject is still open for an authoritative interpretation by the President of the Church.

I am not, of course, acquainted with the letter which he sent to you, but I wanted you to know that he is entirely sincere. I am sure also from what he said that he has not been teaching his views, and will not teach them, but he did feel that the Presidency should reconsider the interpretation of what has been revealed.

Sister Wilkinson and I certainly enjoyed the time we had with you on our trip, I was successful also in recruiting some new members for our faculty, although Dr,. Harris has not yet consented to join us.

Sincerely,

Ernest L. Wilkinson