. . . the impact of what I had seen in Harlem was not the only factor in my increasing belief in Communism. There were many other experiences, some of which stand out vividly in my mind. There was the meeting that I had with an advanced student—whom I shall call Edwin—at Union Theological Seminary back in the spring of 1935. Harold Patch had introduced me to him because he wanted me to co-sign Edwin�s application for membership in the Party. I asked him why he wanted to join and with eyes aglow he tried to explain his beliefs.
"The old Christianity is dead, Elizabeth�, he said thoughtfully. . . . �I�ve always wanted to be a minister of Christ, but somehow, until I discovered the doctrine of Communism, I was nauseated with the rotten hypocrisy . .(etc)�. �I�m convinced that . . I, as a potential Christian minister, must per se be a Communist, even though it will be a very hard life. Does that startle you?�
No, it didn�t. ( . . ) I asked him whether or not he had broached his ideas to anyone at Union Theological Seminary and, if so, what they thought.
�Yes,� Edwin said cheerfully. �I�ve talked to Dr. Harry Ward about the question of my joining the Communist Party. He�s not a member, as you know, but he told me that I should follow the dictates of my own conscience. In fact he indicated that my membership would make absolutely no difference in my being ordained.� (Etc.)
. . . that was quite possibly true : Harry Ward was one of the big-shots in the American League and I had met him there. He was a lean, determined little man in his sixties, . . (etc).
Edwin joined the Party, and very soon thereafter two other students at Union Theological Seminary applied for membership. One was a prospective preacher who, like Edwin, had not yet been ordained, the other was a minister who had been doing missionary work in Japan for several years and had returned to the United States to take a few refresher courses. About the latter, I worried considerably, since I knew the Communist Party was illegal over there. Perhaps, if I certified him for membership, he would be going back to his death. He smiled tranquilly when I put the question to him.
�Don�t worry, Elizabeth, I�m not afraid. Years ago I put my life into the hands of God and promised Him that I would live only for His purposes. I�ve lived austerely and worked extremely hard, but I�ve always been happy in the thought that I was living up to my ideals. ( . . ) Will you deny e the right to fight for what I believe in?�
I shook my head and found, to my distress, that tears were flowing down my face. Hastily, I pulled myself together and signed his Party card.
�Goodbye and good luck for all the years in the future,� I said, felling that he was a far better person than I would ever be. �You now have three Communist Party members in Union Theological Seminary and that is sufficient to make a unit. Tell Edwin to check with the Harlem section
and they will give him directives. You won�t have to see me again.�