Atomic Deacon

When Dr. William Grosvenor Pollard, 40, executive director of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, arrived in Atlanta this week for a scientific conference, he brought with him several books on the Old Testament for spare-time reading. Reason: Physicist Pollard is studying for the Episcopal ministry.

Pollard has no intention of giving up his career as a research and training chief of the famed atomic city in Tennessee. His position in the church, he feels, will simply be an extension of the job he is already doing as vestryman of Oak Ridge's brand-new St. Stephen's Church. As a deacon, he will be able to assist his rector, the Rev. Robert F. McGregor, in a variety of ways--conducting services during his absence, or lending a hand at the new mission in nearby Norris, Tenn.

Like many another scientist, Physicist Pollard has thought deeply about man's failure, so far, to cope with the powers which science has unleashed. He finds his main assurances in Christian faith and hope. An Episcopalian all his life, he strongly objects to any suggestion "that I am an atomic scientist who, disillusioned, has taken to religion."

Together with Dr. Jesse D. Perkinson of the Institute's medical division, who is also preparing for holy orders, Pollard meets at least once a month with Rector McGregor to go over their study courses in liturgy, church history, Old and New Testament and theology. They hope to be ordained in about 15 months. "There's an awful lot of reading to it," says Bill Pollard.

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