Minister Journalist

First reason for the vigorous intellectual leadership of the weekly Christian Century (circ. 38,500) is tough-minded, liberal Editor Charles Clayton Morrison, 81, who bought it in 1908 (when it had 600 readers) and made it into the trumpet voice of nondenominational Protestantism. Eight years ago Editor Morrison retired, leaving the magazine in the hands of his longtime managing editor, Paul Hutchinson. Editor Hutchinson is the second reason for the Century's success.

Methodist Minister Hutchinson (with a D.D. from both DePauw and Garrett Biblical Institute) joined the Century in 1924, after five years as editor of the China Christian Advocate in Shanghai, and ever since has been showing journalists what a minister can do in their field and ministers what a journalist can do in theirs. He has had his share of globetrotting; his reports on Europe and other matters in LIFE, the Saturday Review and other magazines made him known to many readers who never even see a copy of the Century. His crisp, forceful editorials, his continued analysis of U.S. Protestantism have wielded potent influence, notably on the ecumenical movement that he championed.

Under his editorial rule, the Century has continued its liberal (religious and political) policies for disarmament and against "the fear psychosis" of McCarthyism. The Century has never hesitated to criticize Protestants (particularly for shallowness. overoptimism or bureaucracy), but it also bears down hard on some aspects of Catholicism. Sample: "The Roman Catholic Church, if it persists in wandering off after the fantasies of Mariolatry, will thereby make the task of communicating and commending the Christian Gospel to this age very largely a Protestant responsibility."

Last week Editor Hutchinson, 65, announced that he was stepping down to devote all his time to writing. "I've been at it for 31 years and just thought I ought to take it easy now," he told a friend. "I've got a good team over there, and I know they can carry on without me."

Captain of the team will be Harold Fey (rhymes with sigh), 57, a Disciples of Christ minister who joined the Century in 1940, became managing editor in 1947 and executive editor in 1952. "I wish Hutchinson were going to continue, and that's the fact of the matter," he said last week. "All I can say is that I will make a pious resolution to do the best I can, and hope for a special endowment of grace from God."

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