Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
In 1952, the Humanists started to set up local chapters. The first San Diego chapter was founded in September 1954, by the efforts of Edwin H. Wilson, with Dr. John W. Hardebeck as president. Dr. Hardebeck was a member of the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego until his death in 2008.
A member of the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego until her death in 1986 was Irene Backus, widow of E. Burdette Backus, a founding father of organized Humanism and a signer of the 1933 Humanist Manifesto that launched the movement publicly. He served as president of the American Humanist Association 1944-1946.
Irene Backus was a treasured member of the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego, and a Humanist of remarkable spirit. How many people do you know who would march in a demonstration for women's rights - at age 92?
In 1986, at the Annual Meeting of the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego, a banquet held in Carlsbad, the final public event in Irene's long life was when she stood at the microphone and gave her acceptance speech for our award to her of our annual recognution of San Diego's Humanist of the Year.
In February 1982, seventeen Humanists met on Point Loma for the charter meeting of the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego as an AHA chapter. Jack Sanders, an attorney, was elected founding president. Our bylaws, compiled by him, were approved. Those bylaws, which are still in force, begin as follows:
Article 1: Purpose. The purpose of the Fellowship shall be to affirm that human beings are the source of rights and that human experience is the source of values. The Fellowship shall promote ethical education in accord with these principles in order to cultivate individual self-determination.
Article 2. Membership. Any person shall be eligible for voting membership who is in general accord with the above-stated purpose. Membership in the American Humanist Association is encouraged.
Note that membership in the local chapter, the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego, and in the national parent organization, the AHA, are distinct. A link on this site takes you to visit the AHA. Joining one doesn't automatically make you a member of the other.
The Humanist Fellowship of San Diego speaks to affirm, not merely to dissent. It does not exist to quarrel with the religious convictions of others but, without reliance on any mystical reference, affirms values rooted in human worth, ability and dignity.
