Seminars celebrating The Conservative Mind at seventy.

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Dear
John,
In the midst of a busy summer of programs the Kirk Center welcomed Acton Institute interns for their annual intellectual retreat. The focus was on Russell Kirk’s best known work, The Conservative Mind, which turns seventy this year. To help the student participants deepen their understanding of the meaning of conservatism, then and now, we were fortunate to be joined by two prominent conservative historians, George H. Nash and Wilfred McClay.

Dr. McClay spoke about the centrality of memory to conservatism. As he has put it: memory is “the glue that holds our lives together and imposes order and continuity amid the blooming buzzing confusion of sensations, thoughts, and activities that stream in upon our days. It is no exaggeration to say that a working memory is indispensable in the flourishing of the human person and of human culture.”

Dr. Nash commented on Kirk’s achievement in writing The Conservative Mind. “Successful resistance to the total state,” he argued, “the reconciliation of individualism and community…and the ‘restoration of the ethical understanding and the religious sanction upon which any life worth living is founded’: these are some of the challenges that The Conservative Mind identifies as central to a truly conservative agenda. The future, as always, is veiled from our vision. But as Dr. Kirk in his later years often reminded us, "it is the duty of conservatives to attempt to redeem the time as best they can.”

As a bonus for the Acton Interns, an independent research scholar from Hungary residing at the Center this summer, Miklos Lovas, provided an insightful and well-received overview of the reception of Russell Kirk’s writings in Europe today. Kirk’s reputation, he concluded, is growing and his writings are increasingly translated throughout Europe, as well as in Asia and South America.

Seminar participants found their annual Kirk Center experience “Amazingly enlightening….One of the most intellectually engaging discussions I have attended so far.” Another said, “I loved getting to see where Kirk wrote and lived. As a conservative, it was a very special experience that I won’t forget.” “Absolutely fantastic! I leave with a fuller mind and deeper roots,” commented one of the interns. And, “The Kirk seminars embody the spirit of Kirk’s thoughts on conservatism. I’ve learned so much about him as a scholar, writer, and man who created a robust conservatism.”

Speaking of the Acton Institute, I want to share with you some information regarding their 33rd Annual Dinner which is coming up soon on Friday, September 15, at the historic Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in downtown Grand Rapids. Several of us at the Kirk Center will be attending this black-tie event bringing together hundreds of friends and allies from around the globe to celebrate Acton’s mission of connecting good intentions with sound economics. We hope to see you there, too!

Past speakers include Justice Antonin Scalia, the Rev. Timothy Keller, and former United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. This year will be especially fun as President Kris Mauren and his Acton team welcome the Babylon Bee’s CEO, Seth Dillon, as the dinner’s keynote speaker. Humor and satire and the dangers of censorship will be the focus of the evening.

Tickets and tables are still available and can be purchased at acton.org/dinner ([link removed]) . Questions may be directed to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or Kayla Kaseska at 616-369-5716.

New Senior Fellows

In the coming years we will be focusing on developing the Kirk Center’s roster of Senior Fellows. It is a privilege to announce this month two new Russell Kirk Center Senior Fellows: Dr. Michael P. Federici ([link removed]) and Dr. Gary L. Gregg ([link removed]) .
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As you can see from their biographies, both are outstanding scholars and people. They are also keen students and interpreters of Dr. Kirk’s books and legacy. They appreciate the imaginative dimension of Kirk’s writings, as well as his historical-political thought. Both are frequent speakers in Mecosta and on behalf of the Kirkian tradition.

Dr. Federici directs the department of politics at Middle Tennessee State University. Dr. Gregg directs the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville. They are among the most respected conservative scholars in America. Annette Kirk and I are honored that they agreed to join us as Senior Fellows.

This fall, Regnery will publish a Thirtieth Anniversary edition of Kirk’s popular book, The Politics of Prudence ([link removed]) , to which Dr. Federici has written an important new introduction. I encourage you to place your advance orders ([link removed]) soon!

As always, we are grateful for your interest in and support of The Russell Kirk Center,
Jeffrey O. Nelson, Ph.D.
Executive Director & CEO


P.S. If you don’t currently receive the Kirk Center’s complimentary print newsletter, Permanent Things ([link removed]) , please sign up today ([link removed]) and stay in closer touch with us!

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