dr. luther smith and preston king. randall is an associate pre foes sore of american studies with a joint appointment in african and african american studies at university of kansas. professor holds courtesy appointments in history, religious studies and the co-editor of the journal of american studies. he is a graduate of the university of michigan, with undergraduate degree in history. mccormick theological seminary masters divine tee and ph d in history. ordained clergy in the presbyterian church of the usa. he has published scholarly and journalistic articles in the areas of african american religious history, civil rights history, and urban and african as far as the history as well there. he is also published an award-winning book entitled "african americans in the furniture city, the civil rights struggle in the grand rapids, michigan." he has a fourth coming book due out in just a few months, entitled "benjamin elijah mays, school master of the movement" we look forward to having that. we'll start with professor

dr. luther smith. he has served on the faculty since 1979. dr. smith served as president of the university senate, president of the faculty council and associate dean for faculty development. he was born in st. louis, missouri. attended college at washington university in st. louis where he majored in socialology. his dissertation was the basis of his first book. he is editor of howard thurman essential writings and co-editor of recently released the living wisdom of howard thurman a visionary of our time. dr. luther smith. >> thank you. it's a joy to be back in this community. morehouse has had an important place in my life both symbolically in terms of the figures who have come through here as well as the time that i've had for sebatical spending time with students and faculty and living ofmorehouse through you and many of my students. thank you for your hospitality inviting us here and for your interest in this theme of inner faith perspectives. i want to begin with a statement from rabbi alvin fine. he says according to a legend, there are in

dr. luther smith. professor of church and community at emory university and professor king. dr. mays would often say every man and woman is born into this world to do something unique and something distinctive. if he or she doesn't do it, it will never been done. we thank god much for the three of you and for your scholarly work with mays, thurman and king, but also your scholarly work in other areas. thank you very much. we also thank morehouse college for being able to make this happen and we look forward to moving into the next year as we look at the impact of dr. king and his n only us here in atlanta and morehouse, but on the world. thank you very much. [ applause ] >>> in the 19th century, middle class american families started displays wealth and status in their homes by purchasing globals and furniture made by local craftsman. david jaffee looks at the decorations and how they helped in the early american culture. this is about an hour. >> it's really a pleasure to be here. i wanted to start with winthrop chandler in many ways begins my project in chronological terms as

dr. luther smith, professor of church and community at emory university and dr. preston king, visiting professor of political philosophy, the leadership's center and department of political science. dr. mays would often say every man and woman is born into this world to do something unique and something distinctive. if he or she doesn't do it, it will never been done. we thank god much for the three of you and for your scholarly work with mays, thurman and

dr. luther smith. >> thank you. it's a joy to be back in this community. morehouse has had an important place in my life both symbol symbolically in terms of the figures who have come through here as well as the time i've had for sabbatical, just being on campus, interacting with students, and appreciating the way in which there is this living tradition of morehouse through all of you and in many of my students at cad ler. so thank you for your hospitality, inviting us here, and for your interest in this theme of interfaith perspectives. i want to begin with a statement from rabbi alvin fine. he said there are in a world at any givl time 36 wise and righteous persons gifted with special spiritual powers that enable them to perceive the divine presence with clear insight and understanding. because of their merit, the hope for humanity is forever renewed and forever sustained. surely howard thurman was one of god's chosen, one of those 36 spiritual prodigies who keep human faith alive at all times. it's this kind of statement about thurman that i think refle