John Collins

From Philosopedia

Collins, John (19 - )

In 1953, Collins was president of the Greenwich_Village_Humanist_Club in New York City. His group of college students met in the Rienzi Coffee House on 107 MacDougall Street, carried copies of The Humanist, and challenged any existentialists to a verbal duel. Items discussed at meetings, according to The Humanist Newsletter:

• proselytizing the city’s intelligentsia by publicizing the basic concepts of naturalistic humanism; setting up an ‘ethical clearing house’ committee whose members would be on guard to back up, in public statements, difficult or unpopular moral actions which individuals have taken and which are felt to be particularly humanistic; forming a committee to help orient foreign students who want to learn about the United States without beating treated as heathens who are expected to join whatever sect the guide happens to belong to; visiting sects or groups desirous of comparing, sharing, or modifying our . . . or their . . . views; and listing worthy organizations already in existence, such as the Eye Bank, the World Calendar Association, and the Prison Association of New York, whose goals are commendably humanistic.

Although it is not known whether he continued his interest in philosophy, in 1958 he wrote the following to Warren_Allen_Smith from 252 West 10th Street in Greenwich Village:

(See entry for Hugh_Van_Rensselaer_Wilson - at Brooklyn College, he helped form a humanist chapter in 1954.)