Waldemar Argow

From Philosopedia

Argow, Waldemar (1916—1996)

A minister of the People’s Church (Unitarian) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Argow was a naturalistic humanist who wrote book reviews for The Humanist in the 1950s.

He is author of What Do Religious Liberals Believe? (1950).

He also served as minister in Toledo, Ohio, and Palm Beach, Florida.

He is sometimes quoted for having written that

• The ideal in religion is to establish the proper balance between mind and emotion.

A Biographical Sketch of Mr. Argow's Father

Helen Saddington and Elizabeth Walsh, writing about the May Memorial Church (Unitarian Congregational Society in Syracuse on the occasion of its Centennial Anniversary 1838 - 1938 mentioned Mr. Argow:

W. Waldemar W. Argow, fifth and present minister of May Memorial Church, was installed on Oct. 28, 1930. Dr. Argow, born in Dayton, Ohio on Aug. 9, 1891, was the fifth generation of his family to be in the ministry. The background of his three given names is interesting: Wendelin, father of transcendental philosophy; Waldemar, bishop of West Goths, who was a missionary to the Teutons in 390; and Weiland "Father of the spiritualistic or idealistic interpretation of poetry" (Syracuse Journal, January 8, 1938). Part of his boyhood was spent in Dayton, Toledo, and Canton and then the family moved to Louisville, Ky. Dr, Argow attended the University of Louisville, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, University of New York and was ordained in 1913 into the Baptist ministry. In 1914 he accepted a call to the Baptist Church in Lorain, Ohio where he stayed for five years. Because he could not reconcile war with religion, he resigned as pastor.

During the World War Dr. Argow was an ardent worker among the underprivileged. He became a member of the commission on living conditions created by the Department of Labor, and was sent into the munitions towns to recondition people morally, mentally, and physically. During the flu epidemic Dr. Argow was night superintendent of a hospital in Lorain while Mrs. Argow was in charge of women and children. For three weeks he was stationed at Camp Sherman working among the 40,000 soldiers. From there he went to New York City where he had charge of the social and religious education in the 23rd Street Y.M.C.A., a community settlement house.

In 1920 he became a Unitarian and a year later went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as pastor of the People's Unitarian Church. He stayed there until 1930 when he was called to Syracuse. On Oct. 28, 1930 Judge Hiscock installed Dr. Argow as minister. Dr. Applebee delivered the charge to the minister, Dr. Preston Bradley of Chicago preached the sermon, and Rev. David R. Williams of Rochester delivered the charge to the congregation. Dr. Argow was then welcomed by Chancellor Flint, representing Syracuse University, by Dr. Albert C. Fulton, speaking for the Protestant Churches, and Mr. T. Aaron Levy, coming from the Jewish people.

Argow wrote reviews for The Humanist