Circuit Riders, Inc.

Circuit Riders, Inc. was an organization that formed within the Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio in the mid-20th century with the pupose of spreading the gospel of Christ and opposing all "anti-American" teachings within the church. A specific early goal was to remove the Methodist Federation for Social Action from the national church organization. During the late 1950s and 1960s, the focus of the organization expanded to include the investigation of socialist and communist infiltration into other churches, as well as governments, education systems, and the Civil Rights Movement.

From the description of Circuit Riders, Inc. publications and research files, 1928-1975. (University of Oregon Libraries). WorldCat record id: 75691449

Circuit Riders, Incorporated was a group which formed in Cincinnati, Ohio within the Methodist Church. As stated in the preface to an early pamphlet dated February 1952, the group's purpose was to spread the gospel of Christ. This mission included opposing all socialistic, communist, and "anti-American" teachings within the Methodist Church. A specific early goal was to remove the Methodist Federation for Social Action from the national church organization. During the late fifties and sixties, however, the focus of the Circuit Riders expanded to include the investigation of socialist-communist infiltration into all churches, government, education and the civil rights movement nationwide.

Myers G. Lowman, as executive secretary of the Circuit Riders, distributed a newsletter to Circuit Rider members. On behalf of the Circuit Riders, Lowman organized the review of textbooks which were being used in some of the public schools in the 1950s. Although these reviews were not requested by educators or publishers, Lowman informed school boards of the consensus of the reviewer's opinions. Lowman and other Circuit Riders spoke extensively to clubs and organizations on the subject of communism, and collaborated with state and federal committees. The Circuit Riders presented a solid enough ideology for Lowman to be called as an expert witness before the executive committee of the Ohio Committee on Un-American Activities. The latest records are from 1970; further information on the organization after this point is unavailable.

From the guide to the Circuit Riders, Inc. records, 1928-1975, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)