John Templeton

Re "Investment pioneer funded spiritual efforts," July 9 I can attest that the late John Templeton had a "thrifty lifestyle." Many years ago, before even fax machines were in common use, I wrote a speech for him. I interviewed him by phone and, just before our conversation concluded, he told me in no uncertain terms to send him the review draft by air mail, not by overnight courier. This I did, and I completed the assignment at the cost of a few postage stamps. Art Detman Pacific Palisades

Re "Investment pioneer funded spiritual efforts," July 9 I can attest that the late John Templeton had a "thrifty lifestyle." Many years ago, before even fax machines were in common use, I wrote a speech for him. I interviewed him by phone and, just before our conversation concluded, he told me in no uncertain terms to send him the review draft by air mail, not by overnight courier. This I did, and I completed the assignment at the cost of a few postage stamps. Art Detman Pacific Palisades

Mutual fund pioneer Sir John M. Templeton announced Friday that he will merge his global empire with Franklin Resources Inc. in a $913-million deal that creates one of the world's top money management concerns. The proposed merger, which is expected to be completed in November, would create the largest publicly traded, independent mutual fund company in the United States, with combined assets of about $87.8 billion, the companies said in a joint statement.

Mutual fund pioneer Sir John M. Templeton announced Friday that he will merge his global empire with Franklin Resources Inc. in a $913-million deal that creates one of the world's top money management concerns. The proposed merger, which is expected to be completed in November, would create the largest publicly traded, independent mutual fund company in the United States, with combined assets of about $87.8 billion, the companies said in a joint statement.

Five years ago this month, the long climb of stock prices we call the bull market began. As measured by such indexes as the Standard & Poor's 500 or the Dow Jones industrial average, stock prices have more than tripled since August, 1982. But many investors stopped cheering long ago and started worrying about how and when the party would end. Would there be a crash? Was it time to sell? There were and are no good answers, as you might expect, because nobody can truly predict the market.

Times Religion Writer Russell Chandler has received the $2,500 John Templeton Reporter of the Year award presented at the Religion Newswriters Assn. annual meeting in St. Louis. It was the second time in four years that Chandler has won the top prize for "enterprise and versatility" in reporting religion news for the secular press. Chandler has been on a six-month leave of absence to write a book and will return in late June.

Chapman University has been named to the 1992 John Templeton Foundation Honor Roll for Free Enterprise Teaching, which recognizes the schools with curricula in two particular fields. Each year, the John Templeton Foundation polls the presidents and academic deans of more than 1,300 accredited institutions nationwide. The respondents are asked to name schools that exemplify teaching the values of Western civilization and a free-market economy.

Russell Chandler, a Los Angeles Times religion writer, has won the nation's two most prestigious journalism awards for religion reporting during the past year. The Religion Newswriters Assn., meeting this week in Columbia, Mo., named Chandler winner of the first annual, $2,000 John Templeton Award as "reporter of the year 1984" for enterprise reporting on religion. He also won the James O.

American theologian James McCord received the $261,800 Templeton Prize today, an annual award whose past recipients include Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Russian author Alexander Solzhenitsyn. The prize, donated by American philanthropist and investment counselor John Templeton, is given for "progress in religion."

Psychiatric students at Harvard Medical School will be required to take an expanded course in spirituality. The National Institute for Healthcare Research has awarded a grant of $15,000 from the John Templeton Foundation to the two doctors who now offer a spirituality course on a limited basis to fourth-year psychiatric students. Second- and third-year students will be required to take the expanded, 10-session course. Next year, it will teach the traditions of different religions.

Five years ago this month, the long climb of stock prices we call the bull market began. As measured by such indexes as the Standard & Poor's 500 or the Dow Jones industrial average, stock prices have more than tripled since August, 1982. But many investors stopped cheering long ago and started worrying about how and when the party would end. Would there be a crash? Was it time to sell? There were and are no good answers, as you might expect, because nobody can truly predict the market.

"Testing the role of trust and values in financial decisions" (Jan. 21) incorrectly describes the John Templeton Foundation as having been an early supporter of the political movement known as "intelligent design." We do not believe that the science underpinning the intelligent-design movement is sound, we do not support research or programs that deny large areas of well-documented scientific knowledge, and the foundation is a nonpolitical entity and does not engage in or support political movements.