IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 408
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of The Conservative Mind, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 21, 2003
Mr. SOUDER (for himself, Mr. DELAY, Mr. CRANE, Mr. SHADEGG, Mr. 
STEARNS, Mr. CHOCOLA, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mrs. 
MUSGRAVE, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. HUNTER, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. TOOMEY, and 
Mr. CAMP) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of The Conservative Mind, 
and for other purposes.
Whereas 2003 is the 50th Anniversary of Russell Kirk’s sem-
inal work, The Conservative Mind; 
Whereas Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind worked a re-
vival of conservative thought and policy in the United 
States during an era marked by the arid wasteland of lib-
eral and collectivist dominance; 
Whereas The Conservative Mind outlined ‘‘six canons of con-
servative thought’’ the first being ‘‘Belief in a tran-
scendent order, or body of natural law, which rules soci-
ety as well as conscience. Political problems, at bottom, 
are religious and moral problems’’;
•HRES 408 IH 
Whereas The Conservative Mind’s second canon of conserv-
ative thought is ‘‘Affection for the proliferating variety 
and mystery of human existence, as opposed to the nar-
rowing uniformity, egalitarianism, and utilitarian aims of 
most radical systems—the conservatism of enjoyment’’; 
Whereas The Conservative Mind’s third canon of conservative 
thought is ‘‘Conviction that civilized society requires or-
ders and classes, as against the notion of a ‘classless so-
ciety’. . . If natural distinctions are effaced among men, 
oligarchs fill the vacuum. Ultimate equality in the judg-
ment of God, and equality before courts of law, are recog-
nized by conservatives; but equality of condition, they 
think, means equality in servitude and boredom’’; 
Whereas The Conservative Mind’s fourth canon of conserv-
ative thought is ‘‘Persuasion that freedom and property 
are closely linked: separate property from private posses-
sion, and the Leviathan becomes master of all’’; 
Whereas The Conservative Mind’s fifth canon of conservative 
thought is ‘‘Faith in prescription and distrust of 
‘sophisters, calculators, and economists’ who would recon-
struct society upon abstract designs. Custom, convention, 
and old prescription are checks both upon man’s anarchic 
impulse and upon the innovator’s lust for power’’; 
Whereas The Conservative Mind’s sixth canon of conservative 
thought is ‘‘Recognition that change may not be salutary 
reform: hasty innovation may be a devouring conflagra-
tion, rather than a torch of progress.’’; and 
Whereas Ronald Reagan wrote that ‘‘As the prophet of 
American conservatism, Russell Kirk has taught, nur-
tured, and inspired a generation. From . . . Piety Hill, 
he reached deep into the roots of American values, writ-
•HRES 408 IH 
ing and editing central works of political philosophy. His 
intellectual contribution has been a profound act of patri-
otism. I look forward to the future with anticipation that 
his work will continue to exert a profound influence in 
the defense of our values and our cherished civilization.’’: 
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) joins in the celebration of the 50th Anniver-
sary of the publication of The Conservative Mind; 
and 
(2) recognizes the extraordinary work of the 
Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal and the 
Intercollegiate Studies Institute for transmitting the 
patrimony of The Conservative Mind and the 
writings of Russell Kirk to the rising generation.
Æ