JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

June 1987

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your recent inquiry. We appreciate this opportunity to be of service.

A widely circulated rumor has it that Procter & Gamble's trademark is a satanic symbol and that the company supports satanism. None of that is true.

Procter & Gamble will be happy to send you a brochure explaining the origin and history of their trademark, which has evolved over the past 130 years. It began as crude cross marks painted by dockhands on crates of candles in order to identify them. Those marks developed into stars. Then a moon face was added about 1859. The present trademark was commissioned in 1930 and depicts the "man in the moon" looking over thirteen stars representing the thirteen original states.

In its own defense with respect to the other aspects of this rumor, Procter & Gamble simply points to the public record. No Procter & Gamble official appeared on TV and no contributions were ever made by the company to the Church of Satan.

Procter & Gamble sued six of the people named as sources of this rumor. These cases were settled out of court by having those individuals make public apologies. The company has also worked to inform the public of the facts. Despite all of this, the same rumor continues to be circulated. It has been kept alive largely by various religious groups reacting to hearsay without looking into the truth of the matter.

Any use of Procter & Gamble or any other products, for that matter, ought to be based on, among other things, how well they work, not on gossip.

Whenever we can be of additional service, we hope you will let us know.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT