Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-06-23
GREAT WHITE BAPTIST AND METHODIST CHURCH
GROUPS CONDEMN MOB RULE IN AMERICA AND
VOICE GROWING SENTIMENT AGAINST LYNCH|NG

Atlanta, Ga, Especial )-Strong
statements adopted last month by the
Southern Baptist Convention and the
Southern Methodist Board of Missions
are pointed out by the Commission on
Interracial Cooperation as further In
dication of the growing determinat
ion of the South to eradicate lynching
and mob violence. These bodies repre-
sent the two greatest denominations
In the South, with an aggregate mem
b. yship of about six millions. The
Baptists in annual convention in Kan
sas City, adopted the following:
This Convention has repeatedly
gene on record as unalterably oppos-
ed to all sorts of mob violence ana
mob rule. Perhaps the most vicious
and the most dangerous form OF law
lessness in our present day Is found
in the activity and violence Of mobs
We both pity and condemn BOlshev.
ism in Russia, and rightly 80, while
VIC have occurrences In our own fair
land which would chill our blood
with horror If they happened In Rus
STA or in any other land. however, be
nighted or wanting in the essentials
OF orderly government. Mob violence
dcfies all law. deepises every princi
pie and function of government and
tramples into the dust every human
right. Mob violence in the South. In
its beginning, most often occurred
against individuals Of the Negro race
for al;."'--.- upo., the sanctity Of wO
manhood. Atk1 all cancerous evils IT
has spread. 1t is now practised 70,
Other offenses, against the white race
as we'll as the Negro race. But II the
evil had remained or should be con
fined to the realm in which 1t began
1t Is not to he tolerated by Christians
or by other intelligent patriotic citi
zens.
In the recent months mob violence
has become more active and menacinY
perhaps more than at any time prev.
iOus, certainly for years. AS II to
make their crime all the more coward
ly and diabolical in many cases the
mobs have concealed their identity
and increased the difficulty Of appre
bending and Furnishing their members
b. wearing masks. 1t goes without
saying that no true. intelligent, patr;
otto American can or will give support
or approval to mob violence whether
the mob be masked or unmasked.
much less can our Baptist people and
pr eachers think Of so doing. We can
net but hope that all cur pastors and
churches will studiously refrain from
giving approval or support to proceed
ure that can possibly encourage disor
der in any FORM
The resolution OF the Methodist Mis-
son Board came up in connection
with a recent lynching and was as fol
lows:
'fResolved: That message of con-
nendation and approval be sent Cir
cult Judge Walker for his fearless,
and righteous exposition of the law
In his charge to the grand Jury at Fay
cite. Missouri, at the time of investi
cation Of a recent act Of mob violence
committed at Columbia, Missouri and
that
eve hereby register our sorrow
over the crime of brutal murder by
mobs so frequently occurring through
out our beloved land. not only BIZ,
cause of the unrighteOusness of such
deeds and the defiance OF the law, but
also because of the reflection upon
our Christianity In the eyes of pagan
people"