Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-12-17
Virginia Ministers
Of Bofh Races
Working Together
BY Carter Jewel

Richmond, Va.--(ANP) Lead
ing white ministers working quiet
ly behind the scenes are gradually
swinging public officials in var
ious sections Of Virginia around
TO their belief that religious ser
vices and programs should be held
for all the people interested in
them and on a non-segregated ba-
sis. The two cities in the state who
led the way were Richmond and
Norfolk.
Richmond outstripped Norfolk
and was able To move toward in
tegrated religious public services
before Norfolk, which had TO aban-
don its preaching mission over two
years ago. because the leaders
were unable TO get the local au-
thorities TO agree to a non-segre-
gated mission. However. In Janu-
airy, Norfolk ministers win re-
sumo their preaching mission. and
II will be unsegregated and both
white and Negro ministers and
white and Negro churches will be
asked to cooperate with the pro-
gram.
II was disclosed here last week
that states Atty. Gen. J. Lindsay
Almond Jr. was asked by the Nor
folk committee in charge OF the
plans for the preaching mission to
give a ruling on whether the mis-
sion could be held without forced
segregation Of the races.
It was not possible to get an ex-
act wording Of the officials reply,
but II was said on reliable author
ity that the mission could be held
az originally planned.
When the Norfolk white mini
sters dropped the Preaching Mis-
sion over two years ago, they
made an emphatic statement
which said they would not revive
the program until II could be held
without forced segregation. The
Rev Royce Mcdonald. pastor OF
the Second Presbyterian church In
Norfolk, Is chairman OF the Mis-
sion Committee.
White ministers who are work
ing for closer relationship be-
tween themselves and Negro min
listers on fellowship programs and
city-wide efforts like the preach
ing mission have taken the posi-
tions in recent years that a
preaching mission or similar re-
ligious project IL by the nature OF
its function and operation in the
same class OF private affairs and
should not. therefore, be subject
to the general laws on racial seq
regatlon
They have been arguing for
freedom OF worship and freedom OF
assembly which are fundamental
| tencts OF the American system Of
government More than two years
ago Richmond officials ruled that
the last Virginia Conference OF
state NAACP Branches held in
Richmond at the Mosque was a
private affair and that delegates
and visitors attending the sessions
could not legally be forced 10 be
segregated. the conference was
held and there was no forced seq
regation,
In several Virginia cities white
and Negro ministers meet regular
" In a fellowship which IL both
interracial in membership and in
office holding Or. ] II. Hcnder-
son. Bank street Baptist church
| pastor, Norfolk, IL president OF
the Norfolk Fellowship,
Richmond has an interracial
Ministers Association which Is
gradually working for closer Co
operation between Negro and
white religious organizations on
common problems, The Virginia
Baptist General Association, a
white body, voted in favor ~ the
y. S. Supreme courts decision for
tntcgrated public schools at its
annual meeting In Norfolk last
week