Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-20

denominations will be quick to point
out that the actions taken are not
enforceable on individual congrega-
tons. it is also fair to note that
usually the great majority of local
churches follow the decisions Of
their national meetings.
Pastors Toke Action
An indication of the attitude Of
Southern pastors toward the court
decision on segregation may be seen
in the action of North Carolina
ministerial group in convention last
January which unanimously passed
a resolution to the effect that, when
and if the Supreme Court ruled to
end segregation, the clergy would
place its moral force behind the
courts decision.
The significance Of the two de-
nominational votes rises out Of the
essential conservatism of both de-
nominations. It was obvious that
many Presbyterian commissioners
and Baptist messengers had wreStled
prayerfully with the problem and
had in many cases cast their ballot
on the side they regarded as right
rather than on the side they per.
sonally preferred.
Other Groups Approve
The views of these large Protestant
church meetings have been sup.
ported by several sectional or local
gatherings. One example is the
recent Baltimore Conference of the
Methodist Church. A motion APP
proving the historic school decision
was only one of several touching
segregation. The delegates also
went on record calling for the adj
mission of students regardless Of
race to colleges supported by the
conference. and added q statement
urging local churches to" become
interracial where the neighborhood
needs require that pattern.
DIR. Garland Evans Hopkins OF
Herndon, Va, introduced the report
on segregation to the Virginia Meth
odist Annual Conference meeting
last week in Richmond. The report
pointed out the crucial social prob
lens created by the Supreme Court
decision and asked that a commit.
tee be named to prepare and dis
tribute during the coming year ma
terial bearing on the rulings effects
in the Old Dominion State. The re-
port was adopted and the commit
tee project approved.
A simmering controversy that
burst finally into the open and re-
suited in an unusual move was the
decision of the Episcopal church to
move its 1855 convention from
Houston, Tex, because some OF its
delegates would be subjected to
segregation practices.
On June 8 the Right Rev. Henry
Knox Sheriff., presiding Bishop OF
the Episcopal Church, announced
that the 1855 meeting would not be
held in Houston. He did not direct
" state the segregation issue was
involved, but q church spokesman
said that issue was the deciding
factor.
Last Thursday Bishop Sheriff.
announced the Episcopal meeting
would be held in Honolulu. most
multi-racial of all American cities.
These actions and the statements
of numerous UNCONVENTIONAL lead
ers indicate that the churches are
willing and anxious to face the
issue squarely. Clergy and laymen
alike know the problem is far from
solved, nor do they expect smooth
sailing ahead.
But the recognition that a de-
cision of law preceded a decision OF
Christian conscience in q moral area
peculiarly allotted to the church
shocked dedicated men and women
into a firm conviction to lead rather
than follow any future develop.
ments.