Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-20
Churches on Bios
Southern Sects Resolve to Support Court
In Ruling Against School Segregation
By cospor Nonnes
Religious News Editor Of The Sior

koai0Ious news
From the tree-clad hills of Mon
treat. N. c., to the asphalt streets
o. st. Louis is distancesof approx
mately 1000 miles.
But a few weeks ago they were
closely linked when two Southern
Protestant denominations took his
toric decisions on the touchy ques-
ton of segregation. Within days Of
each other the powerful Southern
Baptist Convention and the i'm
portant Presbyterian Church, q. S.,
wrestled with their consciences and
came up with answers that drew
widespread acclaim.
The decision in each case was not
an easy one. The Southern Baptist
messengers and the Presbyterian
commissioners did not like the re-
cent Supreme Court edict abolishing
segregation in the public schools and
were unhappy about the difficult
step they had to take.
But in both places those present
declared that as Americans they had
to uphold the law of the land, and
as Christians Ito conduct themselves
in this period of adjustment in the
spirit of Christ"
Heord Notable Comment
At Montreal, where the first meet
ing was held, a brief speech by DR..
Donald Miller. professor at Union
Theological Seminary, Richmond.
Va. by common consent is conSid-
cred likely to go down in Southern
Presbyterian history as one OF its
great utteranceS.
IF we are true to our heritage
and our conviction, this question
must first be faced in terms OF Holy
Scripture" DR.. Miller told the COM
missioners. This is the sole basis
of discussion"
He then proceeded to read pas
sages from the Old and New Tesla
ment that bore on the issue.
Nov, we often. when the Scrip
lures seem to bear out what we
would like them to bear out. defend
our views with Holy Scripture" the
Southerner pointed out. Ought we
not. if we are true to our heritage,
ought we not to take the word OF
Holy Scripture when 1t cuts across
our prejudice, our SelflShneSS. and
our sin? If we are true to our herl-
tage, there is only one basis on
which this is to be decided, and
that is the unity of redeemed man
in the fellowship of faith as set
forth in Holy Scripture"
At st. Louis an atmosphere OF
tense uncertainty preceded the Ses-
sion on which action regarding the
segregation issue was to be taken.
Rumors were widespread that a
strong move was on to undercut the
resolution approving the Supreme
Courts decision.
Reaction Is Surprising
But, to the surprise Of many, two
speeches denouncing the edict were
greeted by only scattering applause,
and an attempt to table resolution
urging the denominations members
to accept the recent Supreme Court
decision with patience and good
will" was soundly beaten. So Soundly
was it defeated that only scant
100 persons in the crowd OF nearly
10000 stood up for the tabling mo-
ton.
The gathering then went on to
approve statements the decision lis
in harmony with the constitutional
guarantee of equal freedom to all
citizens, and with the Christian
principles of equal justice and love
for all men," to commend the court
for giving time so the Nation could
work out methods by which tranSi-
ton from the present practice may
be affected" and to express hope
that the place of the public school
system "in our educational pro-
gram shall not be impaired" by
the working of necessary adjust
ments.
While persons familiar with both