The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1954-06-26
Roanoke Baptist Pastors Ring
True To Form!

Information was circulated last week that the Roa-
noke Baptist Pastors Conference i'm it's regular weekly
mad voted to take an active part in helping to find
quah1led and reputable whose names might be
submitted to the Roanoke City Council for their consider
aton In naming successor to Rev. A. James who has
resigned from membership of the City School Board eff
1ectlVe at the expiration of his current This was
welcome news to the public because the brethren of the
CLOTH had long standing reputation of confirming all of
their interests and efforts to their respective ministerial
fields thereby leaving the civic education economic and
all other interests of the people excluding spiritual TO
the laymen of the city to direct.
In view of the recent decision the Supreme Court
of the United States declaring segregation in our public
SCHOOLS the responsibility of replacing
Rev. James membership our City School Board was
viewed with great seriousness With this thought mind
the public welcomed the that Baptist pastors
offering their counsel and guidance preparing list
OF individuals from which the City Council might select
successor to Rev. James. The list have been so
thoroughly studied that it would consist only of of
people whom the ministers would have every reason to
expect full respect and cooperation of the Negro patrons
of the city.
Whether caused by the mischief of some persistent
rabble-rousers the of Uniformed indi-
viduals, lot of time spent at the regular weekly
meeting Monday afternoon discussing the ACCESSIBILITY of
calling off the meeting The debate resulted tie vote
The motion restated by the chair and the result
the same. So the presiding officer, Rev. M. T. Coker
broke the tie by voting not to have the meeting That
ended the pleasant dream of the end of inactivity
Roanoke ministers in the many affairs which greatly
effect the lives and wellbeng of their parishioners
The Tribune the opinion that the ministers con-
ference passed up golden chance to rended invaluable
service at critical time To call off meeting that had
been widely advertised that had great
mistake.
1t hoped that the ministers conference would
prove its superiority the other delegations and
petitions working to have their respective friends ap
pointed to the School Board by the City Council The
ministers had opportunity to to the city and to
the world that there many Negroes in the City of
Roanoke well qualified to with credit members
of school BOARD. BY submitting list of well quail
flied potential appontees there would not have been the
slightest resemblance of telling the City Council who to
appoint. The and only motive would have been to
furnish the Council with information essential for making
the best selection for the appointment.
Lest we forget Brethren of the cloth" eye the
light of the WORLD" not just some little
segment of the world If fail to let light shine
must stumble along in darkness. Those were not
words of faery spoken by the Christ to His disciples
They words pointing to the Importance of the min
iserrs leadership in the world Let not be disobe
dent to our heavenly vision and sacred calling.