Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-04-02


him bring 70 the entire church
board the matter Of admitting
Negroes TO Fellowship.
Having been with the Msthodlst
church four years. the native JEFF
ferson Citian said that ths Rev.
D. n. Lytis, pastor Of the church,
had been svRdlng the issue.
Before joining ths Methodist
church, the tt-ysaF-old business
man. now dlsgustsd with the ra-
clal situation, was q Presbyterian.
Sunday. Fsb. ~. he sang with the
Eplscopallan choir. because they
needed q bass. There are active
Negro members in the Episcopal.
ian church. Mr.. Hammond has not
decided where 20 seek member
ship next.
with sincerity the MiSaouriAn
recalled that DR.. o. Anderson
Fuller. head. Lincoln university
mol music department, and his
family. applied for membership
10 years ago. Discouraged by the
attitude Of the members. they
continued 10 attend the Catholic
church.
In . isttar 10 Lyman y. Winter.
chairman Of the official Board,
Jan. 10. Mr.. Hammond said
1T IL with sincere regret that
I hereby render my resignation m
. member Of this board, My rea-
sons are OF much gravity that ]
feel, In justice 10 the members Of
the board and 10 myself, you are
al entitled 10 an explanation Of
what prompts thia action.
"aince last October I have ser.
we'd a. chairman OF Mayor Ellis
Commission ON Human Relations,
One Of the basic detectives OF this
commission Ia the promotion OF ra.
oial equality In spiritual and fam
lily life. Personally, I am dedicat-
ID 10 this objective. and my own
convictions In this respect are 20
deep seated that under existing
circumstances I can no longer
serve both the board and the May
or's Commission.
''rhe question OF whether Ne
Eroea should be admitted 90 man.
bernhip In our church has been
pending for some time, II Ia my
firm belief that u we are true
followers Of the teachings Of Jesus
christ. we would welcome their
admission into our fellowship,
Following the dictates Of my
own conscience. I have made sew.
srai efforts TO bring thls question
before the entire church board.
but In each instance have been
discouraged. therefore feel that
continued msmberHhlp would be-
In direct conflict with my deepest
inner feelings, and should I remain
q member, I would be giving taclt
approval 10 q policy TO which !
am unaltsrably opposed
UP 10 this point I have en-.
joyed my associations with the
members OF this board, and our
relations have been most harmon.
Io,ls I have only the best wishes
for all Of them personally"
interviewing the Rev, MT Lytle
previously. he felt that HIS church
would have mixed reactions to tn
tegration nome members would
resent Il, and others would hap
PLY 20 along, The leaders would
probably be io0qs for the change.
he said. Tie thought too. that the
persons who left would return
later Now q member leaves be-
cause Indignation In his church
does not come fast enough.
Within the last eight or ten
years, tho young minister held
that much progress has been made
toward migrating the churches
He expected . more complete job
within the nest eight years
The Rev. NJ. I.ytls believe that
Negro churches make Indignation
difficult. II 10 his opinion that the
Christian church win integrate
before the Methodist or the PrSs.
byterian.