St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-04-02

signed from the OiiIclai Board
The partner OF photo-stn,
a board committee, of which
him bring to the entire church
board the matter OF admitting
Negroes to fellowship.
Having been with the Methodist
church four years, the native JEFF
ferson Citian said that the Rev.
d. X. Lytie. pastor OF the church,
had been cvading the issue.
Before joining the Methodist
church. the 44-year-old business
man, now disguated with the ra-
cial situation. was a Presbyterian.
Sunday, Feb. rs. he sang with the
Episcopalian choir. because they
needed bass. There are active
Negro members In the Episcopal
ian church. Mr.. Hammond has not
decided where To seek member
ship next.
With sincerity the Missourian
recalled that DIR. o. Anderson
Fuller. head. Lincoln university
(Mo.) music department. and his
family. applied for membership
10 years ago. Discouraged by the
attitude of the members, they
continued To attend the Catholic
church.
In letter 10 Lyman II. Winter.
chairman Of the Official Board,
Jan. 30. Mr.. Hammond said:
1T Is with sincere regret that
I hereby render my resignation AS
a member OF this board. My rea-
sons are OF such gravity that !
feel. In justice 10 the members of
the board and TO myself. you are
all entitled TO an explanation Of
what prompts this action.
"slnce last October I have SER
we'd as chairman OF Mayor Ellis
Commission ON Human Relations.
One Of the basic detectives Of this
commission IN the promotion OF ra-
cial equality In spiritual and FAM
lily life. Personally. am dedicat-
ed TO this objective. and my own
convictions In this respect are 30
deep seated that under existing
circumstances. can no longer
serve both the board and the May
or's Commission.
The question Of whether Me-
grocs should be admitted to mem
bership in our church has been
pending for some time, II Is my
firm belief that n 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.
eral efforts to bring this question
before the entire church board,
but In each instance I have been
discouraged. I therefore feel that
continued membership would be
In direct conflict with my deepest
inner feelings. and should I remain
member. I would be giving tacit
approval TO policy TO which ]
am unalterably opposed
up 10 this point I have en-
Ioycd my associations with the
members OF this board, and our
relations have been most harmon
lous, l have only the best wishes
for all Of them personally"
interviewing the Rev. Mr.. Lytic
previously. he felt that his church
would have mixed reactions 10 In
tegration some members would
resent Il, and others would hap
PLY 80 along, The leaders would
probably be iooee for the change,
he said. He thought too, that the
persons who left would return
later Now a member leaves be-
cause Indignation In his church
does not como fast enough
Within the last eight or ten
years. the young minister held
that much progress has been made
towRrd tntegrating the churches.
He expected more complete job
within the next eight years.
The Rev. NJ. Lytie believe that
Negro churches make indignation
difficult II is his opinion that the
Christian church win integrate
before the Methodist or the Pres
byterian.