Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-06

lNAAulSAA BlOdPo dSolAAot Va bAAAn
proposed constitutional amend
ment reached new heights today
with more attacks charging the
change would be inconsisten,
with Christian principles.
The new opposition was voiced
by % Episcopal ministers of the
southwestern diocese, Al Lynch
burg ministers of varying faiths
the Harrisonburg Ministerial
Association. the Hampton Roads
Rabbinical Association, the Ar.
Ilington Ministerial Association
and the board of directors of the
Arlington Council of Churches
Virginians will vote Monday te
determine whether a convention
shall be held to consider amend.
ling the State constitution to per-
init public funds to be used fol-
private education as a means Of
avoiding compulsory indignation
Iof Negro and white pupils.
! Bishop Heads List
Tuition grants would be ISSUED
for attendance at private non.
sectarian schools in cases where
parents don't want their chill.
dren to go to integrated public
schools and no segregated Schoo
is available or where localitie.
close public schools rather thar
permit mixed classes.
Bishop William H. Marmior
headed the list of % Episcopa
Iclergymen in the Southwestern
diocese who issued a statement
Iof opposition.
They said the tuition gram
lplan would be inconsistent will
Christian and democratic" prin'
ciples and contrary to resolution.
adopted at the recent genera
convention of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in Honolulu.
At the same time. the grouI
of Lynchburg ministers came out
with another statement attack.
ing the amendment plan. They
said it would hurt the public
school system and thereby i'm.
peril "the fibre of American
democracy"
| Superintendent Backs Plan
The Harrisonburg Ministerial
Association, voted 1870 to vot,
against the amendment plan
citing a Christian duty" to d.
So" One minister abstained.
u M. H. Bell, the Harrisonbur.
school superintendent, came on
in favor of the plan as Offering
the best means of meeting tn,
I"acute problem" confronting thu
southside area.
| The Rabbinical Association
urged Gov. Stanley to appoint I
new citizens commission to worI
out a more acceptable plan.
The Arlington Ministerial AS
ISOLATION also reported 1t op
poses calling the convention
Thirty-one Of 80 ministers at +.
meeting earlier this week IA
vored the resolution urging ,
mo" vote on Monday, the an
: nouncement said.
j The resolution said the Ora,
|; report does not safeguard anc
. promote the principle of tn,
proper dignity Of man." TIL.
ministers also said the repor'
fails to prescribe standards fol
private schools and makes nj
provision for the creation of pri.
vate schools. The report "seri'
ously threatens the constituted
Authority of the United States.
the statement said.
The board of directors of tn,
. Arlington Council Of Churche
adopted a resolution opposing
the convention proposal. BY ;
1872 vote, the directors resolved
that the amendment would "seri
|, ously weaken our public schoo
system and would increase in
, tolerance among our people"
|. The directors action was an
nounced by Edmund D. Camp
bell. chairman of the Council
department of Christian socia
relations, and Mrs. Philip j
!, Anstedt, secretary.
Criticism Brings Answer
Also in Arlington, the Rev
| George F. Tittman, rector of st
!, Mary's Episcopal Church, replied
to a speech in Hopewell by an.
/. other Episcopalian official who
voiced qualms about so many
ministers attacking the amend
ment plan.
! DR.. G. MacLaren Brydon reg
istrar for the Diocese of Virginia
said at Hopewell 1t was dis.
Iturbing'' to see churchmen who
had been silent on segregation
questions suddenly portray in.
tegration as being the will Of
God.
Mr.. Tittman, who is president
Of the Potomac Glorious. the or
lgap for the Episcopal clergy OF