The Petal paper. [volume] (Petal, Miss.) 1953-19??, 1957-02-21

That which appears today in the space given general
to editorials is of the fascinating things I've
ever read 1t Newsletter, written by Dr. Clarence
Jordan and circulated to his personal friends primarily
DR.. Jordan is one of group who formed coop farm
near Americas, Georgia. They have several thousand
of land and the farm has been outstanding
ample OF what be done with know-how, plus hard
work 1t happened last year that DR.. Jordan being
graduate of the University of Georgia. recommended
Negro whom he considered intelligent and worthy
human being for amtance to the school All hell broke
loose you very well tell by reading the newsletter
printed today.
Possibly the thing that struck me most about the
article is the complete lack of battered by Jordan 1t is
to amazing that anyone take such attitude in
in the face of what has happened to him and his friends
By way of background and snatterng of other
information the coop farm started about fourteen
years ago The given it is ''Kononia meaning so
I've been told, Community. The farm has been highly
successful, and presently living twelve fiji
teen families consisting of about seventy persons. Dr.
Jordan, who has a doctorate in New Testament and
Greek has been asked to withdraw his membership from
Baptist church to which he belonged The given
him by the powers which the church that his
views of the Bible not in accordance with those of
the church Cranky that's not hard crime to commit
know Such the words spoken but the real reason
1t seems is because Jordan blind He the
superiority of his Being authority the
Bible is not too profitable in Georgia, I'd say.
Just after Jordan recommended Negro to attend
the University of Georgia last year boycott began
gainst his group. 1t has grown we'll you can
see by reading the newsletter which was dated January
18th
On Monday, January 18th, just after a National
Guard meeting, house the farm was sprayed by
40 calbre machine gun bullets complete with tracers.
The bullets missed two persons by inches AS the news
letter indicates the sheriff of character and
principle, Georgia style, from all accounts.
Actually, the Koinona Farm is composed of a group
of pacifiSs which, understand it, partcicng to
the letter the teachings of Christianity 1t seems they
may finish up about like the fonder Of the religion did
Aside from, and in addition to, the amazing fact that
Jordan shows anger toward his fellow citizens the
unbelievable lack of by those charged with en-
forcing the laws of the land and that form Fed
eral enforcement right down the line Every guarantee
given by the Constitution of the United States WELL al
most all of them is being violated Koinona Farm is
basicaly religious IDEAL understand it. The Bill of
Rights states plainly the fact that mans religious be-
lief is his business and will be guaranteed Yet when
the FB was asked to ntercede in the case they could
find grounds which to concern themselves It's
simply amazing, as I've said
That Ishould concern myself with in Geor-
gia little foolish perhaps Right here in MISSISSIPPI
pi, Holmes County, to be exact, we came close to the
thing last year in the of Mr. Cox and Dr. Min
ter think the only didn't have the shooting
and allied violence because the two moved Had
they chosen to stay feel we'd have led Georgia in
the business under discussion.
There are SO many facts of the case until it's i'm
possible to into them all But how in the name of COM
mon decency which appears to be quite thing
people act than their ancestors hanging by their
tails in the unges? 1t to me obvious that to
deny the rights of Dr. Jordan any single citizen of the
nation, is to eventually deny those rights to
self
Please pardon me for waving the flag but those
things for which it stands are of the utmost Importance
to me and, think to any person in his right mind
Of course the thought has occurred that perhaps
I'm out of my mind
In my opinion, well the opinion of many Others