Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-06
Georgia Pastor
Says Colony
Lives in Peril
A church pastor of the racially

not at all sure it will stay that
way"
Mr.. Jordan emphasized, how
ever, that his unique Georgia
community of Koinonia will
continue to meet violence with
passive resistance, even though
personal tragedy may result.
kolnonia, named with the
Greek word for community,
was formed in 1912 by Mr.. Jor-
dan and several associates as a
spiritual and agricultural ex-
pertinent. Situated about 1870
miles southwest of Atlanta, the
tiny settlement achieved two
notable firsts. its founder told a
National Civil Liberties Clearing
House conference.
1t introduced commercial egg
production to that section OF
Georgia. and it became the first
and only-community of the
area where whites and Negroes
lived and worked side by side.
No Violence at First
Although the demonstration
of workable indignation drew
rumbiings of disapproval from
pro segregationist neighbors
there was no show of violence
for years, Mr.. Jordan said.
But after the Supreme Court
decision, 1.-The entire South stood
stunned" he said. And then came
the reign of terror"
1t started in April, 1856. wher
Mr.. Jordan announced he would
indorse applications for admis-
sion OF Negro students to the
Georgia State College of Business
Administration. And the initial
move was cancellation of insur-
ance policies held by Koinonia.
Not even Lloyds OF London
would insure them, the 44-year-
old former Baptist clergyman de-
clared.
The reasons soon were appar-
ent. he added.
Koinonia was boycotted eco
nomically. Its inhabitants-45
whites and Is Negroes-could not
buy goods or services from the
people they had been dealing
with on easy terms before.
Child Camp Attacked
A summer camp for children
also tnter-racial, that had been
conducted by Koinonia, was de.
clared unlawful as a menace to
health. After a long legal
the case for the camp
was ruled moot in court. said
Mr. Jordan.
Finally. there was violence
First. automobiles drove BY
At night. shots coming from
them.
"A few weeks later, a pistol
bullet was fired into our road
slde market. and we knew what
hat bullet was saying. But we
heard other voices, telling us
10 stay" the tall, ruddy-faced
nan recalled.
Eventually. that roadside
market was blown up. Gas
pumps, fed from underground
.anks Koinonia bought to beat
he boycott. were smashed with
rapid gunfire.
Periodic raids were staged on
he cooperative farm. even on
Christmas and New Years Day
The home of a Negro family
vas burned.
Mr.. Jordan's own house was
fred upon. with a bullet whiz-
ing past his 20-year-old daugh-
'er. q student at the University
If Georgia.
His daughter typified the
koinonia attitude minutes after
she missed being shot, he COM
mented. She asked to stand
watch outside the house the rest
Of the night.
Mr.. Jordan's eldest son had to
be withdrawn from the public
high school in the nearby town
Of Americas when fellow stu
dents attacked him repeatedly.
Barred by Church
The minister said the Baptist
Church in Americas refused him
Worship privileges. even though
ne received a doctorate from the
Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary in Louisville. KY.
Before attending the seminary.
ne said he obtained a bachelors
degree in agriculture from the
University of Georgia.
In short talk lightened with
! ready display of wit, he gave
MS shocked audience a word
picture of the reactions of a
nan who has been rejected by
his own kind because OF his
beliefs. Mr.. Jordan was born.
brought up and educated in
Georgia.
Appeals Made TO State
On the brighter side, he
pointed out. is his observation
hat there lis by no means 100
Der cent hostility toward us
here
He said many religious groups
nave asked the State govern
nent to do something" about
he violence at Koinonia. But
nothing has been done as far
Is he knows.
In January lie wrote to Presi-
lent Eisenhower, saying If help
lid not come soon. his COM
faced humiliation.
Today ha eth hoe tI1ot fail