The Petal paper. [volume] (Petal, Miss.) 1953-19??, 1959-01-01

| flown to distant parts OF the ma
ton to describe in detail the diff
ficulties of his community. And
he has continued to make local
announcements criticizing a
voluntary segregation" plan or
praising Negroes for their nom
violence-thato receive wide COM
munity attention. In June of 1858,
when Ernest Green became the
first Negro graduate of Central
High, Action and DR.. Martin Luz
Their King sat with the Green
family throughout the tense
troop guarded ceremony.
Judas Betrayed Man -"
In short, Action has done ev-
erything that he could think of
doing to support racial integra-
ton in Little Rock. But he has
constantly faced stern opposition.
Pressures, some subtle, some bla-
tant, have been applied to him,
but to little. avail. Those closest
to him grow tense in concern for
his safety. Relatives in other
states have expressed their dis
pleasure at his views. He has
been told that some he loves
deeply regret" the position he
has taken. Some members of the
ministerial association have said
that Action is a publicity seeker.
And letters to the editors of the
local papers select him out as
their favorite target for abuse.
More important, perhaps, are
the pressures from his own con-
gregation. Financial pledges and
attendance at Downtown Protes-
tant Church declined sharply.
One faithful member expressed
her displeasure and then said de-
finantly: mo preacher is going to
run me off from my church."
L aym e n asked him to please
preach "just a spiritual sermon"
and others admonished him that
the church should not engage in
controversial issues. A financial
stalwart complained that Rction's
racial activities ''take time away
from the work he's supposed to
be doing and added tellingly'
''This is not exactly what his
congregation pays him for
This opposition from the con-
gregation is stern and serious. 1t
might be even worse were it not
for Actions warmth, charm and
refusal to become provoked at
his detractors Many of his parish
oners, even older ones who al
most to a man favor segregation,
remain loyal to him. 81 just can't
go along with you," blurted out
an elderly woman member one
Sunday morning following SER
mon on indignation, ssbut | GER
tainly think you are a sincere
man, and I love you, Mr.. Action"
There probably are but few
ministers in Little Rocks major
denomination who have not felt
at least an occasional twinge of
conscience when they compare
their own cautions ineptness to
the risks and abuse Action has
endured. For he is the voice of
conscience for his colleagues no
less than the city itself. And per-
haps, as so often happens, he has
found that it requires more cou-
rage at such a time to face ones
friends than to face ones enemies.
The blow that hurt the most
came in 2 letter from a close
boyhood friend in the Deep
South. Having read OF Actions
activities in the Little koc1k
crisis, he chided his friend bitter
ly: "Judas betrayed Man, Ben
edict Arnold betrayed a nation,
and you, my friend, have betray-
ed a race"
Enthusiastically, there was a
plaintive quality, an element of
true pathos, in the calm answer
Action gave his friend: 81 have
full respect for your sincerity
and integrity and hope that at
49, %l,o f,,%,,ro xxyo ,,,oxr