Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-14
Redistricting
Fairness Urged
By MethOdists
By CASPAR NAMES
Star Staff Writer

NORFOLK, Va, June IA
Fairer legislative redistricting
was urged by the Virginia
Methodist Conference at an
emotionally charged meeting
yesterday in the Norfolk Arena.
In another sharply debated
action. the church body ap-
proved two statements calling
for q more progressive attitude
toward racial Indignation of
public schools and colleges in
Virginia.
President Kennedy was COM
mended by the delegates for
his present firm position on
the separation of church and
state" At the same time, the
conference passed a motion
warning MethodiSts to observe
this principle by not taking IAN
easy way to finance our various
church projects through use of
State or Federal funds. Let us
not sacrifice the principle for
easy money"
Controversy centered on a
section in the conferences
Board Of Social Concerns re-
port calling for constant re-
evaluation of our political struc-
lures" at the Community, State
and national levels" and insist
ing that all citizens should have
an equal voice in Govern
ment."
Political Involvement Hit
Lyman C. Harrell Of En-
poria. Va, a member of the
House Of Delegates, asked that
the statement be deleted.
You call for separation of
church and state and then
come UP with a recommended
ton that the conference par
ticipate in second guessing
upon q political matter" he
said.
DR.. E. E. Haddock Of Rich
mond, a Senator in the Virginia
legislature. retorted, IF our
church cannot be concerned
with human dignity having a
right to vote, I think we should
dissolve the board"
Edwin Lynch Of Springfield,
a candidate for the Democratic
nomination for Congress in
that area. declared. I'VE on
the board feel the basic right
Of a people is equal right to
participation in its affairs. This
redistricting is denying people
that right in Tidewater. Rich
mond and Norfolk"
Mr.. Harrell then asked that
a vote be taken, and the
amendment to delete the sec
ton was defeated.
The same fate awaited an
effort to throw out a section
noting that public schools are
closed In some areas of Vir-
GINA, though the original state
ment was modified. As pre-
sented by the board of social
concerns, the resolution ex-
pressed regret that public
schools Gin Prince Edward
County are still closed"
County Not Named
Several speakers protested
against the county being sim
gled out, and an amendment
deleting mention of the county
name was approved. The state
ment then read, I'VE regret
that public schools In the Com
monwealth of Virginia are still
closed due to proposed racial
integration." This amended
version was passed after an
attempt to delete the entire
section was defeated.
Also passed was a resolution
submitted from the floor by
j. w. Reynolds, jr., president
of the board of Christian social
concerns, approving an edi-
torial that appeared in the
Yellow Jacket, a student weekly
at Randolph Macon College.
The editorial, in the April 81
issue Of the publication, called
onrthe colleges board of trus-
tees and administration to |
render Randolph-Macon Col
lege q leader in a timely effort
TO remove racial restrictions
from the entrance qualifications
of Southern colleges"