Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1957 THE NEWBERRY SUN PAGE FIVE Baptist Report On Racial Tensions (In order that readers of this paper may have an accurate know ledge of the report of the Christian Life Commission presented to the Southern Baptist Convention at its recent meeting in Chicago, we are printing that portion of the report dealing with race relations in its entirety.—Ed.) The following statement was made to this newspaper today by Rev. D. W. Satterfield, president, And Rev. C. O. Lamoreux, secretary of the Reedy River Association Pastors Conference: “While this report was adopted Jby the Convention, it was received only as information. Since it con tained no resolutions, according to the Constitution and By Laws of the Convention, it is not binding on either the Convention or any of the local churches. And, in the words of the Chicago Tribune, re porting on this action, ‘The action was not an expression of approv- a1.” These two Baptist pastors, who attended the convention in Chica go, stated that had the report been in the form of a resolution, there would have been a complete discussion and that certainly many pastors would not have voted for portions of the report. They fur ther stated that even should the Convention have passed such a Resolution, it would not be bind ing on any individual church, since all Baptist churches are inde- pendent. The portion of the report, head ed “Racial Tensions” is as fol lows: “The purpose of this section of this report is to give a Christian viewpoint from which a solution should be sought in the present racial controversy. “The problems we face in this controversy are many and diffi cult. They are made more difficult because of the physical and cul tural differences between the Ne gro and the white population. A considerable number of these dif ferences are no greater than those between other groupings, but they stand out noticeably be cause they are associated with the difference in color and with the social history of the Negroes in America as a slave people set free in a bloody war in which their enslavement was an issue. “Without the color badge and this radical change of status, merely belonging to different races would not have created so many problems, nor given to them the emotional intensity or the hos tile social expression they have had among us. But they are here, confronting us Christians at every turn. Behind the race problems is the race problem; antf, for us, be hind the race problem is the Christian problem of how we, in the spirit of Christ, should relate ourselves to the situation. “1. The first thing to which we call attention is that the problem of race relations is rooted deeply in history and is the product of a series of tragic social experiences that have left their marks on both groups. Slavery, war, sudden emancipation of a people unpre pared for full responsibility as citizens, the tragic period of re construction that planted deep in both races prejudice and resent ment and produced a pattern of discrimination and retaliation that has become traditional—all of these elements lie in the back ground of the present situation. We who set our hearts upon achieving peaceful adjustment must gird ourselves with patience, the white man fighting the pride of his old mastery and the Negro the pride of his new achievements. “2. A second thing to remember is that in this controversy we are dealing with persons among whom self-consciousness, purpose, com munity of thought, and individual decisions are factors in adjust ment. For that reason, we cannot dependupon automatic social pro cesses to produce harmony. Jostlfi pebbles together in a box and they will be adjusted according to size, shape and weight; jostle people together and unless these are mor al, cultural, and spiritual fiketqfs that are bent upon harmony at the level of justice and love, you will have trouble on your hands. Since race relations involves persons, the problem calls for the best efforts of intelligent and high principled men. “Nor can we depend upon pro cedures and mechanisms on a group basis, a$ if all persons in the race are alike in quality or capacity. We refer to patterns and laws that fix the status and define the rights of one race in relation to the other. The old ‘master-servant’ patterns, dooming all Negroes to a servile ‘place’ in American society regardless of their cultural progress, can only make for increasing conflict. And, moreover, the concepts of ‘person,’ ‘free citizenship,’ and ‘democracy’ have no room for distinction on the basis of color or racial ances try alone. That is why discrim inatory laws are futile solutions. Jim Crow laws cannot solve the race problem. The road toward so lution will be found when we find the reasons why they w r ere enacted and tackle those reasons. The laws only indicate that there are ten sions liable to break out into open conflict on slight provocation. So also are the laws of segregation or non-segregation. They cannot make peace. In a particular place segregation may be the de mand of established social cir cumstances, but it does not create a racial harmony that reaches to any depth; it is the symptom of an ill and not a remedy for it. The Christian cannot stop at the point of law. He is motivated by love and grace. We must move to create a new, a Christian feeling toward persons as persons. The solution comes not by force. Laws restrain, laws prescribe conduct, but only right attitudes can make the right laws and accomplish friendly and mutually helpful ad justment. “3. It is important also that w« remember that relations between two or more races cannot be solv ed by one race alone. The Negroes cannot work out their problem without us, nor we our problem without them. We create their problem and they create ours, thus making a common problem which must challenge the best ef forts of both races, especially those who share a common Christian faith. “For this co-operation it is necessary, first, that men of good will in both races understand one another. It is astonishing how little the members of one race know about the other. It is almost as if we lived in different coun tries. And how much difference knowledge makes in our attitudes. More than 200 colleges now give courses on Race and Race Prob lems. More of our churches should join them. Such studies, given by Christian teachers in Christian colleges and churches, will supply a basic necessity. “Another way to understanding and sympathetic attitudes is through personal and group con ferences between members of the two races. Conferences between ministers and teachers of the two groups, or between students of Negro and white colleges, in an atmosphere not of fear but of frankness, furnish a basis of un derstanding and cooperation that cannot be found in any other way. In such frank and friendly meetings prejudice gives place to “Pve told you time and time again not to lean on the table until we get an auto loan from Purcell’s to buy some new furniture!” These Purcell folks certainly help us to take advantage of sale prices with quick • cash. We just phone, then stop in for the money! tf'urcel l J "Your Private Bankers'* 1418 Main St. Newberry reason, often with surprising ef fect upon a person’s whole out look. “In the second place, it is nec essary to find ways of cooperat ing. And certainly there are prac tical ways for Baptists, and in centives, too. In the Southern states there are perhaps ten mil lion people, white and Negro, who share the common faith of Bap tists, made brothers in the Spirit of Christ, among whom there has grown up a larger measure^ of cooperation in our common task than many realize. Pastors are finding increasing ways of mutual helpfulness in creating under standing. White pastors are pro vided good books and often per- sonel instruction for less adequate- programs and in the training of their workers. Lay workers and ly prepared Negro pastors, aiding them in developing better church women are teaching study courses. And there is much financial as sistance. “And, of course, in all co-op eration the initiative and the greater responsibility rest upon the people of advantage. The strong must help the weak, and seek to gain for them the free doms, the opportunity, and the incentive necessary for them to develop to the limits of their God- given capabilities. We are not to wait until they have achieved be fore we help them bear their bur dens. “4. A final fact to be recalled is that the race problem is basic ally a moral and religious prob lem; not economic, political, or cul tural, but basically moral and re ligious. That means that we as Christians in our approach to it must invoke the principles of our religious faith. “We appeal to our Baptist breth ren, white and Negro, and to oth er Christian friends, to give care ful consideration to the following statement of principles, setting forth, we believe, the truth of the Bible and offered in the spirit of good will and Christian love: “(1) God created man in his own image. Therefore, every man possesses infinite worth and should be treated with respect as a person. “(2) Christ died for all men. Therefore, the Christian view of man, every man, must reflect the spirit of the cross. “(3) God is no respecter of per sons. Therefore, prejudice against persons or mistreatment of per sons on the grounds of race is contrary to the will of God. “(4) Christ said, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ Therefore, Christians ame obli gated to manifest active goodwill toward all people and to help them to achieve their fullest potential ities as persons. “(5) Christian love, as exempli- ied by Christ, is the supreme law for all human relations. There fore, Christians have the assur ance that such love, conscientious ly practiced, will resolve tensions and bring harmony and good will in race relations. *. “(6) All true Christians are brothers in Christ and children of God. Therefore, they are obligated to cultivate prayerful concern for one another and to show confi dence in one another. “(7) Every person is accountable ^o God. Therefore, the right of individual opinion, tested by the teachings of Christ, and of free dom to express it, always in the spirit of Christian love, should be granted to all and respected by all. “In accordance with these prim ciples of our Christian faith, and as free citizens, this Commission protests the violence in all ugly forms that is being used against the Negro people in the current segregation issue or at any other time. In recognition of the Ne gro’s rights as a citizen of these United States, we call upon the law enforcement agencies of locals state, and national governments to protect him, irrespective of his position or culture, from lawless attacks on his person or property. “Moreover, we call upon these law enforcement agencies to pro tect any other individual or group who seeks to live in a chosen com munity as free citizens engaged in peaceful pursuits according to their own convictions and con science. “We believe that our nation can not long endure these lawless at tacks made upon the person and property of free citizens in con tempt of the law and the courts of justice. We, therefore, call up on the law enforcement officers and agencies of community, state, and nation to bring to legal jus tice the perpetrators of these crimes, regardless of their posi tion or influence in the commun ity. “Furthermore, in keeping with our historic Baptist position on the freedom of conscience and of expression in religion under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we call to the attention of the people in our churches and other citizens of our country the fact that any suppression of these freedoms, whether it be by the laws of state or by economic, civic, social or church pressures, denies the vol untary principle in religion and imperils both religious and politi cal freedom at its source. “We are witnessing today the betrayal of these freedoms by vo cal minorities in some communi ties and churches who are able to arouse suficient opposition to force the resignation of pastors and to incite retaliation against peaceful citizens who speak or act according to their convictions on racial justice and interracial good will. The people of our region and throughout our land should be re minded that both the voice of God and the verdict of history warn us that those wlio deny these freedoms to others do not long retain them for themselves.” Blackwell Dies In Accident Julian M. Blackwell, Jr., 24, died at 10:45 a. m. Sunday at An derson Memorial Hospital after an auto accident on Dobbins Bridge Road at 12:30 a. m. Lakon Newby, 21, a passenger in the auto was injured. Blackwell was employed at the Fiberglas Forming Depart ment and as a veteran of the Korean War, out of service one year. He was born in Newberry, son of J. M. and Dolly Roland Blackwell. Survivors include his father, and mother, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Blackwell of Anderson; one bro ther, William R. Blackwell, UiSAF, San Antonio, Texas, and one sister, Mrs. Opal Cleveland of Anderson. “I Couldn’t Put A Cow In The Bank!” There aws a time when cattle was a medium of exchange instead of money. Your “money” might get sick, might die . . . and you couldn’t, certain ly, store it in the bank and have it get more val uable with every passing year! It’s no wonder that our monetary system was developed. You get better returns by banking regularly. Make it a habit! The Bank Of Commerce Prosperity, S. C. Currently paying 2*4 % divided on savings accounts All deposits insured up to $10,000. Prosperity News MRS. B. T. YOUNG, Correspondent —■■■ 1 "l with coffee. Mrs. Richard Foster was host ess to the Dogwood Garden Club last Monday afternoon. Mrs. Clyde Bedenbaugh of Easley and Miss Annie Hunter were guests. Mrs. H. O. Newman was welcom ed as a new member. New officers elected were: President, Mrs. Earl Bedenbaugh; Vice-President, Mrs. W. H. Leap- hart, Jr.; Secretary, Mrs. Jacob Bowers; Treasurer, Mrs. Richard Foster. Each member brought an arrangement and told the type of arrangement and other facts pertaining to the arrange ment. This proved interesting and instructive. Mrs. W. L. Mills conducted a word contest with Mrs. Newman winning the prize. * During the social period the hostess served a salad plate, cup cakes, and iced tea. i The last meeting of the Pros perity Garden Club before dis banding for the summer was held last Monday afternoon with Mrs. B. T. Young. Each member brought flowers and containers, and under the supervision of one of the mem bers, Mrs. George W. Harmon, who is an accredited flower judge and arranger, many lovely ar rangements were made. The hostess served a sweet course during the social hour. The June meeting of the Wil liam Lester chapter of the U.D.C. was held Thursday afternoon with Mrs. E. G. Eargle. Eigh^ members and one guest, Mrs. El ton Epting, of Newberry, were present. The president, Mrs. H. P. Wick er, opened the meeting with the ritual ceremony and pledge of al legiance to the flag. Mrs. Vida Thomason read the News Sheet. Jefferson Davis was the subject of the program presented by Mrs. John Stockman. Miss Mattie Belle Lester on be half of her brother, W. M. Lester of Augusta, presented to the chap ter an enlarged picture of the members taken during the recent celebration of the fiftieth anniver sary. Mrs. Eargle assisted by Mrs. Epting served a sweet course Bill Pugh of the 11th grade of the local high school is attending Boys State in Columbia this week. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wise and their three daughters, Pam, Judy, and Freida, of West Columbia, spent Saturday with Mrs. Wise’s mother, Mrs. L. J. Fellers. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Epting mov ed- last week into the house on McNary Street vacated by the Curtis Countses. Mrs. Henry J. Kinard is visit* ing her sister in Greenwood. Miss Beth Pugh, who has been teaching at the University of Tennessee at Martin, Tenn., is at home for the summer. The Rev. J. B. McFerrin has returned from a meeting of the A.R.P. Synod in Little Rock, Ark. The people of Prosperity are glad that Rev. McFerrin was returned to the Prosperity Mission Churches. Mrs. J. D. Luther attended the graduation of her niece, Denby Singley, from Dreher High School Thursday night. Mr. and Mrs. James Luther, Miss Grace Sease, and Mrs. David Bedenbaugh, teachers in the Co lumbia City schools, are at home for the summer vacation.. Col. and Mrs. Gus Schattenburg and their son, Gus, Jr., of Colum bia, spent Saturday with Mrs. Schattenburg’s mother, Mrs. W. L. Mathis, Sr. Capt. and Mrs. James Shannon and their four children en route from Norfolk, Va., to Columbia, S. C. spent the weekend with Mrs. Shannon’s grandmother, Mrs. J. A. Sease. Mrs. Webster Grayson and her son of North Augusta are visit ing her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Connelly, while Mr. Grayson is at camp. Miss Rosa Mae Mitchell of the Piedmont School is spending her vacation with Mrs. L. J. Fellers. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Foster attended the state meeting of the Postal Employees in Charleston over the weekend. Mrs. Foster is an officer and Mr. Foster was a delegate. Kay and Jan Ohlhues, who have been living in Montgomery, Ala., are visiting their grandmother, Mrs. H. E. Counts. Mrs. William D. Springs and her son, Anthony, who have been living in Columbia, are visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Shealy and sister, Mrs. Raeford McDonald before joining Mr. Springs in Camden, N. J. Mr. Springs was here for several days but left Saturday for his work in Camden. Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Hancock of Trilby, Fla., arrived last Thurs day to visit the W. E. Hancocks. On Sunday the Hancocks attended a family reunion in Dobson, N. C. From Dobson they went on a few days' trip through the Shenan doah Valley. Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Shealy, Jr. are spending the summer with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Shealy, Sr. Mrs. J. Walter Hamm and Mrs. Joel Taylor of Wightman church attended the Training School at Columbia College last weekend. Mrs. Hamm went from the Train ing School to the Youth Assembly at Wofford College, where she is a counselor. Mrs. Charles Tyler of Jackson ville, Fla., arrived Sunday tc visit her sisters, Miss Marguerite Wise and Mrs. B. Ti Young and her brother, P. E. Wise. M. P. Connelly, who has been teaching at Broxton, Ga., is . l home here for the summer. Mrs. CARD OF THANKS It being impossible to see in person as well as unpractical for me to write personal notes, I take this means to express my most heartfelt thanks to all my friends who were so kind and solicitous as to inquire of my welfare during my recent illness. I am most ap preciative and thankful for the visits, the many beautiful cards, letters, flowers and other gifts. It means so much to know people —rfriends are thinking of you while you are prone in a llospital bed. To one and all from the depths of my heart, I say thank you. Sincerely, E. H. Moore CARD OF THANKS We wish to express our deepest appreciation to Dr. E. II. Moore, Dr. E. J. Dickert, Rev. Herbert L. Spell, the nurses and personnel of the Newberry County Memorial Hospital and all of our friends and neighbors who were and sympathetic during the sev eral months of sickness and on the death of our beloved Kusoanu and i’ ’ Mrs. John S. Glymph and Sons Sho£? Early For Connelly is visiting her parent: in Panama City, Fla. before com ing to Prosperity for the summer. Miss Rachel Counts and Wayne Counts, students at Furman Uni versity, are at the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. i Counts, for the summer vacation. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lovelace and their two children of Chester came to Prosperity for the Leap- hart-Lovelace wedding and spent the weekend with Mr. Lovelace’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Love lace. Mrs. Ernest Price and her son, Robin are visiting her mother, Mrs. Robert W. Pugh. Mr. Price who is working in Winston-Sal^m, N. C. came down for the weekend. Mrs. Willie Mae Young, who has taught English in the Pros perity High School for a number of years is retiring. The high school faculty had a get-together on Friday before school closed and presented Mrs. Young a lovely pearl and blue rhinestone pin. During the commencement exer cises on Monday night the gram mar grade teachers presented Mrs. Young an orchid corsage. Miss Barbara Hawkins, president of the senior class, presented two Your Outing Needs • SUNTAN LOTIONS • FIRST-AID KITS • PICNIC SUPPLIES • SPORTING GOODS • OUTING JUGS & COOLERS M AIN STREET I l I gvoit drug store aluminum porch chairs from the class. Mrs. Young was senior class sponsor. SAVE - SAVE - SAVE SMITH’S NO CARRYING CHARGE SALE Prices Cut To The Bone NO Carrying Charges On Cars Financed for 12 Months or Less Sale Lasts Through June 15th. 1950 DODGE 1950 Dodge Coronet 4-Door Sedan. Dark blue. Gy- romatic transmission. Heater, nice upholstery, new- cap tires. Was $395. Now $295 1950 FORD 1950 Ford V-8 Custom 2-Door Sedan. Nice black paint. Standard transmission. Heater, radio, good seat covers. Nice running engine. Was $395. Now $345 1953 PLYMOUTH 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook 4-Door Sedan. Light gray. Standard transmission. Heater, directional signals, tinted glass, seat covers, wheel covers, good tires. Was $795. Now $695 1953 DODGE 1953 Dodge Coronet 4-Door Sedan. Shoal green and Seashore green. Nice one-owner car that has had good care. Gyromatic transmission. Tinted glass, wheel covers, stone shields, undercoating. Nice seat covers. Good tires. Was $895. Now $795 1955 DODGE 1955 Dodge Custom Royal V-8 Lancer 4-Door Se dan. Admiral blue, HaTo blue. Powerful Red Ram V-8 engine. Powerflite automatic transmission. Heater, radio, tinted glass, windshield washer, electric clock, glare-proof rear view mirror, air- foam seats, wheel covers, white sidewall tires. A beautiful one-owner car in good condition. Was $1895. Now $1845 These Are Just A Few! - See Our Entire Selection! SMITH MOTOR CO. OUR CARS BACKED BY OVER 43 YEARS IN THE AUTOMOBILE BUSINESS 1309 College St — Phones 777 & 172 C. M. Smith, Mgr. Newberry, S. C. /. o