The Petal Paper

Dear P. D.:

I watched the "Meet The Press" program on television recently ... and that Spivak! He thinks so quickly, and so well. Do you recall that he asked Governor Coleman if he saw any way out of the impasse? (Referring to the present school desegregation situation.)

Coleman talked and talked and talked. Spivak never took his eyes off him, and then asked: "May I try once more?"

To me, the highlight of the whole thing was: Spivak asked a question as to whether the Negroes of Mississippi wanted segregated schools. Glibly, the governor replied that Negroes of this state did want segregated schools. Quickly Spivak asked, "Then why has the State of Mississippi passed so many laws to prevent integrating of schools?"

If everything one is so happy as things are, why won't the TV stations here give the NAACP air time? Indeed, there would be no

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Letters
reason to fear the NAACP. clergy
Gosh. the clergymen of the south are either : . . VERY narrow and believe in the status quo : . . OR ARE AFRAID. Or SO-it would seem . . . A news item told what pastor Shamblin of the Little Rock Methodist Church had said in a sermon . . . had "urged" the item said . . . compliance with law in regard to the school integration problem in L. R. The following Sunday, Mrs. Roy T. Harrison (a member of his church, The Pulaski (Heights M. Church) took a negress, Mrs. Pearl Lewis to the services there. After the service, this same minister told reporters that Mrs. Harrison had brought the colored woman to the church to embarrass him because of what he had previously said. (Instead of such a weak kneed stand . . . It would seem to- me that he had a golden opportunity . . . and could have turned the tables . . . cleverly . . . on Mrs. Harrison. He had but to shake the hand of Mrs. Lewis. . . and say: "I am so glad that Mrs. Harrison brought you to our service. I hope that she will bring you again some time.")
Instead, he let Mrs. Harrison "embarrass him" by bringing. a Negro woman to church . . . tho it is known to be a fact that Mrs. Harrison is (according to the pa- per) "a strong segregationist."
A recent Jackson Daily News had an AP item from Little Rock, which they headlined "Liberal" Pastor to bar Negroes from Services.
"A -Little Rock Methodist Church announced Friday night that Negroes would not be admitted to services "during this period of tension."
The official board of the Pulaski Heights Methodist Church said it adopted the policy because a Negro was taken to last Sunday's service by a church member."
"Mrs. Roy T. Harrison who described herself as a segregationist took Mrs. Pearl Lewis, Negro. to the church. Later, the Rev. J. Kenneth Shamblin, the pastor, said it was a move to embarrass him."
"In a sermon, Shamblin has urged compliance with law in regard to the school integration crisis in Little Rock."
I am a stupid. uncomprehending. person. indeed. I have read resolutions that groups of Methodists have subscribed to in this matter of race relations. Yep . . . resolutions . . . and that is all. Now a pastor is embarrassed because a segregationist parishioner makes a pawn of a colored woman . . . taking her into her Methodist Church!' That guy missed the boat. I think. Is it not customary for the parson to greet members of his congregation after church - shaking hands with them and with the visitors they brought? As well as visitors who have come in alone. I think this pastor showed bad manners . . . to make a guest of Mrs. Harrison feel she had received a direct cut from him. After all. she (Mrs. Lewis) was invited to attend the church services with Mrs. Harrison . . a member of that very church
with best wishes.
(name withheld)