Mission Snagged

In Atlanta last week the National Preaching Mission, currently touring the U. S. to awaken dozing Protestantism (TIME, Sept. 28), struck its first snag. The Atlanta Constitution had politely editorialized: "There should be earnest and full co-operation by the Christian people of Atlanta in the constructive and inspirational meetings to be held during the next four days." But the Atlanta ministers in charge of arranging these inspirational meetings did not cotton to the Federal Council of Churches' stipulation that at least one Negro be included among the speakers. Neither the protests of Preaching Missionaries nor remonstrance from the city's Negro ministers made any difference. "Wide public controversy," insisted the local committee, must be avoided. So the Preaching Mission followed its schedule, 100% white.

Though the Preaching Mission declined to sound off in the press, when its members arrived in Birmingham a few days later they showed pleasure at the inclusion on one program of Dr. Channing Tobias, national director of Negro Y. M, C. A. work. Obliged by municipal ordinance to sit in separate sections, Birmingham Negroes gladly attended meetings, shouted "Amen" and "Glory Be!" The No. 1 Missioneer, Dr. Eli Stanley Jones, led off the opening meeting: "Constantly I remind myself that the Romans said, 'these Britons make the most unlovely, thick headed slaves we have here. . . . No good will ever come out of Britannia.' "

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