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Eighty Protestant Ministers
by RABBI JACOB ROTHSCHILD
Spiritual Leader, Temple, Atlanta
On November 3, 1957, eighty ministers of the Greater At
lanta area issued through the public press a statement setting
forth their views on human relations in the South. In the
noblest tradition of the ancient prophets, they spoke forthright
ly and fearlessly. They brought the message of religious truth
—of brotherhood and understanding and love—to a people un
willing or unable to equate the unalterable and unequivocal
challenge of the social gospel with the circumstances of their
daily lives.
For the first time, a new voice had made itself heard above
the raucous, rabble-rousing cry of the bigot, the self-seeking,
and the hate-inspired. It was the quiet voice of reason—but
more than that, it was the thundering voice of religion’s time
less truths, of the moral law applied to the life of men. It was
the voice of the greate spirits of every age—of Moses, of Amos
and Isaiah, of Jesus of Nazareth. It was the fearless voice—the
voice of God-inspired men.
The statement read:
“These are days of tremendous political and social tension
throughout our entire world, but particularly in our nation and
beloved Southland. The issues which we face are not simple, nor
can they be resolved over night. Because the questions which
confront us are in so many respects moral and spiritual as well
as political, it is appropriate and necessary that men who occupy
places of responsibility in the churches should not be silent con
cerning their convictions. . . The failures of others are not a
justification for our own shortcomings, nor can their unjust crit
icisms excuse us for a failure to do our duty in the sight of
God. Our one concern must be to know and do that which is
right.
“We would emphasize the following principles which we
hold to be of basic importance for our thought and conduct.
“1. Freedom of speech must at all costs be preserved.
“2. As Americans and as Christians we have an obligation
to obey the law.
3. The Public School System Must Not Be Destroyed.
4. Hatred and Scorn for Those of Another Race, or for Those
who hold a position different from our own, caii never be justi
fied.
Communication between responsible leaders of the races
must be maintained.
. Our difficulties cannot be solved in our strength or in hu
man wisdom. It is appropriate, therefore, that we approach our
'ask in a spirit of humility, of penitence, and of prayer. It is
necessary that we pray earnestly and consistently that God will
give us wisdom to understand His will; and that He will give
us the courage and faith to follow the guidance of His Spirit. To
such prayer and obedience we would dedicate ourselves to sum
mon all men of good will."
In these final words, reside, I believe, the commitments of
truly religious men: Not to prayer that beseaches God to do our
work do we turn—but for the courage to implement His will by
our actions do we pray.
To utter such words in a South tense with danger of social
crisis requires a devotion to religious idealism and a courage born
of spiritual faith. That bravery and devotion have not gone
unrewarded. Other men found the courage to speak. The dark
cloud of suspicion and fear has lifted from the hearts of men.
The South found it possible to breathe again. Whatever hope
may rise that we shall yet solve the dilemma that haunts us—
that hope was born in the magnificent statement of those eighty
who dared.
Many of those who signed that document are here with us
tonight. Indeed, their presence is the reason for this gathering.
Each year, the South Eastern Regional Board of the Anti-Defa
mation League of B’nai B’rith presents a spec'al award. It is
given to the individual or individuals who have contributed most
io the bettering of human relations in the Southeast. There was
io quest of who merited the award this year. I am personally
indebted to those who planned this meeting for the privilege
which is mine of presenting the award. For I would like to con
sider myself one with those eighty.
And so, it is my great honor to present the 1957 Distinguished
Service Award to the eighty signers of that historic document.
The Southern Israelite
Who Dared
To Speak
This material is adapted from talks made
February 2, 1958, when the Eighty
Ministers received the Distinguished
Service Award from the Southeastern Anti-
Defamation League Board for their
forthrightness in the Atlanta Manifesto
by REV. HERMAN L. TURNER
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
I gladly accept this award on behalf of the eighty ministers
who signed the Atlanta Manifesto.
We are grateful to the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai
B’rith for the sincere motive that prompted your organization
to make the award.
In issuing the Manifesto, the signers acted as individuals,
representing no one but themselves. We spoke as citizens of
Georgia and the United States of America. We endeavord to
speak only in a spirit of deep humility and of penitence and
of prayer. It is in this spirit that we accept this special award.
I might say that the reason for issuing The Manifesto was
to appeal to the calm reasoning of our citizens and to show
that we had an inescapable religious responsibility.
In this ever-changing world, torn by strife, dissension and
suspicion, we believe that religion fosters the principles of
amity, understanding and goodwill.
We ministers are not unmindful of our common heritage.
God is the Father of all the children of men. Every nation has
played some part, great or small, in the progress of mankind.
It has been pointed out that Rome gave government; Greece,
culture; Phoenicia, commerce; the Jew has carried monotheism,
the worship of one God; through the ages. And a noted church
man comments: “He has played his part and played it well.”
The Jewish Scriptures, the Old Testament, begin with the
story of Man, not with the history of the Jews. Our religion,
the Christian religion, was founded on Judaism. Every book in
the New Testament was written by a Jew, with the exception
of the gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. We pay
tribute to the Jewish people for the wonderful contributions
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