Appended to this statement are:

A. A quotation from a commentary prepared by staff officers of the national council, and filed with the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights on November 10, 1955. The quotation is the portion of the commentary that has to do particularly with the third paragraph of the pronouncement included above.

B. Statement by American Baptist Convention.

C. Statement by Congregational Christian Churches.

D. Statement by Episcopal Church.

E. Statement by Methodist Church.

F. Statement by Presbyterian Church, U. S. A.
G. Statement by United Lutheran Church.

I am not authorized to express a judgment as to the relative merits of the various bills which the subcommittee will consider. It is evident, however, from the official actions quoted above and the appended statements, that the concern of the council will not be met, as far as national legislation is involved, by action less effective in substance and in orientation than that which the President of the United States has been for some time urging, and has now again proposed, indicated in four points, in his "annual message to Congress on the state of the Union," January 10, 1957. These points are also included in this subcommittee's prints of an Omnibus Civil Rights Act of 1957.

It is difficult to see how, with action less resolute and less specific, the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution are to be upheld in practice. Respectfully submitted.

RALPH M. ARKUSH,

Recording Secretary, National Council of Churches.

APPENDIX A

Extract from statement of November 10, 1955, by staff officers of the National Council of Churches to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights:

"The concern of a large body, such as the National Council of Churches, for small groups is a matter both of conscience and of self-interest. Tolerance, understanding, brotherhood-these are of the essence of high religion. Religion denies its own essential truth when it persecutes or ignores a persecution.

"And there is no valid basis for defending the rights of a majority which is not equally valid for defending those of a minority.

"The security of these rights lies chiefly in a general attitude, frame of mind, or atmosphere prevailing in the society in question, which will be quickly dissipated if any rights are violated and if any minority is persecuted or denied its just affirmation.

"We cannot therefore remain indifferent or passive when Jews, Roman Catholics, Protestants, or adherents of other religious faiths are persecuted or made second-class citizens by totalitarian regimes, or other governments, on any continent. Still less can we remain indifferent when we witness the erosion or violation in our own country of the rights of American Indians, Negroes, conscientious objectors, or Jehovah's Witnesses."

APPENDIX B

Extract from resolutions adopted by the American Baptist Convention, June 22, 1956:

"2. CIVIL RIGHTS

"We recognize that during the past 10 years great strides have been made in race relations in America and that it was a logical next step for the Supreme Court to declare 2 years ago that our public schools must be integrated to assure equality of educational opportunity.

"We fully support the Supreme Court decision, and deplore the resistance to this decision in certain States where integration of public education has met organized opposition.

"Our convention has spoken out against segregation and has repeatedly urged church leaders to work as unceasingly for a nonsegregated church as for an integrated society.

"We rejoice that integration is progressing in the churches of our American Baptist Convention. Recent staff and missionary appointments testify to our intent as a religious fellowship to see that there is no racial wall of separation

in our common service in the kingdom. At the same time, we confess the urgency of accelerating this trend, which still is marked by futile effort, insincerity, and unwillingness to change.

"Since the probability of developing integrated church congregations is contingent on the spread of open housing, we acknowledge our responsibility to work for conditions in our communities which will assure to persons the right to rent or own a home anywhere in the community solely on the basis of personal preference and financial ability rather than on the basis of race, creed, or color.

"Thus, in prayer and in penitence for our own failures, we pledge ourselves to work at all levels for justice, equality, and brotherhood among the races of America."

APPENDIX C

Extracts from social resolutions adopted by the general council of the Congregational Christian Churches, June 20-27, 1956:

"We note with gratification that our Nation, through decisions made by its highest Court, is now committed to eradicate segregation, based on race, from public services and institutions, including schools and colleges."

*

"It is our firm conviction that the constitutional rights of all persons to engage in free and open discussion of all the issues in race relations must be assured, along with the right to vote and to join organizations of their own choice, without becoming the objects of economic reprisals, threats, or acts of violence."

APPENDIX D

Extract from The Church Speaks: Christian Social Relations, general convention, Episcopal Church, 1955:

"FULL FELLOWSHIP OF RACES IN CHURCH AND COMMUNITY

"Whereas Almighty God, through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, has offered salvation to all the races of mankind; and

"Whereas our church has declared through the general convention, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Congress, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and the World Council of Churches, that unjust social discrimination and segregation are contrary to the mind of Christ and the will of God as plainly recorded in Holy Scripture; and

"Whereas, this church in thanksgiving can proclaim that now in every diocese and missionary district every race has full representation in its councils; and "Whereas, the Supreme Court of these United States has ruled that every citizen shall have open access to the public schools and colleges of the entire Nation: Therefore be it

"Resolved, That the 58th General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America now commends to all the clergy and people of this church that they accept and support this ruling of the Supreme Court, and, that by opening channels of Christian conference and communication between the races concerned in each diocese and community, they anticipate constructively the local implementation of this ruling as the law of the land; and be it further

"Resolved, That we make our own the statement of the Anglican Congress that in the work of the church we should welcome people of any race at any service conducted by a priest or layman of any ethnic origin, and bring them into the full fellowship of the congregation and its organizations.'

APPENDIX E

Extract from The Methodist Church and Race, adopted by the general conference, 1956:

"The teaching of our Lord is that all men are brothers. The Master permits no discrimination because of race, color, or national origin.

"The position of the Methodist Church, long held and frequently declared, is an amplification of our Lord's teaching. "To discriminate against a person solely upon the basis of his race is both unfair and unchristian. Every child of God is entitled to that place in society which he has won by his industry and his character. To deny that position of honor because of the accident of his

birth is neither honest democracy nor good religion' (the Episcopal Address, 1952 and 1956).

"There must be no place in the Methodist Church for racial discrimination or enforced segregation***"

Extract from Social Pronouncements of the 166th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., May 1954:

"RACIAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS

"We receive with humility and thanksgiving the recent decision of our Supreme Court, ruling that segregation in the public schools is unconstitutional-with humility because action by our highest Court was necessary to make effective that for which our church has stood in principle; with thanksgiving because the decision has been rendered with wisdom and unanimity.

"I. Implementing the Supreme Court decision

"We urge all Christians to assist in preparing their communities psychologically and spiritually for carrying out the full implications of the Supreme Court's decision.

"We call upon the members of our churches to cooperate with civic organizations, neighborhood clubs, and community councils as effective means for the accomplishment of racial integration in the public-school system, and to remember that integration must be indivisible in character, insisting that teachers as well as pupils be accorded full opportunity within the school system on the basis of interest, ability, and merit, without reference to race.

"II. Responsibilities of the church

"We commend our church for its continued efforts to make the law of Christ relative to all areas of the church's life. We particularly commend the increasing number of local churches which have become racially and/or culturally integrated and have learned the joy of full Christian fellowship. **

APPENDIX G

Extract from a Statement on Human Relations, by the executive board of the United Lutheran Church in America and the statement of that church's convention, October 1956, on desegregation:

"HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

"Consistent Christian living requires that men shall seek to accord to each other the observance of the following rights and their matching responsibilities:

"6. To share the privileges and obligations of community life, having equal access to all public services, including those related to health, education, recreation, social welfare, and transportation, and receiving equal consideration from persons and institutions serving the public.

"7. To exercise one's citizenship in elections and all the other processes of government, having freedom for inquiry, discussion and peaceful assembly, and receiving police protection and equal consideration and justice in the courts. "Statement on desegregation

"The ULCA, recognizing its deep involvement in the moral crisis confronting the United States in the current controversy over desegregation occasioned by the Supreme Court decision of May 17, 1954, affirms the Statement on Human Relations adopted by the executive board of the ULCA and the Board of Social missions (April 1951), and calls upon all its congregations and people, exercising Christian patience and understanding, to work for the fullest realization of the objectives of that statement.

"We believe that Christians have special responsibilities to keep open the channels of communication and understanding among the different groups in this controversy. Our congregations are encouraged to contribute to the solution of the problem by demonstrating in their own corporate lives the possibility of integration.

"We furthermore state that due heed ought to be given the following principles by all and especially by those holding civil office, since they hold their power under God and are responsible to him for its exercise:

"(1) The public school system so necessary to the maintenance of a democratic, free and just way of life, must be upheld and strengthened. "(2) All parties to the present controversy are in duty bound to follow and uphold due process of law, and to maintain public order."

STATEMENT OF KENNETH LEE SMITH, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF APPLIED CHRISTIANITY IN THE CROZER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, CHESTER, PA., ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST CONVENTION

I am Kenneth Lee Smith, associate professor of applied Christianity in the Crozer Theological Seminary, Chester, Pa. Crozer is one of the accredited theological seminaries of the American Baptist Convention, the organization on whose behalf I appear before you today. The American Baptist Convention wished to go on record at this time in favor of the passage of a civil-rights bill during this session of the 85th Congress.

1

The American Baptist Convention has for many years expressed a growing concern that every citizen of the United States, regardless of race, creed, or color, should enjoy the basic freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, especially those rights embraced by the 14th and 15th amendments of the Constitution. In tracing the resolutions of the American Baptist Convention over the last few years we witness a steadily rising concern over civil rights. The 1953 convention declared that "the American Baptist Convention has repeatedly voiced its concern regarding discriminatory practices in America, and has urged equal treatment of all citizens regardless of race, creed, or color." And it resolved to all its "agencies" and "local churches to remove such practices where they exist among us.' The 1954 convention resolved that "we commend the United States Supreme Court in its historic decision outlawing segregation in public education." It also urged “American Baptists to increase their opposition in other areas of segregation-housing, employment, recreation, and church participation." One of the resolutions adopted by the convention in 1956 said: "We recognize that during the past 10 years great strides have been made in race relations in America. *** Our convention has spoken out against segregation and had repeatedly urged church leaders to work as unceasingly for an unsegregated church as for an integrated society. *** Thus, in prayer and in penitence for our failures, we pledge ourselves to work at all levels for justice, equality, and brotherhood among the races of America.” 3 Many other resolutions could be cited, but these will suffice to show that American Baptists have manifested a growing concern regarding civil rights. To this end, we feel that the 85th Congress should enact a civil-rights bill which will move in the direction of implementing the religious and ethical ideals of the Christian faith.

The American Baptist Convention makes this request at this time because it feels that our Nation and our world is passing through a very critical period. Moreover, we fell that the question of civil rights is very high on the list of those problems which are crucial. What the United States does regarding civil rights at this time may well determine not only the future of the democratic ideal in our society, but also, since we have a crucial role to play in the future of the free world in the face of Communist expansion, the future of the free world as well. Civil rights are therefore crucial for the future of both the democratic ideal in America and the democratic ideal in the world.

Regarding the importance of civil rights for the American ideal, we may record the following: "Our constitutional democracy is founded on the idea of providing justice for all and the equality of opportunity according to individual capacity unimpaired by factors of race, color, or station, or birth, or religion. This is declared simply and unmistakably in our Constitution and tradition, but it is an overwhelming task requiring cotinuous struggle and constant readjustment. *** To provide the quality of justice and a balance of power in the conflicts of men and groups is the basic problem toward which solution our democratic way is dedicated. But this is not an automatic process, and unless we can generate an ethical sensitivity and a loyalty to a justice that transcends our own group demands, our vast interdependent society is always in danger of falling into exploitation and coercion. *** Therefore, democracy itself is dependent on the moral quality of the relations of its people and their capacity to soften

1 Resolution of the American Baptist Convention (May 25, 1953).

2 Ibid. (May 28, 1954).

3 Ibid. (June 22, 1956).

self-interest and prejudice by a loyalty and power that lifts them beyond purely selfish group, class, or racial demands." We do not believe that justice can be legislated. However, we do feel that the excesses of injustice which arise from prejudice may be curtailed by just laws.

Regarding the importance of civil rights for the future of the free world, we may record the following: "By some kind of empathy the United States has come to be identified in the world mind with the equality of men. *** Part of this reputation has been deserved, but *** in light of our professions (there are facts) which do positive damage to the whole cause of freedom and democracy in these days in which the United States has emerged into a position of world leadership. One could even argue that the correction of racial abuses in this country is so vital and integral to the democratic cause to which the American people have dedicated themselves that there can be no quibbling over the remedy if our whole structure is not to be mortally affected. (Laws) should be used (when necessary), since the arguments for gradual social change has too long and too often been abused to be any longer acceptable if we would continue to fill our role of leadership in the free world. It is an extraordinary fact that a world never noted for its racial tolerance in theory or practice has come to look on the United States as a symbol of equality, and that the oppressed turn to America in the hope of finding understanding and an untarnished record. The burden of responsibility thus placed upon us is a heavy one. * * When we are concerned by foreign reactions (to our racial policies) we would do well to remember that in our position we no longer have a private life, and that what we do at home takes on an enlarged, perhaps often exaggerated, importance in the eyes of the world as evidence of what an anxious world can expect of us."5 In order to insure, therefore, both the integrity of the democratic ideal at home and abroad, the American Baptist Convention does hereby respectfully request that a civil rights bill be passed at this time.

The American Baptist Convention is concerned to stress at this time that every citizen of the United States should be assured of the basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. These rights, as they were defined in The President's Commission on Civil Rights (1948) include: (1) the right to safety and security of person; (2) the right to citizenship and its privileges, including the right to vote; (3) the right to freedom of conscience and expression; and, (4) the right to equality of opportunity. In order to implement these rights the American Baptist Convention respectfully requests that a civil rights bill be submitted by this committee to the United States Senate. This bill we feel should include a least the proposals which have been made by the Attorney General of the United States before this committee. These proposals, as we understand them, include: (1) The creation of a bipartisan Commission to investigate asserted violations of law in civil rights, especially involving the right to vote; (2) the creation of a civil-rights division within the Department of Justice to be composed of presidentially appointed assistant Attorneys General; (3) the enactment by the Congress of new laws to aid in the enforcement of voting rights; and (4) the amendment of the laws so as to permit the Federal Government to seek from the civil courts preventive relief in civil rights. This bill does not include all the features which we consider to be important. However, we do feel that it represents an important step in the right direction. We consider it to be a meaningful bill because it provides for (a) the right to vote; (b) the right to security of person; and (c) gives the Attorney General the power to seek injunctions when these principles have been violated.

STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION SUBMITTED BY THE UNITED STATES SECTION OF THE WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM

Prepared by Mrs. Dorothy Hutchinson, member, national board

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, believing that peace in the United States and in the world is inseparable from the protection of individual rights and freedom, is gratified whenever legislation is designed to secure and protect the civil rights of United States citizens. We are encouraged to

A. T. Rasmussen, Christian Social Ethics (New York, Prentice-Hall), 1956, pp. 229–230. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (March 1956), pp. 132, 135.