Report to Church Study and Reference Committee

In response to the controversy over the seating of black persons in the congregation of First Baptist Church of Atlanta, the church established the Church Study and Reference Committee to study the issues and report to the congregation. Rod Nave was selected as a member of that committee. He was at that time a graduate student in physics at Georgia Tech. At the first meeting of the Committee on September 22, 1963 he submitted this report as a summary of the events since April 21 of that year. Paper copies of that report are on file.

Report to Church Study and Reference Committee

Rod Nave, September 22, 1963

The following is a chronological summary of events which have taken place in the past six months concerning the seating of negroes in the First Baptist Church of Atlanta.

Sunday, April 21: Four negro students from Morehouse College entered the church through the educational building and took seats in the sanctuary, disregarding the requests of ushers that they be seated downstairs in the auxiliary auditorium. As I was seated in the choir, I noticed that three men were standing around a negro boy seated to my left near the rear of the auditorium. They lifted him from his seat by his arms and ushered him from the auditorium. Another negro boy was seated about one-third of the way back on my left. As he was taken from his seat, he folded his knees and was carried down the aisle out the back of the auditorium. Another student was taken out the front of the sanctuary before the choir came in. The fourth student, sitting to my right near the front, remained during the whole service.

Tuesday, April 23: The Atlanta Constitution carried a story of Sunday's incident on the front page. There was also a story in the Journal.

Thursday, April 25: Having heard many and varied stories about the Sunday incident and about the motives and purposes of the negro students, a group of seven Tech students went to the Morehouse College campus to ask the negro students why they came to the church.

The negro students were questioned closely about why they came to the church. They stated explicitly that their motives for coming to the church were purely individual .. that their coming had no connection whatever with any nationally organized effort; that it had no connection with lunch counter sit-ins, etc.; that they had received no money from anyone for this; and that they were not interested in publicity.

One student stated that he had admired the services at First Baptist for a long time, having watched them on television. He said that as a ministerial student, he felt that he could gain a lot from Dr. McClain, from the music, and from the services.

As to the reason for their method of entry on Sunday morning, they said that on previous occasions when negro students had been seated in the sanctuary, they had found the ushers hostile, but the people in the sanctuary cordial. Hence, they had gotten the impression that although the ushers would not admit them, the members of the congregation would welcome them, once they were inside. Thus on April 21 they felt that if they went into the sanctuary early, they could worship without a big disturbance.

The Tech students explained to them that this impression was not entirely correct. The ushers had, in most cases, refused them admission because of the church policy and because they felt that a large number of the congregation did not wish them seated .. that seating them would disturb the worship. They explained that most of the young people of the church would probably welcome them into the services, but as age increased, there was increasing opposition to their being seated. It was explained that some of these feelings were deep-seated and long standing, and that hostility was certainly not confined to the ushers.

The negro students said that they felt that refusing them admission to the sanctuary on the basis of the color of their skin was flatly contradictory to the teachings of Christ. The Tech students were in agreement with this but pointed out to them that much of the opposition was due to the belief that their reasons for coming were other than to warship. It was suggested to them that if they were going to come to the church, they accept the seating provided in the auxiliary auditorium. They were told that some white students would sit down there also and in this way they would have an opportunity to demonstrate to the congregation that their only motive for coming was to worship.

Sunday, April 28: Several (7-10) negro students came to the church ansd were seated in the auxiliary auditorium. Included were negro boys from Morehouse College and girls from Spellman College. About twenty white students also sat in the auxiliary auditorium. They were watched closely by a rather large number of men and were not permitted to go out the front of the church, but there were no unfortunate incidents.

Wednesday, May 8: A totally unrelated group of negro students from the Interdenominational Theological Center, having no previous knowledge of the situation at the church except what they had read in the newspapers, came to the church at prayer meeting time. Upon being refused admittance to the main sanctuary, they had their own prayer meeting on the front steps of the church.

Sunday, May 12: Several students from Morehouse and Spellman came to the church and were seated in the auxiliary auditorium. They were received with a much more belligerent attitude on the part of some of the men and received a lot of verbal abuse. Obviously, many did not distinguish between them and the ones who came on Wednesday night.

Wednesday, May 15: A group from the I.T.C. again came to the church and had a prayer meeting on the front steps of the church.

Sunday, May 19: Students from Morehouse and Spellman came to the church on Sunday morning. There was a large group of men at the front of the church. Negro students were not permitted to enter the front doors at all but were directed to the side door. Just inside the side door, 8-10 men were standing to prevent them from getting near the main sanctuary. The atmosphere was charged and the men were very hostile, even in permitting them to go downstairs. Two negro students remained outside the church. A photographer was manhandled while trying to take pictures of the negroes. A white boy walked up to the two negro boys. A group of four or five men walked to the edge of the front porch and glared at him. The asked him if he was a member of the church and he replied "yes". Then one of the men said to him, "Now you're getting down to your level, aren't you! We'd rather have them than you!"

This was Youth Sunday and supposedly no adult ushers were on duty, yet about twice as many men as usually serve were out front. They more or less pushed the youth ushers aside. A number of men remained in the foyer during the entire worship service.

Wednesday, May 22: Several students from I.T.C. returned at prayer meeting hour. Several students from Tech and also students from Morehouse had contacted them to try to persuade them not to come on Wednesday night since this seemed to be inflaming the situation further. After this Wednesday night they informed the Tech students that they would not return any more in the spring, but would probably return in the fall.

Sunday, May 26: Several negroes came to the church but declined to sit downstairs. The service was not televised that morning. Because of the nature of their reception, most of the Morehouse and Spellman students were by this time convinced that their coming and sitting downstairs was not convincing the people of their intent to worship. Thereafter, no large groups from Morehouse and Spellman came to the church. Smaller groups, mostly boys, came for two or three more Sundays.

Sunday, June 23, AM: Four negro boys and two negro girls came to the 4th street side entrance to the church. They were allowed to enter, but a large group of men were gathered to see that they didn't get to the sanctuary. A middle aged woman came up to one of the negro girls and used profanity and vulgarity in insulting her to her face. Embarrassed, the negro girl left the foyer, but the woman followed, still calling names. The negro boys were perhaps more dumbfounded by this than anything else that happened to them. One negro boy commented, "..and she had a Bible under her arm .. as a matter of fact, it was a big Bible!"

The negro boys then attempted to talk to some of the men near the side door. They were told harshly that they were blocking the door and were pushed outside. Then side doors were then closed and people were directed around to the front of the church.

Sunday, June 23, PM: Five negro students and three white students from the "Committee on Appeal for Human Rights" came to the church early and were seated in the sanctuary before any of the ushers arrived. This was the first appearance of this group at the church. They had no relation to the other groups which had come and had little information about the situation other than the newspaper reports.

They were asked to either leave the church or go to the auxiliary auditorium, but refused to do either, so were allowed to remain. The auditorium was darkened and the people were held in the foyer until service time. Rev. Arnold Smith spoke to the people in the foyer and they were then allowed to enter. Ushers were posted at each end of the pew on which the negroes sat. No one was allowed to sit either on that row or the rows immediately in front of and behind it.

After the service, the negroes were marched out of the sanctuary between two rows of ushers. A Tech student attempted to shake hands with one of them as he went out. He was prevented from doing so and was pushed out of the front door onto the front porch where he found himself in a circle of eight or ten men. He was pushed back and forth, feeling both closed and open fists as he was pushed, and hearing profane language under their breaths. One man grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. Rev. Arnold Smith waded in and got him out of the group. A bystander advised the student to press charges for assault and battery.

Week beginning June 23: Several Tech students contacted students from Morehouse. They advised them not to come back to the church, for the time being at least. It was evident that they would now not even be seated downstairs, and their presence, standing out front, only served to inflame an already bad situation. The Morehouse students were concerned that the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights and other groups might start large scale demonstrations. One Morehouse student in particular urged the Tech students to warn the church of what might lie ahead.

Sunday, June 30: Rev. Ashton Jones, two negro men, a negro boy, and a white girl came to the church. After some time the two negro men left and went across the street to the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Rev. Ashton Jones proceeded to talk to the people entering the church about "worshipping a segregated God". A group of men gathered around him. They talked to him for some time and some began to push him down the steps. Rev. Ashton Jones sat down on the steps. A man grabbed him by the foot and dragged him down the steps and onto the brick sidewalk. As he was dragged onto the brick sidewalk, he began to scream loudly for help. The man let him go and after some time, Rev. Jones got up and went back to the steps where he remained through the church service.

Rev. Jones returned to the church about 45 minutes before the evening service. He again 'preached' to the people coming in, and again refused to leave the premises. He attempted to enter the church but was refused admittance. Police were called and he was arrested on charges of disturbing public worship and disorderly conduct.

Sunday, July 7: White and negro students from the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights picketed the church at both morning and evening services. Rev. Jones was present and handed out tracts.

Monday, July 8: Four students from Tech talked with members of the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights, including Rev. Jones. They tried to explain to them the already inflamed situation at the church and that further incidents which just inflamed would do nobody any good. The members of the Committee, particularly Rev. Jones, were unwilling to remove the pickets. He expressed the opinion that the situation at the church was fundamentally unchristian and that focusing the bright light of public opinion on the situation would heal it. He admitted that he was not greatly concerned about this particular church .. but was concerned about the world problem of hatred for ones brother. He was unwilling to consider another method and was, in fact, working toward larger demonstrations.

Sunday, July 14: About nine negro and white students picketed the church during the morning service. A large number of newsmen with newsreel cameras were on hand. A member of the church, an ordained minister, told the picketers that if they wanted to hear the gospel, he would preach it to them. They removed their signs and he preached a 10 minute evangelistic sermon. The sermon received newspaper, radio, and television newsreel coverage. When the sermon was finished, the students picked up their signs and resumed picketing.

On Sunday night two negro and three white students again came early and were seated in the sanctuary. Another group came later and was refused admittance even to the auxiliary auditorium. Feeling ran very high that night. An elderly man broke into profanity inside the sanctuary. A lady ran up and down the halls reportedly telling everyone, "The auditorium is full of niggers!". This night and the night of June 23 were perhaps the peak points of anger which led to almost irrational action on the part of members of the congregation. At these times the emotional pitch was so high that there was real danger of serious physical violence within the House of God!

Sunday, July 21: Dr McClain announced the Church Study and Reference Committee.

Tuesday, July 23: Four Tech students met with members of the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights. (Rev. Jones was not present at this meeting.) They explained to the members the church's desperate need for a breathing spell if anyone was to think rationally about this matter. They were told of the committee to be appointed at the church and the fact that it would consider this matter. The members of the Committee on Appeal for Human Rights agreed to cease all demonstrations to give the church committee a chance to consider the matter. They said they would send a letter to Dr. McClain, stating that they would withdraw all demonstrations until September 15. At this time they said that if no effort had been made by the church, they would consider what course to take. The letter never materialized but the demonstrations ceased.

For the church, discussions led by the committee ultimately led to a proposal to the membership of Atlanta First Baptist Church to admit all who came to worship regardless of race. This proposal was mailed to the membership and approved by a large majority of the returned ballots. It was announced to the membership of the church on December 21, 1963.

Report in Atlanta Journal & Constitution, December 22, 1963

For the church, discussions led by the committee ultimately led to a proposal to the membership of Atlanta First Baptist Church to admit all who came to worship regardless of race. This proposal was mailed to the membership and approved by a large majority of the returned ballots. It was announced to the membership of the church on December 21, 1963.