Black History Moment: Ralph McGill Switches Churches Over An Incident Involving MLK's Son.

Ralph McGill receives a Presidential Medal of Freedom from LBJ (another Caucasian name on the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame) way back in 1964.

WHITE HISTORY: RALPH MCGILL LEAVES SAINT PHILLIPS CONGREGATION, SHAKING THE DUST OFF OF HIS FEET.

There are not too many Caucasians who are immortalized by the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame in Atlanta. Jimmy Carter and Ivan Allen (former Atlanta mayor) were 2004 inductees. The next year, 2005, featured Atlanta Constitution Publisher and anti-segregationist Ralph McGill. Dr. King referred to him as one of the few “enlightened white persons.” His papers reside at Emory University, but he is not particularly well-known these days.

There are several Midtown Atlanta churches that sit on real estate that is currently worth a fortune, but as churches, they are exempt from property taxes. They have the option of “selling out,” and then relocating with a financial windfall, but are not tempted to do so (at present, anyways). One of these is First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, adjacent to the Art Center complex on Peachtree Street in Midtown. Here is their Wikipedia LINK, which reveals that they did not gain a post-slavery black member until 1973.

Another ecclesiastic oasis in crowded Midtown Atlanta is All Saints Episcopal Church, located a block away from the main drag, on West Peachtree. This well-heeled group has colonized almost the entire block that the original 1905 church (one with stained glass by Tiffany) was placed on. It used to be in the country, but it ain’t there now. It is overshadowed in the Atlanta Episcopal landscape by St. Phillips, currently in Buckhead (a church with really horrible acoustics).

The Midtown Atlanta campus of All Saints Episcopal Church encompasses 90% of the block it sits on. Semicircular Egleston Hall, seen at top right, was built in 1918 to resemble Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.

 

I recently acquired a slick history book about All Saints. It frequently occurs that the leadership of Episcopal congregations holds views that are well in advance of those held by the typical member. From 1961-1980, All Saints was led by such a progressive. His name was Rev. Frank Mason Ross. His predecessor, Milton Wood, had inaugurated a policy of welcoming all races to worship services. Rev. Wood got his toe wet by co-signing a “Manifesto” against racist policies, but the church history admits that this document was “half-hearted.” Rev. Frank Ross was more outspoken, often to the point where he offended many in his congregation. But a few were with the Reverend. One was Judge Elbert Tuttle, a defender of Brown v. the Board. Another was the intrepid Mr. McGill.

Ralph McGill was originally (as were most prominent Atlanta Episcopalians) a member of dominant Cathedral of Saint Phillips (this Wikipedia link is not very informative). The Lovett School is associated with St. Phillips. In 1963, Rev. John Morris suggested to Dr. Martin Luther King that he enroll his son in the all-white private school. The school said “no way,” an incident that is now referred to as the Lovett School Controversy. The dean of Lovett school resigned in disgust over this event. Distinguished church member Ralph McGill also resigned, also disgusted, from St. Phillips. He shifted his loyalties south a few miles, to All Saints, and the enlightened leadership of Rev. Frank Ross. When Rev. Ross preached a sermon against the Lovett school at All Saints, several members walked out, also disgusted, but for all the wrong reasons. Judge Tuttle and Ralph McGill served on the church Vestry during this turbulent era. Rather than discussing housekeeping, they instead focused on ways to usher their denomination into modern times, and out of the stone age.

A telegram from Dr. Martin Luther King to Ralph McGill, expressing his condolences upon the passing of Mr. McGill’s wife.

 

Episcopalians, as noted, often exhibit a schizophrenic division between the attitudes displayed by leadership and laity. Before embracing Adventism, I was in my Episcopal Church’s used book store in Flat Rock, NC. It was shortly after the death of former leader Walter Roberts. I was discussing this with the little old lady, and church member, who was watching the till. “He was a terrible liberal, you know!” she complained to me. I replied that, when you had read as many books as the late reverend had, you automatically became a liberal.

Episcopalians are a mixed bag. At one extreme lies black International Civil Rights Walk of Fame inductee, Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu. At the other extreme lies Robert E. Lee. The Episcopal church actively courts African Americans, but, like the Mormons (great evangelizers in Atlanta), they don’t have a lot of inherent attraction for blacks. If you are relatively prosperous, and like to drink, it may be right up your alley. Footnote: Clarence Thomas was briefly Episcopalian, before reconciling with the Catholic church in 1996.

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