Dr. Edler Hawkins interview on becoming Moderator with David Poling, 1964

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  • speaker
    Good afternoon, this is David Poling reporting from the United Presbyterian Church General Assembly at Oklahoma City this afternoon, the assembly has elected Dr. Edler G. Hawkins of St. Augustine Presbyterian Church in New York City as its moderator, and I have Dr. Hawkins here at our microphone. I would like to, first of all, congratulate you, Dr. Hawkins, on your election.
  • speaker
    Thank you very much.
  • speaker
    This must be an exciting time in your life, and many people have offered their congratulations for your new post.
  • speaker
    Exciting and the kind of indescribable joy.
  • speaker
    I know that you came within two or three votes in Cleveland three years ago, and now it seems only right that this should confirmed the interest of their General Assembly.
  • speaker
    Well, I don't know.
  • speaker
    It's a confirmation assembly. Dr. Hawkins, I'd like to ask you several questions. This assembly seems to have many important issues before it is Presbyterian seek to make relevant their faith. Do you feel that this one hundred and seventy six assembly will ratify or continue to support the effective work that was done at Des Moines? Do you see this as a supporting assemblage of that work?
  • speaker
    Oh yes, I believe it will be. And I don't think this is wishful thinking at all. Our church has committed itself to this way as the path down which it needs to go to fulfill its ministry and its mission, and I don't believe that it will turn back. I believe we're solidly committed.
  • speaker
    So you feel that the Commission on Religion and Race and other efforts of the church are in the direction that should continue and that this assembly will want to support.
  • speaker
    I'm sure it will.
  • speaker
    I know, Dr. Hawkins, that you're aware that there is a overture to the General Assembly that is, in a sense, censoring Dr. Eugene Carson Blake, the state ID card for some of his activities in the field of race. Do you feel that this is going to hamper the work or the assembly will ignore this kind of censure move?
  • speaker
    I think the Assembly will recognize that everyone has not reached this level of commitment nor understanding of the issues of race, and that there will be voices that will still urge that we hold back and hold off. I do not think that this represents the main body of a of a denomination denomination such as ours. I believe that we are going to move ahead.
  • speaker
    Dr. Hawkins we have concern by many Christians and Presbyterians around the country that the civil rights movement is going too fast and too far, that it's filling the country with unhappiness and agitation. How do you respond to such a question like this?
  • speaker
    Well, the people who say this is too fast or that the Negro community has gone too far really do not understand what has happened and is continuing to happen within a minority group such as the Negro community. The moment they begin to understand this, they will understand that we are slow still in this area and that movement has to be faster, really, that it is.
  • speaker
    I like your word. Understand. How do you feel that the average white person could gain a better understanding of the social revolution that seems to be occurring in our day?
  • speaker
    Well, for one thing, the church is trying to say over and over again that when people really get involved, they understand more of this. I'm thinking of what has happened. And I think it's one of the most significant aspects of, let's say, the Hattiesburg experience, where as a denomination, we, although the were identified with the National Council of Churches, provided the main body of the troops really for that experience. And I believe that the most important thing really that happened as a result of Hattiesburg was the feeding back into the communities from which these men came. They went, they saw, they understood they entered into the lives and the experiences and some of the things that have been happening every day, really in the life of the people in those communities, they came back with a kind of understanding that they have never had before. And it seems to me that this is the thing that produces people from one side of the fence to the other and the degree to which people get involved at some level of the struggle and being involved. Understand it better.
  • speaker
    Dr. Hawkins what? Do you see in the coming year for your own activities as moderator of the General Assembly, where would you like to put your personal effort and word as you go about the country and even some overseas trips? Do you see it continuing into the field, for instance, of the ecumenical movement, as well as our leadership as a church in the race question?
  • speaker
    Yes, I would hope that this would be one of the great emphases for a year such as this, Dr. Blake has already established himself for our church as as one who is providing really a shift in the unity of the church. I believe this needs to be pushed further. I would hope that our denomination would be in the very middle of this kind of concern. I hope it is going to be to the extent to which I would have anything to do with it. I would say this would be a major concern for the church this year.
  • speaker
    Dr. Hawkins, I want to thank you. This is a very busy day for you and we want to congratulate you again on your election and also look forward to visiting with you again.
  • speaker
    Thank you. Thank you very much. Should be here.

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