◆ SpookStack

Aaa a my 4 # 8 i 7 fo wy Tracy City, Tennessee ‘Dear kylest— | - . a . This, to my nind, ‘ds a thoroughly honest end perfedtly concise expression of ‘the problem you present. i cannot see how ur. McGrath can fail to unde r= stand its significance, and wide rstanding, fail to take steps toward the prse= “vention of future troub).e. Please feel frea to use m as a reference if you have such need, I am always willing to speak or write my convictions regarding your p*rsonal inte- grity and the high purpose of Highlander, i was here sone years before you came. The newness of your program aroused wonder and even suspicion in the community. We heard wild tales of commmistic intent, alliance with Russia, machine guns in the attic and varous forms of aanceé MACTI AHS te reer eee Cae immorality. People cam to me with these extrabagant rumors, begging me to "do something about it." I did do Something. I visited the school when you and Don viest gave a "play-party" Zor the children of our commmity. I went again when Jim Dombrowski started a Bible study class. tie learned a good deal about social conditions in the days of Amos and Micah, I went to a meeting held after a neighbor's house had burned down and you started plans - and funds - for building a new home for him, I went to a Christman party where I helped with the children's games and saw you play Santa Chaus with a bag of presents. Once I went to a sewing bee, another neighborhood benefit, I was sick at the time the P, T. A. was organized in your living room, but 1 heard all about it. I heard, too, of other "good deeds" -= by this tim the neighbors had something else to talk about than the fearful fantasies of the early day8e One dark night, Jim went a good way to bring a doctor for cne of my school girls in tine to save her and her Laby. "“Ididn't know there were such good folks,” pms neighbor woman said, Then I heard about the time that Claudia Lewis, the Nurse ry School teacher, and another one from Highlander, Prepared alt. that ‘was needful to bury a little child in a very poor family, ail these things and many more convinced mé that your purpose and plan gor coming to live in our community was essentially good and had no ulterior motive. En later years I have learned more of your practical program, your concept of true democracy in your policy of non-discrimination, non-segregation, and your ‘actual example in living what yoy believe. I know a minister who said, "I wigh To anwid feel that I came a5 near as liyles Horton to real consecration to the Cause of real } Christianity."