By M.R. Dunnagan in Charlotte Observer
Durham, May 23—Announcement that an atheist has accepted the challenge extended recently by Dr. T.T. Martin, who established headquarters in Charlotte some time ago to wage an anti-evolution fight in this state, will take an added interest when it becomes known that the Ku Klux Klan of the Queen City, soon after the challenge was extended, held a meeting and decided definitely and positively that no atheist would speak In that city.
Statement of the decision of the Klan in this connection was made to the writer by a man who admitted he was a member of the Charlotte organization and who, it is well established, is not without standing in that body.
Just what method would be employed to prevent an atheist from speaking was not disclosed, but there was no indecision as to the determination that one should not speak in the city on the ground that it would not be for the best interest of a religious and church-going community for a non-believer in God and the Bible to be spreading his propaganda among its people.
Suggestion was made that a delegation of the robed knights might meet any such outsider at the station when he alighted from the train and give him a quick send-off, probably on the same train bringing him in, if it passed on through, or on the next one going out. Another suggestion was that efforts would be made to get the city and county officials to decline to allow any public building to be used for such a debate, and that others having charge of buildings in which it could be held be urged not to permit their use.
This report of the action of the Charlotte Klan was made, after the challenge had been issued, but before the challenge was accepted and said he would meet the fundamentalist speaker will be watching with interest.
From the editorial page of the Salisbury Daily Tribune, May 24, 1926, J.B. Sherrill, editor and publisher.
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-05-24/ed-1/seq-4/
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