031958-Special Session362
MINUTES
City Commission, Sanford, Florida,spe.clal-' March 19 at ~0?A~,~M9 58
The City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida met in Special session at the
City Hall in the City of Sanford, Florida at 10:00 o'clock A. M. March 19, 1958.
Present:
Commissioner Merle Warner, Mayor
R.S. Brown
" D.M. Gatchel
, Earl Higginbotham
A.L. Wilson
City Attorney Wm. C. Hutchison
City Manager W. E. Knowles
Deputy Clerk H. N. Tatum, Jr.
Police Chief R. G. Williams
Absent: City Clerk H. N. Sayer
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman who announced that the meeting was
called Kith reference to receipt of a letter from the Rt. Rev. Henry I. Louttit, Bishop of
Episcopal Church, Diocese of South Florida.
All members of the Commission being present, moved by Commissioner Gatchel to waive
the requirement of written notice of this called meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Wilson,
and on roll call the vote stands as follows:
Commiss loner Warner Yea
" Brown Ye a
, Gatchel Yea
, Higginbotham Yea
" Wi ls on Yea
Mayor Warner then submitted the letter received from Bishop Louttit as follows:
Winter Park, Florida
March 18, 1958
The Hon. Merle Warner
Mayor, City of Sanford
Sanford, Florida
Honorable and Dear Sir:
Although this letter is addressed to you it is written both to you
and to the other members of the City Commission of the City of Sanford.
Upon my return late last week from a series of speaking engagements I
read in the news article in the Orlando Sentinel of March 13th., regard-
ing the discussion in the City Council of Sanford about the proposed
meeting of the Thirty-sixth Annual Convention of the Diocese of South
Florida, to be held. in Sanford, April 22-24. This letter is written to
assure you that in our planning we did not wish to embarrass any members
of the City Government.
The Episcopal Church in South Florida was organized as a missionary
district in 1892 with both negro and white congregations. Annually since
that year we have had a convention with both negro and white delegates in
attendance, meeting from time to time in many cities and towns' in the
diocese (these meetings were held in Sanford in 1893, 1919, 19~0 and
1939). At no time previously has the question of race relations, to the '..' ~ .~.)~
best of my knowledge and belief, been raised in connection with these
meetings. To us this is not a matter of segregation or integration, it
is simply doing what the Church has done for 2000 years in accordance
with the e×pressed teaching of our Lord., i.e., minister to all sorts and
conditions of men.
However, since the question has been raised we are happy to advise
you that of course we shall not meet in Sanford as planned in April.
Trusting that this will prove a happy solution to your problem, I am
Very truly yours,
s/ Henry I. Louttit,
BISHOP OF SOUTH FLORIDA
After consideration, moved by Commissioner Wilson, seconded by Commissioner Gatchel
and carried, authorizing the City Manager to acknowledge receipt of the above letter of
of
cancellation by Bishop Louttit/both the ~oposed Convention to be held in Sanford and the
use of the Civic Center.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned.