To Charles E. Batten
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr.
Date: June 5, 1956
Location: Montgomery, Ala.?
Genre: Letter
Topic: Montgomery Bus Boycott
Nonviolence
Details
King responds to a 10 March letter from his former dean at Crozer.1“These must be terrifically trying as well as challenging days for you,” Batten had written, “and I wanted you to know that one who was always interested in you and had great confidence in you, still feels that you are ‘one of my boys.”’
The Rev. Charles E. Batten, Rector
Parish of the Epiphany
70 Church Street
Winchester, Mass.
Dear Dean Batten:
Although you are no longer Dean, I would feel strange not calling you “Dean.” It was a real pleasure receiving your letter several weeks ago. I have been intending to drop you a note for quite some time, but an extremely busy schedule plus the accumulation of a flood of mail delayed my reply.
We are still involved in the non-violent protest against injustice here in Montgomery. I have been deeply moved by the dignity, discipline and wise restraint that have characterized our people throughout the protest. We have avoided hate and animosity on every hand. We are using passive resistance as our instrument and love as the regulating ideal.
I hope everything goes well with you and your family. Please extend my best regards to Mrs. Batten and the boys.
Cordially yours,
M. L. King, Jr.
MLK:b
1. In 1954 Batten left Crozer to become minister of education at the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester. Massachusetts.
Source: MLKP-MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Boston University, Boston, Mass.