From George W. Davis
Author: Davis, George W. (Washington) (Crozer Theological Seminary)
Date: December 7, 1953
Location: Chester, Pa.
Genre: Letter
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Education
Details
Dear Martin:—
I was delighted to have your letter last week, mentioning the review of DeWolf’s book and telling me at some length about your work. I am very grateful for your kind words and your confidence in the work I am trying to do here. Sometimes one wonders whether one’s efforts are appreciated and whether they bear fruit. So your letter has heartened me considerably.
You have chosen an excellent dissertation topic. It presents striking contrasts in method and content and I think you can do a good piece of work with it. May I call your attention to an article in Theology Today for July, 1953, which it will profit you to read it you have not done so already. It is an article by Robert C. Johnson entitled “The Jesus of History and the Christian Faith.” The reflections on the approach and conclusions of Tillich seem to me to be very important.1
Our life here goes on about as usual. Perhaps the student body is slightly larger than when you were here. We can find sixty odd B.D. Students with a springling of ten or so specials of one kind or another. There is a good spirit among the students. We are hopeful of the future.
I trust that you will have a pleasant Christmas season. Give my regards to your father when you see him or write to him. Best wishes for a distinguished conclusion to your dissertation plans.
Ever sincerely,
[signed] George W. Davis
1. King did not cite this article in his dissertation.
Source: MLKP-MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Mass.