To J. Raymond Henderson
Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr.
Date: July 10, 1956
Location: Montgomery, Ala.?
Genre: Letter
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Family
Martin Luther King, Jr. - Travels
Details
King thanks the Los Angeles minister and his wife, Velva Henderson, for their hospitality and anticipates their next meeting in Denver at the National Baptist Convention's annual conference in September.
The Rev. J. Raymond Henderson, Minister
Second Baptist Church
Griffith Avenue and 24th Street
Los Angeles 11, California
Dear Rev. Henderson:
I have written you and your lovely wife a thousand times in my mind but I am just getting to the point of putting it on paper. There is a word in Catholic Theology called “supererogation” which means in substance “more than justice requires.” I can assure you that the kind hospitality that you and Mrs. Henderson rendered toward Mrs. King and me was a work of supererogation. Words can never adequately express our appreciation to you. To have been able to preach in your great church for a week was an unsurpassable experience. To have been in your palatial home was living life in all of its abundance. I only hope that some day we will be able to return the kindness in some little way.
We had a very nice trip back to Montgomery. The NAACP Convention went over in a big way. We arrived in Montgomery on Saturday evening, June 30, in time to get plenty of rest for the Sunday morning service. We found our little daughter doing fine and still growing as fast as ever.
Things are going very well here in Montgomery now. Rev. Fields seems to be in line, and the internal structure of our organization is as strong as ever.
I hope things are going well with you and Mrs. Henderson. Be sure to tell the madam that she is one of the most charming and impressive minister’s wives that I have ever met. She gets “A” on my book straight down the line. Give my best regards to all of my friends in Los Angeles and to all of the members of your church.
Again, I say I will never forget this experience. And I will never forget your real genuine friendship.
Sincerely yours,
M. L. King, Jr.
MLK:b
P.S. We will look forward to seeing you in Denver.
Source: MLKP, MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Boston University, Boston, Mass.