From R. D. Nesbitt
Author: Nesbitt, R. D. (Robert D.) (Dexter Avenue Baptist Church)
Date: May 13, 1954
Location: Montgomery, Ala.
Genre: Letter
Topic: Martin Luther King, Jr. - Career in Ministry
Details
My dear Pastor:
I too, am very sorry that I did not get a chance to see you again before leaving our city. Been looking everywhere for the ordination program and just got my hands on one to-day. This belongs to Brother McGhee so please return it when finished. This will let you see how it was done, however feel free to go about it as you desire as we have no set pattern for it to be done. I would like to suggest that you think inturns of Reverend Parker or Lamberth to deliver the ordination sermon.1 This is only a suggestion.
The organ dedication was one swell affair. It was simply grand and everybody who was present said so. Had a nice crowd inspite of the threat of rain all day. In our financial effort that morning we raised $1,017.25, and at the recital in the afternoon $46.00 which to me was not bad. After all there was very little work or effort put into it by any of us. We hope to still get some more on Sunday. They started painting on the inside Monday.
Trust everything goes well with you and the wife, and looking forward to two big Sunday’s with you present on May 30th and June 6th.
Sincerely yours,
[signed] Bro. Nesbitt.
P.S.—Got the books for the deacons to be ordained to study.
1. Joseph C. Parker, Sr., was pastor of Montgomery’s Hall Street Baptist Church; B. D. Lambert was pastor of Maggie Street Baptist Church.
Source: MLKP, MBU, Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers, 1954-1968, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University, Boston, Mass.