1,500 March in Trenton
McIntire Hosts Battle for Shelton
From the Camden Courier Post of July 31, 1969
By Robert Gatty

TRENTON (UPI) – Mrs. Gertrude Speck a gray-haired grandmother from Huntingdon, PA., said she marched the streets of Trenton to “defend Shelton College.”

So did some 1,500 other “Bible Believer” followers of radio preacher Carl McIntire, president of the 182-student Cape May County college.

“We believe in the miracle working power of God,” a smiling Mrs. Speck told a newsman, as she sat in the shade in her lawn chair while the parade formed near the State House here yesterday.

McIntire, Pastor of Collingswood’s Bible Presbyterian Church and leader of the conservative, fundamentalist International Council of Christian Churches, had summoned his faithful to protest a move by the State Higher Education Department to withdraw the accreditation of Shelton.

The outspoken preacher had wanted 10,000 to come, but was happy with his crowd of Bible clutching, flag waving middle class Americans, many dressed in gingham knee-length dresses, and conservative suits.

Before it was all over, McIntire pledged to pull a repeat performance on Saturday, Oct. 25. “And I’m sure that George Wallace will be with us for that occasion,” he told the cheering crowd.

Waving his hand, a wide grin on his face, McIntire promised to”have enough to take over this town,” the next time around.

Speaking from the steps of the War Memorial Building two blocks from the State House, McIntire, 63, blasted the “liberal” Gov. Richard J. Hughes and Higher education Chancellor Ralph A. Dungan, whom he asserted are in league with his liberal church enemies to conspire against him.

19 Charges

Dungan has outlined 19 charges contending the college does not meet state standards. The Board of Higher education has recessed hearings on the issue.

McIntire told his followers about the dangers of liberalism, communism, and modernism.

“We will not surrender,” he yelled, his raspy voice carrying across the large lawn into the State House itself. “We will not compromise our principles. We are here to win a complete and total victory.”

McIntire read letters supporting his movement from Georgia Gov. Lester Maddox, Wallace, U.S. Rep. Mendel Rivers, D-S.C., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and U.S.Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C.. He asked Rivers and Thurmond to join in the march, but they could not leave Washington.

And, he said, New Jersey should have a “Bible-believing governor” like Wallace.

Into Ghetto

The radio preacher disavowed any support from the National States Rights Party, a right wing organization espousing separatism and white supremacy. A delegation of party members infiltrated McIntire’s parade.

Earlier, McIntire laid a wreath of plastic flowers at the foot of the city’s historic battle monument, in the heart of the ghetto, declaring “The God who gave Washington victory will give victory to us.”

The 78-year-old monument commemorates George Washington’s victory in the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolution. It was the scene of racial disturbances last summer. A group of Negroes sitting in a park nearby ignored the proceedings.

No Sex

At the outdoor rally, McIntire led the crowd in a round of hymn singing and there were speeches from some of his supporters.

He attacked the practice of teaching sex in the public schools and called for “putting the Bible back in school.” He left the crowd with this slogan: “The teaching of sex without the teaching of sin is the work of Satan.” The crowd, mostly middle-aged and which included few Negroes, chanted it three times.

As McIntire neared the close of his address, his voice reaching a crescendo, veins standing out on his face, he rebuked a group of reporters for not paying attention to his words about Maddox.

His Reporters

Leaning forward on the podium, his blue eyes blazing he said:

“We’ve got some leftist, liberal reporters down here making fun of me. Let’s see what kind of stories they write in their papers tomorrow.”

At this point, a little gray haired woman turned to the newsmen, and yelled: “String ’em up.” The crowd cheered.

Later McIntire thanked the press for its coverage of his drive, “even those two reporters who laughed at me.”