MLK IN CHESTER, 1948-1951:
As a long, I mean long time ‘Chesterite’ it just warms my heart to let people know that MLK spent 3 of his most formative years in our town. In fact there is reason to believe that there may have been no MLK without his time in Chester!
When I tell people, who don’t know any better, that young Michael King (believe it or not, Michael was his birth name) spent 3 years in Chester; they are shocked! They are shocked that a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and a world famous figure lived and studied in Chester. I say, yes! Chester PA, 19013. MLK, long before he became MLK, lived, studied and was shaped by the people of Chester, PA, 19013 before it became 19013.
But how could that be? 
Chester? Chester, not 12 miles from Center City, Philadelphia, which at the time was one of the world’s great centers of education, art, literature, music and theology. Chester? Why Chester, at that time was nothing but a “blue collar wearin’, lunch pale totin’, industrial workin’” place where you came to make some money, save some money, and then go back home to Georgia, Virginia, Florida or wherever. But Dr. King, here? Well, my friends, Chester was waiting for him for a long, long time.
Now you may not know this, but young Mr. King had been troubled for quite some time about whether or not the Church could be a tool for social change. The Church was perhaps too “other world oriented.” That is, doesn’t scripture say, “Render unto Caesar all things due unto Caesar.” And certainly Caesar owned this world and everything in it. But young Mr. King wanted to change some things in Caesar’s world, wanted to make this world a place where all could live in peace and harmony. Now young Martin was fortunate to be graduating from Morehouse College and then, President Benjamin Mays, knew of Michael’s concerns about the Church. President Mays also knew about the Crozer Seminary in Chester, PA. President Mays also knew at least two things about Chester:
1. President Mays knew the 
Crozer Seminary there, though loosely affiliated with the Baptist Church, was not wedded to any particular church doctrine. If one had a liberating notion about the Church as a tool for liberation, one was invited to speak at the Crozer Seminary. It was there that King learned in depth about Gandhi and his ideas of non violent protest. Later Dr. King wrote, “From Gandhi I learned my operational technique.”
2. And, just as important, President Mays knew that there was another Morehouse Man living in Chester. This Morehouse Man was also a graduate of the Crozer Seminary. This man, most of you know, was Rev. Dr. J. Pius Barbour, the 
great former Pastor, of our host, Calvary Baptist. You see, young Martin was only 19 when he would arrive in our town. Age 19 is pretty young to be far away from home and on your own, but President Mays knew that in Rev. Dr. Barbour, young Michael would truly be in “good hands.”
From Rev. Barbour King he honed his position on non violent protest. He had to because Dr. Barbour believed that non violence was the tool of the rich and powerful and not very useful for the poor and powerless. And so the two men debated, often until long into the night.
There were also two other people who were living in Chester and waiting for Martin. And they are Mrs. Olee Barbour, wife of Dr. Barbour, and her good friend and colleague, Mrs. Ruth L. Bennett. These women actively fought for social justice and were leading figures in the NAACP who also helped found a home for young women with children--all while being wife, mother, and helpmate. Where they the models for someone like Coretta King? One can only speculate. But again in 1948 there was the Crozer Seminary, Rev. Dr. Barbour, Mrs. Olee Barbour, Mrs. Ruth L. Bennett, and the good people of Chester waiting here for Martin…and waiting here to shape him into becoming Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
If you want to here more historic jewels regarding the life of Dr. King come see Dr. Cavin speak on MLK Day (January 17th, 2011) at Crozer Hall, Crozer Medical Center, 2pm.
