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REVEREND JAMES W. JONES: CHAMPION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST THE MILITANTS
Rev. James W. Jones is the “highly regarded” pastor of the largest congregation in Northern California: Peoples Temple Christian Church, with 15,000 active members statewide, of which 8,000 are in Los Angeles. He preaches in Los Angeles every week. He is an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a denomination of 5,000 churches in North America having a nation-wide membership of 1.4 million. He has served the same congregation for 23 years. And for years he has, without seeking acclaim, set about one of the toughest jobs that a clergyman could: championing the police, the “system,” and nonviolence against the militants in the seething city ghettoes.
He has not only survived, but he has won over many, many militants, white and black (most of these have since become so loyal as to defy expectations). He has done this while administering a human service ministry which has rehabilitated over 200 young people from harmful drugs, established three senior citizen homes for people lonely and old, operated an animal refuge which takes in abandoned animals, and set up a college program involving more than 100 young people(many of them live in church sponsored-dormitories and have dedicated their studies in medicine and other disciplines to the service of their fellow man). He continually acts to meet emergency needs in the community (for example, he gave $300 to the families of each victim killed in the recent San Francisco rampage of “Zebra” murders)
Rev. Jones has done this while serving in various important civic positions, including Foreman of the Grand Jury, member of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission (for his civic leadership one of Northern California’s largest newspapers gave him in 1972 its Special Merit Award). And he has done all this while caring for his family, consisting of his dedicated wife, Marceline, a registered nurse, and their many children, both natural and adopted.
What follows are some observations of Rev. Jones by others (somewhat randomly collected).
* * Motivates People to Help On The Spot
* OAKLAND TRIBUNE: “HILLSBOROUGH * * * During a moving exchange with a group of representatives from the Peoples Temple Christian Church, which collected $2,000 from its members, Mrs. Hearst said, ‘I hope this helps insure that Patricia has a life ahead of her to live and shows her to be as helpful to other people as you’ve been in her case–I thank you from the bottom of my heart, all of you.’ * * * Another member of the church
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delegation, Michael Prokes, told Mrs. Hearst: ‘Our pastor, Jim Jones, has taught us to put human life above all things and to put aside racial, religious and partisan differences. We feel that if all those who profess to believe in the traditional religious concepts of brotherhood would come forward and just support her in whatever small way they could, it would be significant.’ Mrs. Hearst responded, ‘This is so wonderful.’”
(Oakland Tribune, February 14, 1974)
*WASHINGTON POST: “The hands-down winners of anybody’s tourists-of-the-year award have got to be the 660 wonderful members of the People’s Temple Christian Church of Redwood Valley, Calif. – who bend over backwards to leave every place they visit more attractive than when they arrived. * * * The church’s clean-up campaign has earned them friends everywhere they’ve visited, according to the group’s leader, the Rev. Jim Jones.”
(The Washington Post, August 18, 14, 1973)
* * Incurs Bomb Threats and Arson
* BOMB: “SAN FRANCISCO—A bomb with a burned-down fuse was found yesterday on a bus owned by the People’s Temple of Redwood Valley. Mike Prokes, associate pastor, said the bomb was found under the fuel bus tank. * * * Prokes and Rev. Jones are two of the temple members who have offered themselves as hostages in exchange fro the release of Patricia Hearst. * * * Prokes said the investigator also said the temple’s opposition to militancy and its non-violent stand may have cause the bomb scare. The incident is being investigated by San Francisco police.”
(The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, March 11, 1974)
* JONES REMOVED: “SAN FRANCISCO – An apparent attempt on the life of Jim Jones, pastor of the Peoples Temple Christian Church, failed early yesterday morning in San Francisco when the fuse of an explosive device containing nitroglycerin sputtered out. * * * Rev. Jones, himself, crawled under the bus and removed the deadly bomb.”
(Ukiah Daily Journal, March 11, 1974)
* ARSON: “SAN FRANCISCO—* * * The Peoples Temple church at 1859 Geary Boulevard was burned out last August, an act that was possibly traceable to a militant organization.”
(Ukiah Daily Journal, March 11, 1974)
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* * Supports Police Consistently For Years
* SLAIN POLICEMEN: “Peoples Temple Christian Church, which has a congregation in the Fillmore District, has started a fund to aid the families of slain policemen. ‘We are utterly horrified by this move to murder police all over this nation,’ the Reverend James Jones . . . told the Chronicle yesterday. The Disciples of Christ congregation started off the fund … to the families [of a Berkeley officer and two]” officers killed last weekend.”
(San Francisco Chronicle, September 4, 1970)
* LAW ENFORCEMENT DAY: “Pastor Jim Jones both to his 4,000 member congregation in San Francisco and the congregation in Redwood Valley * * * will be urging parishioners to support in every way possible law enforcement. The meetings will call for greater respect and for a “Law Enforcement Day.”
(Ukiah Daily Journal, September 4, 1970)
LEGISLATION: “Peoples Temple Christian Church of the Disciples of Christ denomination sponsored talks by Chief Donn Saulsbury of the Ukiah police department … at the Temple’s Community Center. Speaking before an audience of more than 500, they gave a highly informative lecture on narcotics and drugs… The Rev. Jim Jones urged the audience, as he had his congregation, to support AB 374 aiding law enforcement agencies in their communities.”
(Ukiah Daily Journal, March 7, 1969)
* FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: “Pastor Jim Jones is a duly ordained minister of the Disciples of Christ. Having adopted children of all ethnic backgrounds, he feels the necessity of sound law enforcement to serve and protect our communities, both today and in the future. In this light, the church has donated several hundred dollars to each of the following agencies:
Ukiah: Police Drug Abuse Program, Purchase of Reserve Officers’ uniforms; Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department, for a Public Address System in the County Jail;
San Francisco: Drug Prevention Program; Police Summer Youth Fishing Program;
Los Angeles: Law Enforcement Community Relations Program.”
(San Francisco Policeman, advertisement, June 1973)
* EMPATHY FOR POLICE OFFICER: “[We] are supporting the police, who for the most part are hard working and dedicated men who are underpaid and little appreciated for their efforts to enforce the law,” [said Rev. Jones].
(Ukiah Daily Journal, September 4, 1970)
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* CHILDREN RESPECT LAW: “Though the Temple provides a full recreational program, it does want to combat the permissive trends that seem apparent in the overall society. It is noted that no Temple member or youth since affiliating with the church has been involved in a violation of the law.”
(Ukiah Daily Journal, September 4, 1970)
** Attacks SLA and Militants Consistently.
* SLA: “REDWOOD VALLEY – Five members of the Peoples Temple Christian Church here have offered themselves as hostages in exchange for the release of Patricia Hearst, who was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army. Pastor Jim Jones, who agreed to be one of the hostages…attacked the SLA ‘for not even doing a good job of following the traditional revolutionists.”
(Santa Rosa Press Democrat, February 15, 1974)
* REJECTED FOOD: “‘We would like to contribute more money at this time,’ said Pastor Jim Jones, in a message to publisher Randolph A. Hearst, ‘but cannot because of our ongoing commitments which include sending food to hungry people in this and other lands. Jones said a consensus of more than 500 church members on Social Security showed they’d reject the $70 food allotment demanded by the Symbionese Liberation Army.”
(Santa Rosa Press Democrat, February 14, 1974)
KGO-TV: “The man who runs that church, Reverend James Jones, has been actively involved in some anti-violence activity they think might be connected with [the bomb incident].”
(KGO-TV News (San Francisco), March 10, 1974)
* *Lives Exemplary Personal Life.
“A MAN OF DEEP INTEGRITY”: “One gets the impression of being in the midst of the human race at its best: a community of people whose primary concern is to love and to serve…. Peoples Temple is led by a man of deep integrity and sensitivity.”
(Rev. Gerald McHarg, Acting Regional President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for Southern California)
CONGRESSMAN TO PRIME MINISTER: “It is my pleasure to introduce to you an outstanding humanitarian, Reverend James W. Jones….He and his people have shown themselves to be extraordinarily responsible, industrious and compassionate– working to serve people in what ever way they can…. It is fair to say that Reverend Jones and Peoples Temple epitomize the giving of self and service to others.”
(Don H. Clausen, Member of Congress, in letter dated November 20, 1973 addressed “Dear Mr. Prime Minister”)
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* TRUSTWORTHY: “I have found [Reverend Jim Jones] to be a dedicated, trustworthy, sincere person who is endowed with an ability and talent possessed by very few. He practices exactly what he preaches, … and all the while being a considerated, understanding leader of men.”
(Dr. I. H. Perkins, Program Director, Drug Abuse Program, Camarillo State Hospital)
* FIERY…HUMBLE…ERUDITE…LOVING: “The man who pastors this flock of ‘brothers’ is a cross between a fiery archangel, a humble servant of humanity, an erudite wit, a loving family man with all the usual longings for a ‘better life’ for his children—and a plain human being who sometimes finds the battle ‘heavy going.’
(Editor, Ukiah Daily Journal, June 3, 1968)
** Building a “Highly Regarded” Church with Great Influence
* SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE: “Called less formally Peoples Temple, this church is best known and highly regarded for its social works which include housing and feeding senior citizens and medical convalescents, maintaining a home for retarded boys, rehabilitating youthful drug users, and assisting non-members as well as members of the faith through college and legal difficulties.”
(San Francisco Chronicle, January 17, 1973)
* SACRAMENTO BEE: “People’s Temple ranks as probably the largest Protestant congregation in Northern California, according to various estimates by officials of several Protestant denominations.”
(Sacramento Bee, October 1972)
* INTERNATIONAL DRUG ABUSE EXPERT: “Dr. Wilson Van Dusen ….brought to the program his broad background related to the problems of drug use including . . . international travel observing and establishing recovery and prevention programs. * * * Dr. Van Dusen felt that the single most effective force in prevention and cure of local problems was found in the program of the Peoples Temple.”
(Ukiah Daily Journal, January 16, 1970)
* MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO: “Dear Pastor Jim: I have heard of your great work and the good you are doing in our community.”
(Letter dated October 19, 1972)
* NEW YORK NEWS: “[Reverend Jim Jones] is admired and respected here in the East.”
(Executive Editor, The News, New York)
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*PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL DENOMINATION: “As you well know, the ministries of Peoples Temple have the endorsement and total support from the Regional Executives to us here in Indianapolis. Dr. Teegarden speaks highly of what Jim Jones is doing and I’ve heard nothing but praise from him for what Peoples Temple is doing for those in need.”
(Wade D. Rubick, General Counsel, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), March 1974)
* LEADING CLERGYMEN: “Peoples Temple is a caring community of people of all races and classes. They bear the mark of compassion and justice – compassion for the hungry and jobless, lonely and disturbed, and also for the earth and her offspring.”
(Dr. John Moore, District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church for Oakland and the East Bay, March 2, 1973)
* LOCAL CLERGYMEN: “[Progress in meeting] the needs of people is perhaps seen most dramatically in the seven-day-a week program of the Peoples Temple with its team of teachers and lawyers, to mention just a few, who strive in the name of Christ, to serve their fellow men.”
(Dr. Elmer Schmitt, President of the Ukiah Ministerial Association)
* SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY: “In the classic American tradition of churches acting to alleviate the burdens of government, Rev. James W. Jones, pastor of Peoples Temple Christian Church, organized a crew of 20 to 25 Temple members to spend the weekend…painting the Redwood Valley Elementary School and the Redwood Valley Junior High School. * * * Surveying the work accomplished at the end of the job, a professional painting contractor estimated the value of the work done, thus constituting a savings to the taxpayers of the Redwood Valley Union School District, of two thousand and eight hundred dollars ($2,800.00).”
(Ukiah Daily Journal, August 1, 1973)
* CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: “I would like to commend the Rev. James W. Jones, who is pastor of [Peoples Temple Christian Church], and every member of his congregation for this outstanding demonstration of their commitment to the principles on which this country was founded.”
(Congressional Record, May 30, 1973)