^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
James Wesley Pruden was a
Southern Baptist minister
based in the state of Arkansas.
Pruden was the First Chaplain
and President of the
Little Rock, Ark. Chapter of the
'White Citizens' Council.'
This nefarious group was
created during the
school desegregation period
of 1957–58.
Pruden was at the forefront of
a campaign to halt the
desegregation of Little Rock,
Arkansas's Central High School.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wesley Pruden was the
great-grandson of a slaveholder.
Pruden moved to Arkansas,
having a job in banking.
He left this finance world as
he decided to become a preacher.
Next, he attended
Bethany Nazarene College
in Oklahoma.
He was a traveling evangelist
but finally returned to LR
starting (in the 1930s) the
'Little Country Church.'
Pruden also preached on local
Arkansas radio.
He switched from the Nazarene
Church to the Baptist faith.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Pruden suffered several failed
congregations and then became
the preacher for a new
Little Rock church called
The Broadmoor. He not only
did minister-duties but was
also active in outlets for
his special racial views.
He became a member of the
'Capital Citizens' Council'
(CCC), a group from which
Pruden could express his
racial opinions. He held
several offices in the
organization. White
"citizens' councils" had
become a common tool to
try to stop integration.
The minister verbally encouraged
rioters at Central High School.
He authored ads in the newspaper
encouraging opposition to opening
the schools. He raised monies for
the CCC goals including bail for
arrested members of their group.
He was active in all aspects of the
CCC group during the Crisis period.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Next he was the pastor at
Ridgecrest Baptist Church,
(which had earlier been the
Broardmoor Church).
Pruden retired from the pulpit
in 1975.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
***SOLACE NOTES***
"When in doubt,
never fear or question;
All the answers
are found in one book
-- THE HOLY BIBLE."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This biography is
humbly presented by
Audrey Burtrum-Stanley / Arkansas
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
James Wesley Pruden was a
Southern Baptist minister
based in the state of Arkansas.
Pruden was the First Chaplain
and President of the
Little Rock, Ark. Chapter of the
'White Citizens' Council.'
This nefarious group was
created during the
school desegregation period
of 1957–58.
Pruden was at the forefront of
a campaign to halt the
desegregation of Little Rock,
Arkansas's Central High School.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wesley Pruden was the
great-grandson of a slaveholder.
Pruden moved to Arkansas,
having a job in banking.
He left this finance world as
he decided to become a preacher.
Next, he attended
Bethany Nazarene College
in Oklahoma.
He was a traveling evangelist
but finally returned to LR
starting (in the 1930s) the
'Little Country Church.'
Pruden also preached on local
Arkansas radio.
He switched from the Nazarene
Church to the Baptist faith.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Pruden suffered several failed
congregations and then became
the preacher for a new
Little Rock church called
The Broadmoor. He not only
did minister-duties but was
also active in outlets for
his special racial views.
He became a member of the
'Capital Citizens' Council'
(CCC), a group from which
Pruden could express his
racial opinions. He held
several offices in the
organization. White
"citizens' councils" had
become a common tool to
try to stop integration.
The minister verbally encouraged
rioters at Central High School.
He authored ads in the newspaper
encouraging opposition to opening
the schools. He raised monies for
the CCC goals including bail for
arrested members of their group.
He was active in all aspects of the
CCC group during the Crisis period.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Next he was the pastor at
Ridgecrest Baptist Church,
(which had earlier been the
Broardmoor Church).
Pruden retired from the pulpit
in 1975.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
***SOLACE NOTES***
"When in doubt,
never fear or question;
All the answers
are found in one book
-- THE HOLY BIBLE."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This biography is
humbly presented by
Audrey Burtrum-Stanley / Arkansas
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
James Wesley Pruden was a
Southern Baptist minister
based in the state of Arkansas.
Pruden was the First Chaplain
and President of the
Little Rock, Ark. Chapter of the
'White Citizens' Council.'
This nefarious group was
created during the
school desegregation period
of 1957–58.
Pruden was at the forefront of
a campaign to halt the
desegregation of Little Rock,
Arkansas's Central High School.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wesley Pruden was the
great-grandson of a slaveholder.
Pruden moved to Arkansas,
having a job in banking.
He left this finance world as
he decided to become a preacher.
Next, he attended
Bethany Nazarene College
in Oklahoma.
He was a traveling evangelist
but finally returned to LR
starting (in the 1930s) the
'Little Country Church.'
Pruden also preached on local
Arkansas radio.
He switched from the Nazarene
Church to the Baptist faith.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Pruden suffered several failed
congregations and then became
the preacher for a new
Little Rock church called
The Broadmoor. He not only
did minister-duties but was
also active in outlets for
his special racial views.
He became a member of the
'Capital Citizens' Council'
(CCC), a group from which
Pruden could express his
racial opinions. He held
several offices in the
organization. White
"citizens' councils" had
become a common tool to
try to stop integration.
The minister verbally encouraged
rioters at Central High School.
He authored ads in the newspaper
encouraging opposition to opening
the schools. He raised monies for
the CCC goals including bail for
arrested members of their group.
He was active in all aspects of the
CCC group during the Crisis period.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Next he was the pastor at
Ridgecrest Baptist Church,
(which had earlier been the
Broardmoor Church).
Pruden retired from the pulpit
in 1975.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
***SOLACE NOTES***
"When in doubt,
never fear or question;
All the answers
are found in one book
-- THE HOLY BIBLE."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This biography is
humbly presented by
Audrey Burtrum-Stanley / Arkansas
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
James Wesley Pruden was a
Southern Baptist minister
based in the state of Arkansas.
Pruden was the First Chaplain
and President of the
Little Rock, Ark. Chapter of the
'White Citizens' Council.'
This nefarious group was
created during the
school desegregation period
of 1957–58.
Pruden was at the forefront of
a campaign to halt the
desegregation of Little Rock,
Arkansas's Central High School.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wesley Pruden was the
great-grandson of a slaveholder.
Pruden moved to Arkansas,
having a job in banking.
He left this finance world as
he decided to become a preacher.
Next, he attended
Bethany Nazarene College
in Oklahoma.
He was a traveling evangelist
but finally returned to LR
starting (in the 1930s) the
'Little Country Church.'
Pruden also preached on local
Arkansas radio.
He switched from the Nazarene
Church to the Baptist faith.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Pruden suffered several failed
congregations and then became
the preacher for a new
Little Rock church called
The Broadmoor. He not only
did minister-duties but was
also active in outlets for
his special racial views.
He became a member of the
'Capital Citizens' Council'
(CCC), a group from which
Pruden could express his
racial opinions. He held
several offices in the
organization. White
"citizens' councils" had
become a common tool to
try to stop integration.
The minister verbally encouraged
rioters at Central High School.
He authored ads in the newspaper
encouraging opposition to opening
the schools. He raised monies for
the CCC goals including bail for
arrested members of their group.
He was active in all aspects of the
CCC group during the Crisis period.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Next he was the pastor at
Ridgecrest Baptist Church,
(which had earlier been the
Broardmoor Church).
Pruden retired from the pulpit
in 1975.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
***SOLACE NOTES***
"When in doubt,
never fear or question;
All the answers
are found in one book
-- THE HOLY BIBLE."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This biography is
humbly presented by
Audrey Burtrum-Stanley / Arkansas
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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