Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Service – April 2018

E.M. Bettenson, "Dr. Martin Luther King," announcement

E.M. Bettenson, “Dr. Martin Luther King,” announcement, 22 April, 1968 (University Archives, NUA/00-7621/3/21)

April 2018 marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the civil rights campaigner, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Shortly after 6pm on 4th April 1968, King was short dead in Memphis, Tennessee. He was just 39 years old. Following the news of King’s assassination, Newcastle University Registrar, Ernest Bettenson announced that the University “deeply deplored” the killing and “we are flying our flag at half-mast to show our deepest regret and sympathy for Dr. King’s family…” (‘City Students Pay Tribute to Dr. King,’ E-Chronicle, April 5, 1968, p.1).

The world was shocked and press quickly took to reporting the hunt for King’s killer. The press in Newcastle also joined the rest of the nation through extensive coverage of the murder, the riots that then ensued in the United States and the hunt for King’s killer. Two months after King’s assassination, on 8th June 1968, James Earl Ray was arrested in London, which later led to his trial and conviction.

Just five months prior to his assassination, on 13th November 1967, King made a fleeting visit to Newcastle. Staying just seven hours in the City, to receive an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from the University (the only University to do so during his lifetime) and delivered a powerful, impromptu speech. King spoke about many challenges that still remain with us today. He linked the African American freedom struggle to developments in contemporary British race relations and issued a call for people to confront global challenges of war, poverty and racism. This would be his last public address outside the US before his assassination. You can read the full details of the day of King’s visit to Newcastle University in this digital exhibition.

Photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. receiving his Honorary Degree in King's Hall

Photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. receiving his Honorary Degree in King’s Hall –
just 5 months before his assassination (University Archives, NUA/052589-12)

To remember Martin Luther King, Newcastle University organised a Memorial Service to honour King’s visit and curate his lasting legacy. On 26th April 1968, Vice Chancellor Charles Bosanquet delivered this Service and gave a moving eulogy for staff and students at St. Thomas’ Church, Haymarket in Newcastle. Bosanquet spoke of King’s visit to the University. He personally expressed the experience he had when King arrived, where they spoke about King’s beliefs and policies surrounding radical equality, poverty, the war in Vietnam and the situation in Britain. King told Bosanquet that “we should bestir ourselves to ensure early and full acceptance of coloured people in Britain as equal citizens”.

Charles Bosanquet, Page 1 from his Address at the Memorial Service for Dr. Martin Luther King

Charles Bosanquet, Page 2 from his Address at the Memorial Service for Dr. Martin Luther King

Charles Bosanquet, Pages 1 & 2 from his Address at the Memorial Service for Dr. Martin Luther King, 26 April, 1968 (University Archives, NUA/00-7621/3/4)

The University went on to remember his legacy through a series of events, including Martin Luther King Memorial Lectures, the first delivered on 12th October 1972, when Trevor Huddleston (Bishop of Stepney) spoke on ‘Race Relations in a Hungry World’, as well memorial conferences and the unveiling of Dr. Martin Luther King’s statue in the King’s Quad to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his visit to the University.

On 26th April 2018, St. Thomas’ Church is holding a Memorial Service to honour Dr. Martin Luther King, 50 years to the day that the 1968 Service took place.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – November 2012

Photograph Depicts civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King being introduced by Newcastle University's Public Orator J. H. Burnett as part of his ceremony to accept an honorary doctorate of Civil Law on 13th November 1967.
Photograph of Martin Luther King’s Honorary Degree ceremony, 1967 (University Archives, NUA/052589/11)
Depicts civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King being introduced by Newcastle University’s Public Orator J. H. Burnett as part of his ceremony to accept an honorary doctorate of Civil Law on 13th November 1967. Newcastle University was the only UK University to bestow this honour on Dr King during his lifetime.

On the afternoon of Monday 13th November 1967 in King’s Hall a congregation was held to award an honorary Doctor of Civil Law. Present at the ceremony were the Chancellor of the University, His Grace the Duke of Northumberland and the Vice-Chancellor Dr. C.I.C Bosanquet.

The Public Orator, Professor J.H. Burnett, in his speech of introduction described some events from the life of the candidate:

“I do not suppose that many of us, shopping with an eight-year-old son, have been required to sit in a particular part of a shoe shop because of the colour of our skin, nor do I imagine that our wives have often had to explain to distraught children that “Daddy went to jail to help other people”, and, although I hope we could all behave in this way, I seriously question the ability of most of us to return to a wife and young baby in a bomb-blasted house surrounded by a clamouring crowd and say “Don’t get your weapons. He who lives by the sword will perish by the sword. We are not advocating violence. I want you to love our enemies”…

The man being honoured on that day 45 years ago was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the American civil rights leader.

Unusually, but perhaps not surprisingly, as he was probably one of the 20th Century’s greatest orators, Dr. King delivered a speech in reply.

The speech, according to the report of the event in the Courier, was made without the aid of notes.

Photograph depicts civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King signing the visitors' book during his visit to Newcastle University to accept an honorary doctorate of Civil Law on 13th November 1967.
Photograph of Martin Luther King signing the University’s visitors’ book (University Archives, NUA/052589/05)
Depicts civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King signing the visitors’ book during his visit to Newcastle University to accept an honorary doctorate of Civil Law on 13th November 1967.

Extract from Professor J.H. Burnett’s speech

“… I can assure you that honouring me today in this very meaningful way is of inestimable value for the continuance of my humble efforts. Although I cannot in any way say that I am worthy of such a great honour, I can also assure you that you give me renewed courage and vigour to carry on in the struggle to make peace and justice a reality for all men and women all over the world. …”

“… It may be true that morality cannot be legislated but behaviour can be regulated: it may be true the law cannot change the heart but it can restrain the heartless: it may be true that the law cannot make a man love me but it can restrain him from lynching me. …”

“… So while the law may not change the hearts of men it does change the habits of men if it is vigorously enforced. Through changes in habits, pretty soon attitudinal changes will take place and even the heart may be changed in the process. …”

Photograph of Martin Luther King Jr., the then Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the University and Lord and Lady Mayoress of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Photograph of Martin Luther King with University staff and dignitaries (University Archives, NUA/052589/07)
Depicts civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King with Newcastle University’s Chancellor the Duke of Northumberland (left), the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (centre), and Vice-Chancellor Charles Bosanquet (far right). Taken during during Dr King’s visit to accept an honorary doctorate of Civil Law on 13th November 1967.

Dr. King’s extremely busy schedule meant that he had to leave Newcastle almost immediately after the ceremony, to return to America.

However, earlier in the day, before the ceremony he had had time to meet a group of students for an informal question and answer session.

Photograph depicts civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King speaking with Newcastle University students over an informal coffee morning during his visit to Newcastle University to accept an honorary doctorate of Civil Law on 13th November 1967. Among the students shown are Meredyth Bell (nee Patton), Deputy President of the Students Representative Council (far left), and C. B. 'Nick' Nicholson, President of the Students' Representative Council (far right).
Photograph of Martin Luther King and students at a coffee morning (University Archives, NUA/052589/15)
Depicts civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King speaking with Newcastle University students over an informal coffee morning during his visit to Newcastle University to accept an honorary doctorate of Civil Law on 13th November 1967. Among the students shown are Meredyth Bell (nee Patton), Deputy President of the Students Representative Council (far left), and C. B. ‘Nick’ Nicholson, President of the Students’ Representative Council (far right).

Find out more

Read the full text of Dr. King’s speech online (from the University website). Also, watch the video of the congregation ceremony (from the University website).

Featured in a digital exhibition as part of Freedom City 2017; a city-wide programme commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s honorary degree – https://www.ncl.ac.uk/library/special-collections/digital-resources/martin-luther-king/