The Episcopal Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina states that there is nothing morally wrong in the voluntary recognition of racial differences and that voluntary alignments can be both natural and Christian. It is the sense of this convention that the integration problem caused by the Supreme Court decision of 1954 as it applies to the Episcopal Church should not be characterized as Christian or unchristian by reason of the fact [that] it is either interracial or not interracial. In such choices Christians may wisely exercise personal preferences.

O’Dowd resigned as editor and considered entering the priesthood. Finding that he had support of neither the congregation nor the Standing Committee, O’Dowd instead took a job with the Chicago Sun Times.

In the wake of O’Dowd’s departure, Mr. Horn and several other area clergymen formed a group dubbed “Concerned South Carolinians.” The group hoped to author a publication that would encourage moderation in dealing with the issue of integration of the public schools. They first published a prospectus to be sent to state leaders. The text argued that only the extremes on either side of the issue had been heard, and went on to state:

It is imperative that persons in South Carolina who are honored in their several communities speak words of moderation. This is the conviction which has drawn us together as ministers of Christ and as concerned citizens of South Carolina. (Zeigler, p. 227)

The upshot of this endeavor was that the group was accused by the Florence Citizens Council as misrepresenting the facts and “operating under a cloak of secrecy.” When St. John’s congregation—many of whom belonged to the Florence Citizens Council—learned that Horn was a member of “Concerned South Carolinians,” they called him to task. The vestry accepted his explanation of the group’s work, but stated that “the cause of moderation would be better served by emphasizing the importance of the second great commandment—you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Zeigler, p. 228)

“Concerned South Carolinians” did eventually publish their pamphlet (October 1957). Zeigler writes that the tone “can only be described as mild, even tempered, and without the rancor of partisanship.”

A somewhat calmer atmosphere prevailed by the early ‘60s. In 1963, a group of 70 civic, business, and church leaders (20% of whom were members of St. John’s) held a retreat in Litchfield to promote a moderate approach to racial integration. After that, this approach was referred to in Florence as “the Spirit of Litchfield.” (Zeigler, p. 239) This, of course, was not the end of the struggles related to integration, but further discussion is beyond the scope of this article.

In the midst of this turmoil, Mr. Horn was honored for his work as a charter member of the Florence County Mental Health Association, St. John’s boasted a healthy congregation (837 members, 589 communicants), an assistant rector (the Rev. Joseph A. DiRaddo) was hired, and work began in earnest on the building-up of All Saints’ Church. In May 1957, the vestry was authorized to support a mission on Cherokee Road until it became strong enough to warrant its organization as an independent congregation. Mr. DiRaddo was intimately involved in the creation of All Saints’.

Twenty families from St. John’s formed the new congregation. The first service was held at Royall Elementary School on July 7, 1957. The school was named for Samuel J. Royall (1889-1949), a St. John’s parishioner and vestryman. In the spring of 1958, All Saints’ was organized as a mission. In November, St. John’s vestry conveyed title to the property to the mission. By June, $50,000 had been raised and membership had risen to over 100. In January, 1959, Mr. Horn reported that 80 communicants had been transferred to All Saints’ to help build the new church’s congregation.

In spite of the fact that All Saints’ was formed because the Episcopal population in Florence was so strong and was seeded by St. John’s members, competition between the two congregations soon became evident. Mr. Horn addressed this problem with gentle admonishment and a challenge to work together: