And to guide them, the Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy disclosed in an interview yesterday that an effort will be made to have a Negro clergyman or civic leader aboard "every bus day and night" during the early stages of integration.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled city and state bus segregation laws unconstitutional but the formal order has not been issued pending action on a request for city and state authorities for a re-hearing.

If the court acts on the rehearing petition Monday, the integration notice may reach Montgomery later next week.

Meanwhile, Abernathy said as many as 1,000 Negroes are attending weekly classes designed to "prepare our people for the return to the buses and for integration in general." He did not elaborate on the latter.

The weekly instruction periods held in Negro churches, are conducted by the Montgomery Improvement Assn., the organization which has directed the long mass Negro boycott against segregated city buses. Abernathy is vice president of the MIA.

Ministers and other MIA leaders along with officers of civic clubs and volunteers in each neighborhood are acting as instructors, the Baptist minister said. Besides the weekly classes, Negro civic clubs also are urged to spread the doctrine of nonviolence at their meetings.

"We are trying to get over the idea of courtesy," Abernathy explained.

OUTLINES 'RULES'

Abernathy said his people are being told, in substance:

1. "If anyone argues with you at least we feel the channel of communication has been opened. If we can discuss it, that's good. But we must remain calm, talk in the spirit of love, and maybe we can win them."

2. "If they strike or push us, the strong thing to do is to refrain from striking or pushing back. We must be calm and reason with them. We must say to them, 'If you want to hit me again, do it, because I'm not going to hit you back. If you want to fight me you will say to everyone on this bus that you're weak.'"

3. "If they threaten us with arrest, for disorderly conduct, we must go to jail peacefully because if they arrest one of us for violating no law, there are 50,000 other Negroes they'll have to arrest, too."

MINISTERS HELP

Abernathy said the presence of Negro ministers and lay leaders on the buses "will give our people strength and let them know someone is with them. And it will help show them how to act."

In other fields of integration - the Negro minister did not disclose any plans for specific action - Abernathy said his people at the weekly meetings are told to "encourage cleanliness and politeness" and to take part in "campaigns to beautify their homes and their lawns."

The clergyman emphasized that "we're not giving up any of our rights. We intend to ride the buses again and to ride them integrated. But we want to do it peacefully."

And, he added, "we hope the white community will join with us in this endeavor.