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The Golden Age
(SUCCESSOR TO RELIGIOUS lORUJT)
Published Ebery Thursday by the Golden Hge Publishing
Company (Inc.)
OTTICES: LOWNDES HUILDING. ATLANTA. GA.
Price: $2.00 a Year
Ministers $1.50 per Tear.
/■ cases of foreign address fifty cents should be added to cobn
additional postage.
/lake all remittances payable to The Golden Age Publishing Company.
WILLHXM V. UPSHfXW, - - - - Editor
A. E. RAMS A UR, - - - Managing Editor
LEM G. BROUGHTON - - - Pulpit Editor
Entered at the Post Office tn Atlanta, Ga„
as second-class matter.
< TRAOfVj'Xj?] C OUNOL>
It is a good thing to learn that all peoples and
all communities are not departing from the ancient
landmarks in their faith and doctrines. The breth
ren of Billville, as reported by their distinguished
citizen, Mr. Frank L. Stanton, are advertising for
a minister. This is the kind they desire: “We
want an old-fashioned brother to come here and
preach the old-fashioned religion. One who be
lieves in hellfire and lots of it, the whale swallerin’
Jonah and Joshua making the sun stand still. No
others need apply. We want a man that takes the
Bible for better or for worse. We’re tired foolin’.
No half-way business for us!”
H *
A most interesting problem has been opened up
by a correspondent to a Metropolitan daily. His
letter is as follows:
“Is it true that Luke Grace, professor of Eng
lish literature in the University of Niagara, in the
early ’Bos originally used the expression, ‘To have
bats in one’s garret’? If not, kindly state whence
it arose. R. Fandolph Bartosme.”
The editor of the Answers to Correspondence col
umn is unable to enlighten the gentleman, but is
almost positive that the profess ,r in question did
not originate the expression quoted. We cannot
just now cite mathematical evidence in support of
the proposition, but we on our part feel sure that
no ordinary professor of English literature could
frame such a beautifully close-fitting and smooth
running phrase. We do not know the author, bi't
even if he remains forever unrewarded for h.s ser
vice to mankind in coining this phrase, we are un
willing that an ordinary teacher wear laurels to
which he is not entitled. Should wo meekly submit
to such plagiarism it would not be >ong until some
ordinary Congressman or Cabinet member would
be ccming forward, blatantly asserting his author
ship of “Twenty-three,” or “Skiddoo.” We are
in favor- of a universal, consolidated Eartu-aud-
Mars copyright law for just such cases.
A Great Man Gone.
John W. Akin is living yet. It is the least to
say of him that he was a judge; that he was an
author; that he was a lawyer, great and command
ing; and, finally, that he was President of the
Senate of Georgia.
These were at once but incidents or resultants
along the upward way wherein a kingly man was
walking when God’s summons called him higher.
And had he lived to reach the governorship toward
which his public life was justly tending, that high
office would only have received lustre from tlie
association of his name. Like Stephen A. Doug
las, John W. Akin was a 11 Little Giant ’ ’ in the
arena of men. But strong as was his intellect, pro
found as was his scholarship and shining as were
his achievements from the viewpoint of temporal
success yet, after all, and above all, his spotless
Christian character shcne resplendent and beau
tiful.
How hie neighbors at Cartersville loved him! How
his colleagues in the Senate honored him, crown-
The Gfclden Age for October 24, 1907.
ing him with their confidence and enthroning him
as a safe and inspiring leader of men!
John W. Akin had long been the loyal and fear
less champion of the prohibition cause, and while,
before his election to the presidency of the Senate,
some of the friends of the great cause had per
sonal favorites in the friendly contest, they were
agreed on one thing—that the president of the body
must be true to the common cause. And when
John Akin won so splendidly in his gallant fight
every prohibition heart rejoiced and every sena
tor, whatever his faith, knew that a “kingly man”
would make the president’s chair a throne of jus
tice and a pedestal of wise and spotless leadership.
If Emory College had never sent out from the •
classic and consecrated shades of Oxford any other
son save John W. Akin, it were enough to justify
her building and her maintenance for a hundred
years.
As president of the famous body that led the
State and the South in the dethronement of the
liquor traffic, Judge Akin became almost a national
character. The nation is infinitely richer, because
such a man has lived, and it is cnly natural that
the pride of his mother State should be tempered
with sorrow, and that the beauty of his Christian
life and the splendor of his far-reaching achieve
ments should be seen today through our grateful
tears.
at at
Mr. Bryan in Atlanta.
Mr. William Jennings Bryan, “The Great Com
moner,” has visited the Georgia State Fair and
has shaken the hands of some hundreds of his fel
low citizens of the Empire State. Mr. Bryan made
some speeches which were received with apprecia
tion by all, and the principles advanced were en
dorsed by many. Just at this time, when the press
and people of the entire country are exercised over
the problem of the personnel of the candidates for
the presidency in the campaign of 1908, it is natural
that Mr. Bryan’s intention as to candidacy should
be the matter ot much interest. In Raleigh, North
Carolina, a few days ago, he was introduced as
“Our next president.” He would neither admit
nor deny that he was a candidate, but stated that
he was reminded of the man eighty-five years old
who, when warned to be very careful about his
health, replied that very few men died after eighty
five. “So I may say,” added Br. Bryan, “that
very few men have been defeated for president three
times.” Which is a most convenient and inform
ing expression, due to the fact that it is comforting
both to those who desire Mr. Bryan as a candidate
and those who do not. It is highly probable that
Mr. Bryan is as much athirst for information on
just that point as are the people of the country
generally. Judging from appearances, he would be
willing to stand still so that the lightning might
hit him, if it had a mind to do so; and he is now
engaged in showing himself to his fellow citizens
so that they may size him up and look over his
strong points in ample time to be prepared with an
opinion as to his fitness for candidacy when the
time for selection arrives. There is a certain feel
ing of uncertainty throughout the South as to the
proper man as a Democratic candidate; and the
situation is most clearly outlined by the advice of
a lady to a neighbor during the recent election for
State offices: “I like that candidate, but I
wouldn’t name the baby for him; I ain’t shore he’s
goin’ to be elected.” There is just that shade of
doubt attaching to Mr. Bryan’s candidacy.
R, *
The Part That Woman Plays.
The most thrilling feature of the great moral bat
tle which is being fought and won all over the South
today is the vital part that woman is playing. Ashe
ville, in “The Land of the Sky,” has just banished
saloons by a glorious majority, and the story of wo
man’s part in the victory is told in the following
dispatch:
“Asheville, N. C., Oct. B.—The prohibitionists won
here today by a majority of 84S. and the saloons in
Asheville will be clcsed January 1. The result was
undoubtedly due to the women, who all day long
surrounded the polling places in every precinct and
worked energetically. beseeching the voters, praying
and singing for the success of the prohibition
ticket.” e
And the story of Asheville is the story of almost
every victory that has been won in recent years
against the liquor traffic Woman has demanded
the battle. Woman has inspired the battle, and for
the sake of woman—her heart, her home and her
happiness —we men have been constrained io dare,
to do, and if need be, to die!
And it has been as amusing as it has been exasper
ating to hear only one class of men deny to woman
the privilege of engaging in this high and holy war
i’are" They are the men who are in favor of the
continued reign of King Alcohol.
•‘Better be at home, keeping house and taking
care of the chil-lun” these saloon advo
cates say of the White Ribbon Band of women who
have determined to free their children, husbands,
brothers and fathers from the temptations and rav
ages of the saloon. They want the women to stay
at home and fold their hands in this matter, while
the saloon plans and executes the overthrow of that
home.
But woman has put her little foot down on it. that
she will not submit to this wanton destruction of all
that is dear to her. She is a heroine, indeed, in
this mighty conflict, and heroes as true as ever
“shivered lance at Camelot or Sterling” will see to
it that she is unhindered in her brave and queenly
purpose.
n *
America's Greatest Editor.
The announcement that John Temple Graves, the
brilliant and beloved editor of The Atlanta Geor
gian, will go to New York to become editor-in-chief
of William R. Hearst’s greatest paper, The New
York American, has startled and thrilled all At
lanta, all Georgia, all the South —and, in truth, all
the nation.
The first impulse on the part of his Southern
friends is one of keen regret, for we love him, and
we don’t want him to go away from us. He be
longs to Georgia first, and the South next, and it
will seem to us when he has gone to make his home
among strangers that—
“A splendor from t the earth has fled —
A glory from the skies.”
This is the greatest compliment that has been
paid a Southern man in this generation.
New York is at once) the great centripetal and
centrifugal center of our national life. It is the
purpose of Mr. Hearst to nationalize his pet paper,
The American, and we unhesitatingly believe that
John Temple Graves is the best man in America
to do that thing.
Speaking of the great honor and opportunity that
have come to him, Mr. Graves said:
“For some time I have had under consideration
Mr. Hearst’s offer. It was not until this morning,
however, that I took the decisive step and signed
the contract that had been sent me. I was con
strained to accept the offer for three primary rea
sons: First, because of the gratification 1 felt at
having been so signally, and I may add, undeserved
ly honored; second, because of the emoluments of
the office such an offer was necessarily tempting
to a man who has had so little time as I have to
give to the making of money; and last and chiefly,
because of the opportunities such a position offers
for service to the South, and to mankind in general.
The American is Mr. Hearst’s first and most seri
ous newspaper. In negotiating with me Mr.
Hearst s secretary declared that Mr. Hearst’s pur
pose is to nationalize The American, and to help the
South. I feel assured, therefore, of his full and
free commission in speaking whenever the occasion
may arise for the glory and the advancement of
my native section.”
The frank statement of Mr. Graves is the natu
ral feeling of an honest man and a great patriot.
This Southern man of transcendent ability goes to
join his fortunes and unite his masterly efforts with
(that stalwart son of the West, William R. Hearst,
whose greatness grows on the people of America
as they learn to know him better and honor him
more.
Heaven bless the union to the signal service of
the South and loftier ideals for America,