Newspaper Page Text
Department of Archives
General Library
University of Georgia
Athens * 0©oi?gisi
g 9 a ^ | Atnens, Georgia
The Taylor County News
Sample Copy
Vol. 90-No. 49
and The Butler Herald
A Prise-Winning
Newspaper
Better Newspaper
Contests
South Main St. P.O. Box 577
Butler, Georgia 31006
Friday December 22, 1967
Price - Ten Cents
THE CHRISTMAS STORY
by FOY S. EVANS
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding
in the field, watching over their flocks by night. And, lo
the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of
the Eternal shown round about them, and they were sore
afraid”.
THEY had not heard of flying saucers and manmade satellites.
They were simple men doing a simple job. They had no radio
or television, but they \yere to receive a message which proved
the most important ever delivered to mankind. Although two
decades ago a radio program telling of an imaginary invasion
from Mars struck terror into the hearts of sophisticated modern
men and women. Can you imagine the terror of the shepherds
when faced with a vision of the angel of the Lord?
t t t
“And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is bom this day in the city of David,
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign
unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling
clothes, lying in a manger’ ...”
THE Shepherds were simple men. They listened instead of
talking. They were afraid but they stood firm. They listened
to the message about the birth of an humble man whose presence
on earth was to change the course of history. Being simple,
they listened, heard and believed!
t t t
“ . . . and suddenly there was with the angel a multi
tude- of the heavenly- host, praising God and saying, ’Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to
ward men’.”
THE story of mankind is a story of violence. Before the coming
of Christ, the Bible tells of bloodshed and unimaginable sin.
He came to save man. His coming did not purge the world of sin
and violence, as we are well aware almost 2,000 years since
His birth. But men who listened to His teachings, who followed
Him and carried His message to other men have striven for a
•goal of “peace on earth, good will toward men.” They carry
the banner of good in the world today and offer hope!
t t t
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from
them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, ‘Let
us now go unto Bethlehem and see this which is come to
pass which the Lord has made known to us’.”
THE child’s parents, Mary and Joseph, had arrived only the
day before from their home in Nazareth, 50 miles north of
Bethlehem, to register for the poll tax decreed by the Emperor.
They were unable to find lodging because of the crowded season.
The innkeeper allowed them to occupy his stable. Mary gave
birth to the child during the night. She wrapped Him in swaddling
clothes and placed Him in a manger.
t t t
“And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph
and the Babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen
Him, they made known abroad the saying which was told
them concerning the child.”
BIRTH of the Christ child was first intimated and then pre
dicted since Genesis, the first book of the Bible. Moses, 1500
years previously, forecast details of His crucifixion. And David
described it 400 years later. Prophets, including Moses, David,
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zecheriah, Micah and Hosea predicted His
coming. Micah was the only one of the prophets to prophesy the
birthplace of Christ. Micah’s prediction was, “But thou, Beth
lehem, though thou be little among the thousands of Judea, yet
out of thee shall come forth to men one that is to be the ruler
of Israel.”
t t t
“And all they that heard it wondered at those things
which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept
all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”
MARY’S silence during the expression of adoration was
understandable. Months before, an angel named Gabriel had
revealed to her that she was to become the mother of the Sa
viour by divine conception. She was engaged to Joseph at the
time. Joseph was reluctant to marry her after learning of her
condition. But a dream revealing the providential plan to him
removed his doubts and they were married. And Mary remained
silent amid the adoration.
(cont. on page 4)
With Our
Men
Smiles Brighter
As Community
In Service
Army Sp/4 Arthur R. Payne,
24, whose parents, Mr. and
Mrs. A. R. Payne, and wife
Carol, live in Reynolds, was
assigned as a medic in Head
quarters Battery of the 17th
Artillery’s 2nd Howitzer Bat
talion in Vietnam, Nov. 25.
Billy Graham
Film Will Be
Shown Here
“SOULS IN CONFLICT”,
will be shown in Butler on Dec.
31 at 8:30 p.m. The special
showing will be a part of the
Watch Night program at Butler
Baptist Church.
“SOULS IN CONFLICT”,
with spiritual lift for us all,
was filmed during Graham’s
world-publicized London Cru
sade. It is a feature-length
film in color.
The story of “SOULS IN
CONFLICT” encompasses the
lives of three typical indivi
duals, troubled with the pre
sent and completely confused
about the future. Because his
unerring slide-rule doesn’t
come up with the answer, a
famous jet pilot has his doubts
about this new “religious re
surgence” all his mates are
talking about. A prominent ac
tress wonders about this
strange new “personal con
tact.” A penny-ante gambling
factory worker tries to figure
out what the odds are for him.
Their need for a soul-satis
fying religious experience is
realized when each attends one
of Graham’s meetings in Har-
ringay Arena, London’s vast
stadium. The story of “SOULS
IN CONFLICT”, released by
World Wide Pictures, is the
story of all three - a trilogy
that proves a change of out
look is brought about only by
a supernatural change of the
heart.
Joan Winmill, star of the
British TV spy thriller, “Ep
itaph for a Spy,” and herslef
a convert to full-time Christ
ian service, plays the ac
tress. Eric Micklewood is the
jet pilot and Charles Leno the
factory worker.
“SOULS IN CONFLICT”, a
full-length feature in color,
joins the two earlier Billy
Graham dramatic films, “MR.
TEXAS” and “OILTOWN U.
S.A.”. All three are well
known for their quality drama
and challenge.
and Hearts Lighter
Greets Christmas
It’s Christmas, time to greet a friend, wrap a gift, help the
needy. It’s Christmas, time to sing a carol, light a candle, trim
a tree. It’s Christmas, time to send a card, surprise a neighbor,
delight a child. It’s Christmas, time to welcome visitors, spread
the festive board, gather the family together for everything
good from food to fellowship.
Most of all, it’s Christmas, time to say a prayer, count many
blessings, rejoice. It’s Christmas, time to celebrate anew the
very first Christmas of all, the Birthday of Christ.
It’s Christmas, and throughout this community the sights
and sounds of a Joyful, festive season appear. All through the
town, twinkling lights, fragrant flowers and greens and a
myriad other decorations show to every beholder the glad spirit
of Christmas. Bells ring out and voices sing out, proclaiming
the wonderful news.
Christmas is here. And because Christmas is here, steps
are lighter, smiles are brighter, hearts are merrier.
On the way to Christmas, there may have been hours when
everything seemed just too hectic — too many plans to make,
too much to do, too little time. But as the great day arrives,
there is time to pause, to see and to treasure the glow and the
glory of Christmas. Then it is clear that every moment of prep
aration, every personal effort to make Christmas more com
plete was indeed well worth it.
County-wide Youth
Revival At Trinity
A Youth Revival is especial-'
ly planned for all of the young
people of the county at the Trin
ity Freewill Baptist Church
on the highway between Mauk
Prosperity Sets
Weekend Service
Plans are underway for a
5th weekend program at Pro
sperity Primitive Baptist
Church near Rupert. Services
will be held Saturday, Saturday
night and Sunday on December
30 and 31 with several speakers
present to speak to the group.
The public is invited.
and Charing to begin on Dec
ember 27 and continue through
December 30.
Edward Arnold and Martin
Windham will be the speakers
for the services each night at
7:30 with Arnold speaking on
Thursday and Saturday nights
and Windham speaking on Wed
nesday and Friday nights.
Guests will be invited to lead
the singing each night and spe
cial music is planned for each
night.
This series of services is
planned for all of the youth in
Taylor County. Anyone who is
willing to take a part and who
has a talent is invited to ccme
and participate and use that ta
lent for the glory of God during
this Youth-led Revival.
Rites Are Held
For Mr. Oliver
Funeral services for Tom Ed
Oliver, 68, who died Monday
at the Americus and Sumter
County Hospital, were held
Tuesday at the County Line
Baptist Church in Macon Coun
ty. The Rev. Cham White of
ficiated with burial in the
church cemetery.
A native of Macon County,
Mr. Oliver had lived in Sch
ley County for several years.
He was a member of the County
Line Baptist Church.
One sister and one brother
survive.
Rupert HE Club
Taylor Winners In
Father-Son Peanut
Project Are Told
MR. REDDISH POSES WITH ALLEN MASSEY AND LARRY WILSON AT THE MEET
The 4-H Father-Son Peanut
Project Eighth Annual A-
wards Meeting was held Dec.
2, 1967 at Tifton, Ga. The pur
pose of this project is to pro
vide an opportunity for 4-H
members to leam-by-doing
through working in close coo
peration with their parents. The
close cooperation between
father and son provides the 4-H
members an opportunity to grow
mentally, morally, socially and
spiritually while learning the
recommended peanut pro
duction.
This 4-H club project was
made available this year to five
selected counties where peanuts
are commercially grown. Dur
ing 1967, this special emphasis
4-H Club project was conducted
by County Agents in Dougherty,
Dooly, Emanuel, Taylor and
Thomas Counties where pea
nuts are an important cash
crop.
Georgia’s average yield of
peanuts for 1967 is currently
estimated at 3040 pounds per
acre, the highest on record. The
average yield of 4-H Club mem
bers in this project is 2445
pounds per acre. This figure
exceeds the State average per
acre yield of peanuts by 405
pounds.
Those participating from
Taylor County were: Larry
Wilson and Mrs. Robert Wil
son; 1st place County Winner;
Harold Young and Mr. James
Young, 2nd place County Win
ner; Allen Massey and Mr.
Donald Massey, 3rd place
County Winner; Danny Cox and
Mr. H. W. Cox, 4th place
County Winner; Tim Kirksey
and Mr. J. D. Kirksey, 5th
place County Winner.
Those attending with Mr.
Reddish, the County Agent were:
Larry Wilson and Allen Mas
sey.
We commend the FFA Peanut
Association for their continuing
interest and help in sponsoring
the 4-H Club Father-Son Pea
nut Project in Georgia. They
financed the banquet, County and
State prizes and have aided in
all phases of the program.
Holds Yule Meet
The annual Christmas party
and dinner of the Rupert HE
Club was held at the Club House
in Rupert last Thursday night
Mrs. Julian Locke gave the in
vocation and Mr. Howard Mott
spoke on I John 5 as he gave
the devotional for the evening.
After the exchanging of gifts,
Christmas carols were sung by
the group. Among the visitors
attending were Mrs. Mary Luna
Speyer and Stephen, Mr. and
Mrs. Herman Elliston and Tho
mas, Mr. Julian Locke and two
guests.
Taylor County
Girl Scouts Are
Now On The Go
December 7, the Taylor
County Girl Scout Leaders
meeting was held in Reynolds
at the Junior High School Build
ing. The Girl Scouts saw a
demonstration of Christmas de
corations at Flint Electric.
Plans are in the making for
Taylor County Girl Scouts to
participate in a cooking school
at Flint given by Mrs. Richard
Parks. This will be in keep
ing with the council theme of
Homemaking.
Training has been scheduled
for the Taylor County Girl
Scouts Leaders to be held
on January 17, 23 and 24 from
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rey
nolds Club House. Trainer will
be Mrs. Wiley B. Hencely Jr.
Most Memorable
No two Christmases are ever
alike — but this one, surely,
must be the most memorable
of all. Each year It seems so,
Real Daughters
Of The UDC To
Be Honored Here
A Christmas party in honor
of the Real Daughters of the
Gordon-Carson Chapter of the
United Daughters of the Con
federacy will be given by Mrs.
S.J. Tankersley on Thursday,
December 21 at 3:30 p.m.ather
home in Reynolds. The Real
Daughters are Miss Marie Bar-
row, Mrs. F.M. Carson, Mrs.
E.A. Hollis, Mrs. D.J. Hicks,
Mrs. J.R. Lunsford and Miss
Florence Smith.
Among the guests will be
Mrs. Cary Bittich of Forsyth,
Treasurer General of the U.
D.C. and Mrs. Edgar Lancaster
of Shady Dale, immediate Past
President of the Georgia Di
vision.
Yule Services
At Mt. Nbo
Mount Nebo Primitive Bap
tist Church will have regular
services on the Christmas
weekend, December 23 and 24.
Services are planned for Satur
day night and Sunday with the
Elder Emory Collins, pastor of
the church, bringing the mes
sages.
LOCAL PASTORS
ARE ELECTED
The Rev. C.N. Randall, pas
tor of the Reynolds Baptist
Church, has been elected chair
man of evangelism for 1967-
68 in the Rehoboth Baptist As
sociation. The new officers
were elected at the 1967 an
nual meeting held recently. At
the same time, the meetings
for 1968 were set at Marshal-
lville Baptist Church and Green
Acres Baptist Church in War
ner Robins. The Rev. Woodrow
Hudson, pastor of the Butler
Baptist Church, will preach the
Doctrine sermon at the 1968
meet.
The Rev. Hudson was also re
cently elected vice president
of the Rehoboth Baptist As
sociation Pastors’ Conference
for the new year. He will serve
as program chairman for the
year.
Mrs. Whatley Feted
Mrs. Leonard Whatley was
the honor guest at a tea on
Sunday, December 10, at the
home of Dr. and Mrs. Clif
ford Whatley.
Assisting in serving the
guests were Mrs. Edwards
Whatley, Mrs. Julian Whatley,
Mrs. Thurman Whatley, Mrs.
S.H. Bryan Sr., Mrs. Ben Hin
ton, Mrs. Cleo Fulton, Misses
Jill, Debbie and Nancy What
ley, Pam Posey and Dianne
Childres.
and each year it’s true. Every
Christmas is more delightful
than the last, if only because
it is enriched by one more
memory of Christmas past.
Memories and traditions
mount up to make the Christ
mas customs of today. Most
such customs began so long
ago that their exact and ac
curate origin is hidden in the
mists of time, and several the-
oricr may bs put forward tc
explain why and how each
custom developed.
Happily, the wealth of leg
end and lore woven about
Christmas is pleasing rather
than confusing. Especially at
this season, a touch of the
magical and mystical is more
to be welcomed than a deluge
of precise factual detail, and
one of the special charms of
Christmas customs is the hint
of mystery surrounding them.
For Decoration
Candles, apples, colored pa
pers — these were among the
early tree ornaments.
Later, individual countries
developed their own tree-dec
orating ideas. Straw windmills
and birdcages appeared on
Lithuanian trees, while the
Poles devised ornaments from
feathers and ribbons.
Tree decorations contributed
by Scandinavian countries
were as various as fish nets
and miniature flags.
The modern array of tree
ornaments is vast and imag
inative, but even so many
families like to add their own
personal, "old-fashioned”
touch to the tree, with deco
rations such as paper chains
and strings of popcorn or
cranberries.
Lighting Candles
Martin Luther, the Refor
mation leader, is credited by
some legend collectors with
decorating the first lighted
Christmas tree. He lit candles
and placed them on the boughs
of an evergreen — a custom
that would be frowned on to
day, when fire safety is the
rule in Christmas decorating.
By lighting the candles and
decking the tree, he hoped to
show his family some small re
flection of the glory and in
spiration of the heavens on
the first Holy Night.
Why a Tree?
Why a tree at Christmas?
One early legend says that all
the trees burst into bloom on
the night Christ was born.
Folk tales of ancient times
tell of a huge tree in a forest,
lighted with many candles,
some of which were straight
and some bent. At the top was
an Infant with a halo.
The tree was meant to rep
resent humanity, ^he candles,
people good and bad; and the
Infant, the Baby Jesus.
Another explanation links
today’s Christmas tree to an
cient feasts of the wintei
equinox, when trees were
adorned with trinkets.
St. Boniface, an English
missionary to Germany, is
said to have told converts that
the fir should be their holy
tree, replacing the oak, sacred
in Druid tree worship, and
thus beginning the custom of
a decorated fir.
Many are the legends, but
one thing is certain. Nowadays
Christmas wouldn’t be Christ
mas without the trev..
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