Newspaper Page Text
The Jackson Herald
By Holder & Williamson
The Glory of Graduation
GovernoF'E. D. Rivers delivered
the address this year to the gradu
ating class of Martin Institute. Any
school is very fortunate to have the
Governor of Georgia speak at its
closing exercises. The exhilirating
pleasure of the class of ’37 was
heightened when the members re
ceived their diplomas by having
words of wisdom come to them from
the lips and heart of the Chief Ex
ecutive of this commonwealth. In
the life of a person there are few
events comparable to having his Al
ma Mater present to him a sheep
skin in token of efficient work and
duties well performed. There are
few times before or after this mo
mentous occasion when one feels
more keenly his importance. It is
no small thing for one to attend
school so regularly, study so earn
estly, and learn so well that he or
she is honored with a diploma. Fif
ty-three young people, bouyant and
hopeful, constituted this year’s
graduating class of Martin Institute.
This year, however, is not the first
one the voice of a Governor has
been heard at commencement in Jef
ferson. More than half a century
ago, when that noble, modern Ga
maliel, John W. Glenn, presided over
Martin Institute, Alfred H. Colquitt,
then Governor of Georgia, preached
the commencement sermon, for he
was preacher, as well as states
man. ,
It is not, however, the distinction
or the exalted position of a guest
speaker alone which arouses intense
interest in commencement, but the
children themselves are the mag
netic force which draws the multi
tude. There is nothing which so in
terests people as folks, and nothing
equals that of one’s own children.
People go to anything where their
own children play a part. Com
mencements constitute a pleasant
and an essential part of a person’s
education. They should never be
abolished. It was gratifying to see
Martin Institute revive this year
“May Day.” In days of Auld Lang
Syne this was a gala occasion. A
beautiful young lady was always
crowned queen. In other years this
honor was bestowed on Misses Alice
Pittman, Eula Gober, Pearl Wilson,
and others not now recalled. This
year this very high honor was worth
ily bestowed on one of Jefferson’s
own daughters, Miss Mary Daniel,
whose ancestors were pioneers of
this county. There was the added
feature this year of a stalwart and
noble young man, Eugene Taylor,
being made king of the festival.
This event drew hundreds of inter
ested spectators.
No school's closing exercises so
fill one with felicity as that of his
home town. Especially is this true
if members of his family have been
participants in these occasions for
more than a century. The writer’s
grandparents attended Martin Insti
tute when it was Jefferson Academy.
Then his mother, uncles and aunts
were enrolled as its students. Then
came the writer as a pupil, who en
joyed the historic occasions at the
end of each school year. After
leaving its halls of learning only a
few years elapsed before our own
children were members of the stu
dent body. After their departure to
college, then came nephews and
nieces. Now we still have kin folks,
as well as friends, whose children
are enrolled as pupils of Martin In
stitute. Our interest and love for
the instiution has never waned, and
commencements still have the old
time thrill and charm, although the
grandchildren are in attendance up
on school somewhere else. This
year one was at Milstead, three in
Atlanta, and two in Riverside. It
is just too bad that not a grandchild
is enrolled in Martin Institute.
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One of the largest congregations
that has assembled in Martin Insti
tute auditorium in several years to
witness the Sunday commencement
exercises heard Rev. Bruce Nay de
liver a beautiful and inspiring ser
mon. For a number of years Rev.
Nay made his home in Jefferson
while serving the Christian church
here as its pastor. He made many
warm friends, who regretted to see
him leave. But to an enlarged field
of endeavor and activity he was
called, where he has rendered a
service not only to his own denomi-
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nation, but that is helpful and en
couraging to all with whom he has
come in contact, for Rev. Nay is not
only an able expounder of the
gospel, but is a model citizen. The
people of Jefferson again heard him
gladly. He was accompanied by
Mrs. Nay, whose friends here are
many and loyal.
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Last week we met with J. T. Oliv
er, a school mate of old Academy.
In school he was a good boy, and
had the respect of every one of his
associates. In life he has been a
fine citizen. He has lived a life of
sobriety and usefulness; and he and
his good wife, by sagacious manage
ment, have around them well earned
competency, and an abundant of
this world’s goods, and have made a
beautiful home life. Only a few
weeks ago there was a home coming
at Academy church. Near by once
stood the school house, which is
gone, but the church building re
mains. Many of the same families
who were the pioneers of this lo
cality make up the present citizen
ship of this community. Their names
may be different, but they are de
scendants of the same people who
felled the forests, built homes,
schools houses and churches, estab
lished civilization, and planted re
ligion in this midst. To the writer
this is a hallowed place. Not far
from Academy he first beheld the
light of day, here he attended his
first school, and heard his first ser
mon, and formed ties of friendship
and affection which have withstood
the mutation of time, and will live
forever.
Wesleyan College, at Macon, had
its commencement this week. Will
this be the last one ever held as
Wesleyan College, as an institution
belonging to the North and South
Georgia Conferences of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church, South? Bond
holders want to sell it. Will the
trustees of Wgsleyan make ar
rangement to buy it? Can they
make plans for this purpose? It
owes bonds to the amount of more
than one million of dollars. It was
a mistake to borrow such a stupend
ous amount and build this great new
plant. It would have been far bet
ter to have continued doing college
work in the old building. Other
buildings near it could either have
been bought, or leased. If possible,
Wesleyan should be saved. It is the
oldest chartered female college in the
world, and its prestige is unsurpass
ed, and its educational achievements
have been marvelous. But above
everything, Christian education must
not be abandoned. The different
denominations must keep their
schools and colleges alive, and not
let them die. The State is doing
much for secular education, but
Christian institutions must be re
lied on for the development of Chris
tian leaders—teachers, preachers,
missionaries and laymen, without
whom this land would retrograde
towards materialism*, skepticism,
ognosticism. These great insti
tutions of the church must aid Chris
tian homes in keeping Christian
fires burning everywhere. Not only,
then, for the sake of education, but
religion and civilization, these insti
tutions must be kept going, and one
of the noblest and best of all such
is Wesleyan College, at Macon. Save
Wesleyan.
SQme editors were disappointed
because the Georgia Press did not
go to Cuba. The writer and wife
were members of the press party
who visited these islands some
eleven years ago. It was very en
joyable, but we had no desire to
make a second journey over there.
Havana is a city with some attrac
tions, but there are larger cities
in our own country that are more
inviting. Of course, the boat ride
on the ocean is a novelty to one
who has not had such an experience,
but sea sickness could destroy all
the pleasures of the voyage. The
editors can have a good time right
here in Georgia. At Adel, W. T.
Shytle, Homer Parrish, Homer Nel
son and other hospitable citizens of
that attractive South Georgia mu
nicipality, will give all the glad hand
of welcome and provide splendid
entertainment. After Adel, then go
to Savannah, where ocean breezes
blow, and where Billy Sutlive and
Jenkins and other citizens of Sa
vannah are ever ready to welcome a
JEFFERSON, Jackson County, Georgia.
FINALS PREACHER
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Rev. Bruce Nay, who preached the
commencement sermon of Martin
Institute last Sunday.
SUPERINTENDENT
Prof. H. J. W. Kizer, Superintendent
of Martin Institute.
DEDICATION EXERCISES
SLATED AT COMMERCE
Commerce, Ga.—Dedication of
Commerce’s new $60,00(1 post of
fice building, recently completed,
will be held Saturday, with Con
gressman B. Frank Whelchel, J. W.
Cole, of the Post Office Department,
and Abit Nix, of Athens, as the
principal speakers.
Dr. J. C. Verner, mayor of Com
merce, who will deliver the welcom
ing address, will entertain out-of
town speakers and other guests at
a luncheon prior to the dedicatory
exercises, which will begin at 3:30
o’clock.
visit from the men and women of
the Fourth Estate. Jenkins is
so clever, has such a warm grasp
of the hand, such an enchant
ing smile, uses such soft and ten
der words, knows so well how to
feed the hungry and satisfy the
thirsty, that one forgets all about
his politics, but is charmed with his
magnetic personality. SavaVinah is
a good place to visit for a few days,
and have the time of one’s life. It
is better than going to Cuba.
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The supreme court of the United
States has rendered a decision in
which it declared the old age pen
sion law and all other social security
legislation passed by congress to be
constitutional. This means that
people in Georgia eligible for bene
fits under this act will be paid same
if the amendments are adopted on
June 8. Of all the amendments
proposed, old age pensions is the
most vital at this time. How those
who claim to be humanitarian can
oppose this proposition, is something
we cannot reason out. Talmadge is
still opposed to old age pensions,
but seems now much concerned
about prohibition. While he was
governor a bill was passed which he
signed providing for repeal of pro
hibition to be submitted to the votes
of the people. The thing he in
sisted on was to submit the questions
of beer and light wine, with the
referendum on prohibition, saying
the people of Georgia wr.nt or pre
fer “hard liquor.” This indicated he
favors liquor as a beverage, rather
than wine and beer. He manifested
no sentiment against repeal at that
time. If he had done so, probably
repeal would have been defeated by
a big majority, and would not now
be before the voters. He is welcome
to the dry ranks.
SCHOOL CLOSES
Martin Institute Close* Most Suc
cessful Session, Sermon By Rev.
Bruce Nay, Address By Governor
E. D. Rivers, Large Class Gradu
ates.
The 1936-37 session of Martin In
stitute, Georgia's oldest and most
historic high school, came to a brill
iant close Tuesday evening with the
literary address by Governor E. D.
Rivers, and the delivery of diplomas
to thirty-five young ladies and eigh
teen young men. These were pre
sented by M. M. Bryan, president
city board of education, and the
final curtain went down on the con
clusion of one of the most success
ful sessions in the school’s history.
Music for the graduation program
was furnished by the school orches
tra, under the directorship of Prof.
Stanton Forbes.
First and second honors this year
were won by Misses Sally Bryan and
Eloise Hood, and they gave the
valedictory and salutatory addresses.
Those receiving diplomas were:
Messrs. Smith Bridges, Hayes Dav
is, Jack Dodd, Billy Duke, Brittain
Elrod, Chas. Foster, Paul Freeman,
Stuart Lord, Nolan Mahaffey. Bill
Massey, Lloyd McEver, Edward
Ragan, Allen Segars, Eugene Tay
lor, Ralph Vandiver, John Whelchel,
Ralph White, Charles Kesler; Misses
Sara Frances Archer, Mary Cath
erine Archer, Mildred Blackstock,
Rachael Braselton, Thelma Brea
zeale, Kathleen Brooks, Sally Bry
an, Lounelle Cruce, Mary Daniel,
Reba Griffith, Margaret Hardy,
Frances Holliday, Eloise Hood, Elsie
Langford, Thelma Langford, Louise
Lavender, Martha Beth Lavender,
Alice Logan, Doris Maley, Edith
McDonald, Mary Lois Mize, Louise
Murphy, Louise Palmer, Elizabeth
Potts, Agnes Sell, Lanelle Shirley,
Frances Smith, Mildred Smith, Dot
Storey, Louise Tate, Lottie Belle
Tate, Mary Lizzie Walton, Lucy
Whitehead, Louise Wilhite, Lottie
Mae Wilson.
During the preceding week, re
citals were given by the music pupils
of Mrs. J. S. Ayers, and Miss Miriam
Bennett, these adding much interest
to the closing exercises.
On Thursday evening, the Jeffer
son Chamber of Commerce was host
to the teachers and members of the
graduating class at a most delightful
barbecue, given in the basketball
court, an interesting and entertain
ing feature of the occasion being an
address by J. I. Allman, state school
supervisor.
The program Friday evening con
sisted of a three-act comedy-drama,
“Bashful Bobby,” presented by the
following members of the graduat
ing class: Ralph White, Allen Seg
ars, Jack Dodd, Stuart Lord, Hayes
Davis, Misses Mary Daniel, Louise
Murphy, Eloise Hood, Sally Bryan,
Martha Beth Lavender, Lounelle
Cruce, Elsie Langford.
The audience was highly pleased
with the performance, voting the en
tertainment one of the best ever
staged by senior pupils. They ex
hibited marked histrionic talent, and
were well trained in platform speak
ing.
The large school auditorium was
filled Sunday morning with citizens
from all parts of the county, who
assembled to hear the annual bac
calaureate sermon, delivered by
Rev. Bruce Nay of Atlanta, state
field secretary of the Christian
Churches, and one of Georgia’s out
standing divines. Mr. Nay chose
for his text verses from St. Paul’s
exhortation to Timothy: “But in a
great house there are not only ves
sels of gold and of silver, but also
of wood and of earth; and some to
honor and some to dishonor. If a
man purge himself from these, he
shall be a vessel unto honor, sancti
fied and meet for the Master’s use,
and prepared unto every good work.”
His theme was “Vessels of Honor,”
and in order for the members of the
class to be Vessels of Honor, he
urged that they be patient; be dili
gent; be thoughtful; be courteous;
be always ready unto every good
work; be able to give a reason for
the hope there is in you; be strong,
with good courage; be not deceived;
be faithful to the responsibilities en
trusted to you; and above every
thing else, be a Christian. The
sermon was well received, and lauda
tory remarks regarding the choice
of text, the exposition of the same
and the delivery were extended the
Thursday, June 3, 13937.
FINALS SPEAKER
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MPt, 4" M
Governor E. D. Rivers, who spoke to
the Graduating Class of Martin
Institute Tuesday evening.
speaker. A choir composed of mem
bers from all the churches, with Mrs.
L. H. Isbell at the piano, rendered
two appropriate and beautiful an
thems.
The seniors and their friends as
sembled again at six o’clock Mon
day afternoon for the Class Day ex
ercises. The program had been
planned in the form of a garden
party, and was to have been staged
on the campus, but rain interfered,
and the entertainment was given in
the basketball court. The young
ladies were arrayed in attractive
garden party dresses, and when they
assembled in the supposed garden of
two of their number, Misses Beth
and Louise Lavender, and when the
history of the class was read by Miss
Mary Daniel, the prophecy by Miss
Elsie Langford, and the will by Miss
Sara Frances Archer, a court room
scene was carried out in a trial to
decide whether or not the class was
ready for graduation.
Those taking part were: Bailiff,
Hayes Davis; Judge, Ralph White;
Clerk, Paul Freeman; Defenses and
witnesses, Stuart Lord, Allen §egars,
Louise Murphy, Ed Ragan, Nolan
Mahaffey, Bill Duke, Mary Lizzie
Walton, Ralph Vandiver, Lounelle
Cruce; Prosecutor, Smith Bridges.
The seventh grade students, those
who will re-enter Martin Institute
next fall as high school pupils, pre
sented the program Tuesday morn
ing. The exercises were in the form
of a convention, with Reynolds
Greene presiding, and Lois Hendry
Jackson, acting as secretary. In a
way, it was a drill in parliamentary
law, and those taking part displayed
a knowledge of the same that would
outclass many older persons. In a
few well chosen and well jipoken
words, Albert Garrison welcomed
the audience to the convention.
Others taking part as chairmen of
committees were Marion Ledford,
Johnnie Ruth Hardy, Cecil Vandiver,
Douglas Elder, Carolyn Lord and
Lorene Huff. Each appeared on
the stage with poise and grace, and
spoke their parts in a manner that
carried with it a prediction that
high honors await the members of
the 1941 graduating class. Certifi
cates of promotion to the high school
department were delivered by Pro
fessor H. J. W. Kizer to the follow
ing: Donald Alverson, Jonell Brooks,
Lillie Bell Brown, Wineva. Brown,
Mildred Doster, Douglas Elder, Al
bert Garrison, Mildred Cause, Rey
nolds Greene, Johnnie Ruth Hardy,
Kathleen Hollis, Lorene Huff, Lois
Hendry Jackson, Sam Kelly, Marian
Ledford, Carolyn Lord, Annie Bell
Moore, John L. Moore, Junior Mur
phy, Emily Potts, Mary Purcell,
Marilyn Roberts, Cecil Vandiver,
Allen Weir, Jack Wilkes.
The medal offered by the Ameri
can Legion for the best paper on
Citizenship was awarded to Miss
Johnnie Ruth Hardy.
Condition of Man Bitten By Spider
Is Reported Improving
Hull Jackson, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Carlton Jackson of near Winder, is
reported improving at General hos
pital this morning after being treat
ed Wednesday for a black widow
spider bite. His condition was said
to be serious following his arrival at
the hospital. Mr. Jackson was re
ported to have been bitten at an
out-house near his home Wednesday.
Mrs. Nena Cothran of Atlanta,
and T. C. Morrison of Athens, spent
the week-end here with home folks.
Vol. 61. No. 45.
EXCHANGE NOTES
News Items Of Interest Among Our
Neighbors And Friends
Go To Keeping House
(From Lavonia Times)
Prof, and Mrs. Jas. T. McKay go
to housekeeping the latter part of
this week. Since their marriage last
year they have been living at The
Lavonia Hotel. They have secured
an apartment from Mrs. W. B. Rich
ardson which will be their future
home. They expect to spend the
greater part of the summer in La
vonia.
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Miss Daisy Crisler Is Donor Of
Home For Superannuate
(From Wesleyan Advocate)
Miss Daisey Crisler, Canton, itas
given the home of her father, the
late Mr. B. F. Crisler, to the North
Georgia Conference to be used as a
superannuate home. This gift is a
memorial to her father who for
many years was an official and a
devoted member of the church at
Canton.
In speaking of the gift Rev. R. A.
Edmonson, agent for Superannuate
homes, made the following state
ment: “This gift will, bring great
happiness to Miss Crisler. It has
shown her faith in her Saviour, her
devotion to her father, her loyalty
to the Church, and her love for the
preachers called of the Lord to
preach His Gospel in our world. No
doubt this gift will be a great bless
ing to the Church and to the town
of Canton, and a home of peace
and comfort to the itinerant preach
er who may stop here to rest a while
before going to the ‘house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens.’
Dr. Pope B. Holliday Honored By
State Dental Association
(From Athens Banner-Herald)
Dr. Pope B. Holliday, widely
known Athens dentist, has been
elected vice president of the Georgia
Dental Association. Dr. Holliday
has been a member of the executive
committee for the state association
for ten years and was chairman of
the legislative committee of the or
ganization. The election of Dr.
Holliday as vice president of the as
sociation was met with gratification:'
by members of the organization
throughout the state. Dr. Holliday
is a former officer in the district
dental society and is a member of
the Athens Rotary club. He is one
of the leading members of the Re
serve officers Association and is one
of the community’s most popular
citizens.
Mrs. Martha Nickelson Buried in
Woodville
(From Greensboro Herald-Journal)
Mrs. Martha Maddox Nickelson,
90 years of age, died Tuesday at her
residence in Penfield. Mrs. Nickel
son was the daughter of Joseph
Maddox and Susie Pittman Maddox
and was born in Jackson County on
October 16, 1847. She was a mem
ber of the Penfield Baptist Church.
She is survived by one daughter,
Mrs. Susie Wilson; three grand
children, F. P. Wilson, W. L. Wilson,
and Mrs. Tom Mullins; fifteen great
grand-children; three great-great
grand-children.
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Farmers Capture Escaped Convict
(From Commerce News)
Mr. Otho Evans and Mr. Hubert
Gordon, who live on the farm of
Mrs. B. M. Durham below town,
captured Will McConnell, an escap
ed convict, early Tuesday morning.
McConnell called at the Gordon
home the night before asking the
way to a negro house nearby. The
next morning he was seen approach
ing and when he saw that he was be
ing noticed he turned and started
rapidly in the opposite direction.
Mr. Evans and Mr. Gordon started
in pursuit and soon captured him.
He was brought to town and turned
over to the police who soon found
that he had a bad record and had
served sentence in Chattanooga, ini
Michigan and elsewhere but had
escaped from officers in Jackson
county. He was returned tp them
and is again doing road work.
More than 6,000 camp grounds
will be ready for this season’s va
cation visitors to the 160 National
Forests. Many of these camp
grounds were built during the pas#
few years with the aid of CCC and
other emergency labor.