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The Jackson Herald
By Holder & Williamson
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
(By Rev. A. B. Elizer)
“And of His Kingdom there shall
be no end,” Luke 1:33. This state
ment is part of the “Great An
nunciation,” as the story of the Angel
Gabriel’s promise to Mary, is called.
Beautifully it is woven into the dra
ma of the Nativity stories. The
early Christians believed it. It so
>wssed their minds, that it never
ceased to be the watchword of their
onward march. Matters of the mo
ment were submerged, by the glow
injr faith “of His Kingdom there
shall be no end.” For them it meant
triumph, for eternity. Persecution
an d martyrdom were of small con
cern. In those days the church
mo ved mightily and prevailed. Do
we have that faith today? In theo
ry, yes; but in practice, no. Per
haps the best birthday gift the Chris
tian Church could give to Christ, at
this time, would be anew loyalty
fired with confidence and enthusiasm
for His never ending Kingdom.
There is a spirit of hopelessness and
aimlessness, which characterizes the
work of professing Christians, and
sorely hinders the march of the
Kingdom of Christ. Many good
meaning folk are looking at the
evils of the day and saying in a
sort of resigned despair, there is
nothing that can be done about it.
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There is war, they say and it is
wrong, but it cannot be cured.
There are economic problems, but
they cannot be solved. There are
crime waves, but they cannot be
conquered. There are character
failures, but they cannot be reclaim
ed. So the common thing that most
of us are doing, is looking about us
in a sort of dazed despair, wonder
ing what is the meaning of it all,
any way. A lot of folks seem to
feel like the king in one of Kipling’s
stories, who set out to build a palace
knowing, it would tumble into ruins
before he; had finished it. Because
others ffiad failed before him, he, too,
would fail, and others would con
tinue to fail after him. That is the
sort of spirit in which some of us
do most of the things we do, for the
Kingdom of Christ.
What shall we say of this spirit?
Or, better, what would Jesus say?
And some way there come crowding
to our minds those oft repeated
tragic words, “O, ye of little faith.”
Or, he could do no mighty work
among them because of their unbe
lief. The worst heresy of today is
that of unbelief. People are not
willing to let religions values play
much part in their lives, and they
do not expect God to do any thing
great among them. We need con
stantly to remind ourselves that the
world of Jesus day was darker than
the world today. Wars were con
tinuous, where the conquered were
slaughtered, sold into slavery, or
worse. Robbers and pirates were
less controlled. Human life was
held cheaper. Yet into that world
went forth the words, “His Kingdom
shall never end.” As long as those
followers believed and acted on that
promise, the world took notice of
them, that they had been with
Christ. Rome might mass a million
men to nail them to crosses, but
she was powerless to defeat the
principles and powers, in which they
believed.
Unbelief today is not in the
principles of Jesus themselves. They
are winning their way across the
world, bidding for the hearts of
mankind. Slowly in pagan lands old
religions are crumbling before them,
and the oft heard statement for na
tions like China or India is, “It is
either Christ or chaos.” The prin
ciples of Jesus stand the test of the
ages. Our unbelief is in our inabili
ty to get the world to give them a
chance. We seem to have lost faith
in society, our neighbors, and even
ourselves to face the world with the
Christian challenge today. We be
lieve love can conquer hate if given
a chance. But we despair of that
chance being given. We said twenty
years ago we were engaged in a war
to end war. Then we saw disarma
ment cQnference follow disarament
conference, and it seemed we were
really getting somewhere with the
machinery of peace. But, alas!
Like a bolt from the sky, the greed
of nations turned loose. The League
°f Nations proved impotent to stop
&em. This year has witnessed two
SINGLE COPY 5c
of the most brazen attacks on weak
er peoples of modern times. The
leader tragically is one of the so
called Christian nations. Still the
world is shocked as never before at
such an outrage. Such wilful pro
voking human suffering, and deliber
ate destruction of human lives are
out of keeping with civilized life.
Humanity stands aghast at the
spectacle. Is this evidence of a
hopelessly depraved society? It is
surely evidence there are beastly
and brutal forces in society. But
Lan we not look with hope toward
that host who stand aghast? Those
who refuse to take such outrages
as a matter of course, and instead
are willing to bring all the judg
ment and censure of a Christian con
science upon it? Despite the
bloodshed of today, there are more
persons willing to pledge themselves
for the outlawry of war than ever
before. Might the number grow
with Christ this Christmas time.
In a like manner we need to look
into our own unbelieving hearts as
we face the economic problems of
today. Government, business, organ
izations and individuals are all
seeking the solution of the economic
ills, and they are still far from
solved. Not that there is want or
scarcity to hamper the solution.
There comes nearer being overpro
duction. Yet if the goods of the
world could get to those who could
use them, over production should
not be a problem. The problem is
getting the necessary amount of
everything produced and properly
distributed as needed. It is the
regulated production and distribu
tion that presents the unsolved
problem. Why do these produce
tension points? Mainly because all
the agencies involved face the prob
lem with the idea of getting the ad
vantage. Every group, whether pro
ducer of raw material, employer and
employee in manufacture, distribu
tor, retailer, or consumer has in the
past approached the problem to get
the advantage of the others con
cerned. To say nothing of the vari
ous taxing and rake-offs that must
have their cut. And this is not a
slap at taxation. Every person who
lives and owns should pay his share
for the privilege. There should be
no exemption. But there should be
an equal sharing of the burden.
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Suppose all the parties concerned
in the solution of our economic pro
blems should become inspired with
the spirit of the Christ of the Christ
mas, and each, while wanting that
which rightfully is his, is still willing
to do toward all others as toward
himself. .Suppose that greed, sus
picion and envy were removed
from all hearts by that spirit, and
as Christian statesmen, not political
schemers, they should sit down to
plan in justice to all. Would they
solve our economic ills? Remember
the promise, “Of His Kingdom there
shall be no end.” Then be ashamed
for our littleness of faith. Thus we
might enumerate every ill, and the
promise holds. The Christ of the
Christmas has the principles to solve
them. But the principles have to be
applied in His spirit. That is the
point where we fail. Only thorough
ly Christian men can apply fully
Christian principles. They usually
come out of truly Christian homes.
They can only be inspired by con
secrated Christian churches. We
just sort of make a sham of being
Christian, even in our churches.
His Kingdom lags, and He does not
the mighty works among us today
because of our unbelief. We just
don’t expect Him to keep His prom
ise. Just before us is the Christmas
altar, where we would place our
gifts for the Christ of the Christmas.
What shall we bring? Wild hilarity
and shameful desecration, some do
bring that sort. It must be grievous
to Him. Shall we ignore Him, the
Christ of the Christmas, complete
ly? It is rude to ignore Him, who
should be the honor guest in every
home and life. I wish all of us
might bring to Him the gifts He
most would prize, pure and believing
hearts to aid His enduring Kingdom
among men. But those hearts need
first be carefully prepared. Remem
bering as our colored brethren sing,
“It’s not my Brudder, nor my Sister,
but it’s me, O, Lord, standin’ in the
need of prayer.”
JEFFERSON, Jackion County, Georgia.
Jackson County Home
Demonstration News
(Miss Eugenia Boone)
The seventh grade 4-H Club at
Martin Institute had a Christmas
Party last week after the regular
club meeting.
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The Mt. View Home Demonstra
tion Club met Tuesday, with 14
members present. A Christmas
Party followed the meeting.
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Attica Home Demonstration Club
had a Christmas tree Saturday af
ternoon. There were over 30 peo
ple present.
Christina* Gift*
The Christmas spirit of 1937 is as
old as time itself. As the Christmas
season draws near, let us try to give
the children first of all the greatest
gift—Christ. Grace Noel Crowell
says:
“Oh, Mothers, are your children
young tonight?
Are their eyes starry with life’s
wonderment?
Gather them close within the circling
light
Of fire and lamp; tell them of Jesus,
sent
To lie upon a stable’s fragrant hay,
A little babe, the earth’s own Savior,
King;
Tell them the story, give them this
gift, I pray,
For now, and their future comfort
ing.
No greater thing can any mother
give
To any child than this great glorious
truth;
Foundation on which lives may build
and live.
Oh, lay the rock of faith while there
is youth,
So swift the years will carry them
away
Beyond your reaching hands, young.
voice’s call; JF"
Give them the things that they can
not lose today;
Give them the Christ, the greatest
gift of all.
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Christmas gifts should be suitable
to the. person to whom they are
given, and should be useful, as well
as beautiful. Many gifts may be
made at home, such as: rugs, quilts,
fruit cakes, jelly, preserves, foot
stools, cushions, clothing, etc. For
the gifts that one has to buy, give
books for one who likes to read; a
lamp for one who needs more light;
a hot water bottle or a heating pad
for one who has a hard time keep
ing warm; or a Bible to a Christian.
After all, it is the thought and the
spirit in which we give that matters.
“Not what we give, but what we
share,
For the gift without the giver is
bare.”
Christmas Hints
If your family is scattered, and
most of the members will not get
home for Christmas, start a family
chain letter, every one sending a let
ter to one person who in turn sends
the same letter with his letter add
ed, to another member of the family.
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Dip oranges, lemons, apples, and
tangerines in clear shellac. Wire
into wreaths and table pieces with
evergreen, holly and pine combs.
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For an invalid, take hoop, not too
big, wire evergreen sprays around it,
making a green hoop. Wrap nuts,
sweets, glazed fruits, things that
will keep, in colored cellophane, and
wire among wreath. Then put tiny
toys, puzzles, etc., in the wreath.
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Save eggshells and dye them in
colored powders. Place a string
tied to inch long match, stick into
the egg. Trim your tree with these
as they do in Russia.
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In France and Germany, it is the
custom to bake cakes in the shape of
birds and animals to give to the visit
ors in the home.
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For table decorations, try cello
phane straws, tipped with sealing
wax, and sewed into shapes as trees;
put candles in tins from dime store
lacquered to match your color
scheme; and gum-drop trees may be
used as part of the decorations.
Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Henderson
and Mrs. L. B. Isbell were visitors
in Atlanta Monday.
$2,000 EXEMPTION
ON HOMESTEADS
SIGNED BY RIVERS
Governor Rivers has signed the
$2,000 homestead exemption bill,
the first major tax relief measure
of the special session of the assem
bly.
The signing of the bill, which ex
empts owner-occupied homes and
farnta, of $2,000 in state, county and
county school district taxes, climax
ed a hectic legislative day which was
marked by an attempt of Speaker
Roy V. Harris to bring about sine
die adjournment by next Thursday
but which resulted only in passage
by the house of a resolution provid
ing for a recess from December 22
to January 3 when the assembly
would return and finish its work.
Various estimates have been
placed on the amounts to be saved
taxpayers through the exemption
plan. It ia estimated that about
$1,760,000 will be lopped off the
state’s income from ad valorem tax
es.
Some estimates place the savings
to taxpayers in county, municipal
and county school taxes as high as
$2,600,000.
The measure provides that assess
ments of property shall be substan
tially the same as they are this year.
Any householder seeking the ex
emption must pay a fee of 50 cents
for the application.
The act specifically provides that
a municipality may continue to levy
taxes for the operation of an inde
pendent school district.
Valuation of property shall be
upon a basis of law, which was de
scribed as market value. At pres
ent, counties are said to value homes
and farms at about 40 per cent of
their value. Appeals . from county
assessments are to be made to the
superior courts in those counties
which do not have tax appeal boards.
Georgia Booklet Free For
Asking
Georgia citizens and others who
would like to read a good thumbnail
sketch of Georgia, condensed into
10 pages, may now do so. Colum
bus Roberts, Commissioner of Agri
culture, states that the Department
of Agriculture has compiled a lot of
information about Georgia, agricul
turally and otherwise, into a 10-page
mimeographed pamphlet which will
be sent free to anyone requesting a
copy.
The booklet is of especial interest
to teachers, pupils, libraries and
citizens generally who desire infor
mation about their state, the De
partment states.
A brief history of the state agri
culturally is given as well as a state
ment of Georgia’s crops and their
value by items for 1936; a lot of
farm facts, which show there are
250,544 farms in Georgia, 75,000
full owners, 10,000 part owners,
164,000 tenants, 177,000 white
farmers and 75,000 negro farmers.
The rural population is given as 2,-
000,000 and the city population as
895,000.
Farm figures for the United States
are also given.
The book also contains a list of
Georgia’s elected officials, state and
national.
Citizens who desire a copy are re
quested to write to Columbus Rob
erts, Commissioner of Agricuture,
State- Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia.
The booklet was compiled and
printed in his office, Mr. Roberts
states, in response to a demand for
up-to-date information, agricultural
ly and otherwise on Georgia.
Country’s Calm In Crisis
Lauded By Roosevelt
Washington.—President Roosevelt
is “very much gratified” with the
calm restraint exhibited by the
American people in the present
crisis with Japan, despite furious
public indignation over the brutal
Nipponese attacks on American ships
in China.
Officials eye-witness reports of the
deliberate attack on the Panay, how
ever, have shocked the President, as
well as diplomats. They will lead to
further protests to Tokio, unless the
Japanese government in replying to
the formal Panay protest gives ade
quate guarantees that American lives
and property in China will be safe
guarded against Japanese depreda
tions in the future.
Thursday, December 23, 1937.
WPA Will Add
4,500 Workers To
Georgia Roll
Miss Gay B. Shepperson, Works
Progress Administrator, says 4,500
persons will be assigned to WPA
projects in Georgia within the next
month under the increased employ
ment quotas recently authorized.
Georgia’s quota was increased
from 22,200 to 29,500. Miss Shep
person said welfare agencies already
have certified enough applications to
absorb 2,800 of the 7,300 persons
who may be given project jobs un
der the new quota, leaving 4,500
places to be filled.
The administrator said it would
take several weeks to select workers
and make job assignments. Appli
cants must be certified by county
welfare departments as being in
need, able to work and idle.
The increase in Georgia is in line
with the announced policy of adding
360,000 workers to WPA rolls
throughout the country to take care
of the needy during winter months.
Miss Shepperson said Georgia’s
quota was fixed in proportion to
needs in the state and the funds
available for work projects.
Here Is What Auto Tags
Will Cost You Next Year
Under the new legislation the cost
of 1938 automobile tags in Georgia,
based on the following approximate
weights, will be:
Ford “60 sedan, 2,481 pounds,
$1.50.
Ford “85” de luxe sedan, 2,900
pounds, $2.50.
Chevrolet de luxe town sedan, 2,-
930 pounds, $2.50.
Plymouth Sedan, 2,844 pounds,
$2.50.
DeSoto sedan, 3,130 pounds,
$3.50.
Dodge sedan, 2,967 pounds, $2.50.
Hudson deluxe sedan, 3,155
pounds, $3.50.
Terraplane de luxe sedan, 2,885
pounds, $2.50.
Nash “6” sedan, 3,500 pounds,
$3.50.
LaFayette sedan, 3,350 pounds,
$3.50.
Packard “6” sedan, 3,580 pounds,
$4.50.
Packard “8” sedan, 3,720 pounds,
$4.50.
Oldsmobile “6” sedan, 3,290
pounds, $3.50.
Pontiac “8” sedan, 3,425 pounds,
$3.50.
Chrysler “8” sedan, 3,565 pounds,
$4.50.
Chrysler “6” sedan, 3,180 pounds,
$3.50.
Cadillac “65” series” sedan, 4,540
pounds, $6.50.
LaSalle sedan, 3,830 pouttds,
$4.50.
Lincoln sedan, 5,700 pounds,
$8.50.
Lincoln Zephyr sedan, 3,560
pounds, $4.50.
Buick “series 40” sedan, 3,720
pounds, $4.50.
Contracts Are Let For Ist
Post Roads to Cost SIOO,OOO
Atlanta, Ga.—Eight rural post
roads, to cost approximately SIOO,-
000 were included in 15 highway
contracts totaling more than $600,-
000 which were awarded Friday by
the State Highway Board.
The eight rural post roads are
among the first to be contracted for
under the new state rural roads di
vision set up by the general assem
bly in regular session this year.
These are roads which are not in
the regular highway system but are
secondary “feeders.”
W. L. Miller, chairman of the
highway board, said the department
has plans for 50 additional post
road projects. They will be expedit
ed so that federal funds can be ob
tained to match state money in the
construction.
MARTIN INSTITUTE CLOSES
WEDNESDAY
The fall session of Martin Insti
tute came to a close today, Wednes
day, and the out-of-town teachers
are leaving for their respective
homes. School will resume work on
Monday, January 3. Splendid at
tendance and excellent accomplish
ments have marked the session just
closed, and an even greater attend
ance and better work are planned
for the closing months of the 1937-
38 school session.
Vol. 62. No. 21.
COUNTY AGENT’S
COLUMN
The County Agent’s office will be
closed the following days: Decea*-
ber 24, December 25, and January 1
1938. It will be open to transact
any business that the farmers widH
with the exception of these day*,
during Christmas.
XXX
The canning plant will be clussdr
until Wednesday, January fttH.
Those wishing to use the plant
should make an appointment through
our office. It will operate regularty
each Wednesday after Junuary htfcL.
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We expect to begin taking appli
cations for payment immediately
after January Ist. Notices will be
mailed to each producer who hae
signed a work sheet, notifying hint,
of the place to file his application.
We are anxious that when these
notices are sent out that those noti
fied will cooperate with us and meet
at the place and time designated.
Each farmer who has tenants is also
requested to have these people
present when the application m
made. It is necessary that eadb
tenant sign the application for hir
portion of the benefits going to the.
farm.
X I x
We have mailed forms out to altf
farmers who signed work sheets re
questing certain information about,
the number of acres planted in Aus
trian Winter Peas, vetch, and other
winter legumes, in order that are
may be able to get our farmers pay
for these practices. Most of these
forms have been returned to the
office. Those who have retumest
them will receive benefits from these
practices. Those who have not, will
probably not receive these pay
ments.
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It was not necessary for every
acre of summer legumes such as
peas, velvet beans, etc. to be plowed
under to receive payments under
the Soil Conserving program. It
does increase the payment to each
farmer who has done this. Each
farmer will receive additional pay
for sowing winter legumes, and we •
are anxious that each farmer who
followed these practices receive pay
for them.
Those farmers who have corn*,
hay, and seed of any kind for sale
should list them with our office.
We have calls most every day for
these products. We would like to •
have our office serve as an exchange
through which our farmers could,
sell their surplus products and aCse■*
buy or exchange for those things,
that they need. We expect to send /
out a questionnaire requesting that;
each farmer fill it out showing those
things which he has for sale on his
farm or would like to exchange.
Those receiving this questionnaire
should return it at once.
Your County Agent has enjoyedP.
working with the people in Jackson,'
County this year.- We are lookinß
forward to a still better year fof
1938. It has been a pleasure te
witness the co-operation given by
our farmers, business men and
others that we have contacted. We
wish for each one a very happy
Christmas and a most prosperous;
New Year.
J. W. Jackson, County Agt.
GET U. S. OUT OF CHINA
AND STAY OUT, ADVICE
OF SMEDLEY BUTLER.'
Detroit. —Major Gen. Smedley
Butler, retired U. S. Marine Corps,
commander, said in an interview:
Thursday night that “American;
ships, sailors and soldiers should get.
out of China and stay out.”
“They aren’t doing any good over
there, anyway,” he added. Refer-.
ring to the Panay incident, General
Butler said:
“The gunboat didn’t protect thte
barges, did it? Then what was it~;
there for?
“The barges should have been in
sured by Lloyds of London for pro
tection, and the gunboat shouldn’t,
have been there at all. Then the
Standard Oil Company would have
its money back and we’d still have
out gunboat.”
'“Let’s take so-called patriotie
motives out of this thing,” the fiery
Marine officer continued, “and pui it
on a common-serose basis.”