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Mailbox Incident, Guilty Or Not Guilty Dear Editor Your newspaper and other area papers have published, in the last week or so, several articles regarding the destruction of a private mailbox, by accident or by intention, suits, arrests and charges fill the air. These stories, as printed, have indicated possible guilt by 1 1) a group of juveniles. (2) a citizen, Kevin Sumner, or f 3) neither, depending on where the story originates. The courts will decide, of course, just who is guilty in this particular incident. In the eyes of our private type citizens, however it is crystal clear Kevin Sumner is CARD OF THANKS I wish to thank each of you, my many friends and relatives, for your prayers, cards, letters, visits and all other gestures of concern and kindness shown to me and my family during my recent illness. All these things are sincerely ap preciated. Ernest Fowler GET OUT ON A KKANCH EACH WEEK WITH BOBBY BRANCH IN THE HOME JOURNAL. To Flint EMC Members: New Warner Robins Office Will Open To Serve You Monday April 17th ★ 1 fiflfl Flhprta Rnsrl The Membership of Flint EMC can take pride in the new Warner Robins District lUUU LIUCILd lAUdU Office which opens for business on Monday. The old location on Watson Boulevard, long inadequate for the needs of the growing Membership, will be ★ Tu/n Hri\/P lin VA/inHfUA/Q closed, and the property sold. Greater efficiencies, faster service, and projected IWU UIIVC-tip WIIIUUWO economies of operation will be the benefits gained in the new location. Ample off street parking will be provided. A meeting room accomodating upwards of 250 ★ Dnon B’Q m nn +il R n m nn people will be avaiable to local organizations. It is a further step in the goal of O. JU <3.111. UN 111 J jJ.MI. UN flint EMC • beyond providing efficient electric service • to truly serve its Member-Owners. Monday thru Friday epn ★ Night Depository for after regular hours ~ guilty. It is not difficult to be found guilty in the eyes of these people. If, for instance, you believe that an effective recreation program, provided for all the children Students Get On The Job Training Here Dear Mr. Branch: We should like for the public to know of the training for future employment that is being done by Mrs. Jeanne McDonald, Counselor for CVAE (Coordinated Vocational - Academic Education) in Ferry High School. The students par ticipating in this program receive their on-the-job training at public agencies or organizations. Our Agency has been using daily since the first of February two female students to perform various office tasks. These students have been very eager to learn and perform their work to our satisfaction. We also have several male students working on the beautification of the grounds in Ferry, instead of just for a few, is both desirous and beneficial, then you are guilty. Sumner is guilty. If you believe that it is better for black and white citizens, today in 1972, to work together for a better around our building. They have cleaned the beds around the building and have collected and placed pine straw around the boxwoods. They are now in the process of planting flowers, shrubbery, and pine trees along the side of the building. It is a pleasure to be involved with young people who have made a plan and have worked with such en thusiasm. We wish to thank the school, Mrs. McDonald, and these young people. Sincerely, (Mrs.) Connette R. Gayle Deputy Director Houston County Department of Family and Children Services. ' community and better schools, instead of continued isolation from, and distrust of each other, then you are guilty. Sumner is guilty. If you believe in the freedom and power of the vote, and believe all people should be encouraged to vote, then you are guilty. 1 Sumner is guilty. If you believe it is proper that public facilities, like the armory, should be made available to public groups, on the same basis as it is to private groups, then you are very guilty. Sumner is very guilty. If you are outraged by officials giving away school property to private people, then you are very guilty again Sumner is very guilty again. Fortunately, Perry has a lot of guilty people. Most of us are guilty, except of course, the group that is after Sumner. They are never guilty. Unfortunately, most of us are also part of the silent majority. And there-in lies the difference between the average man, and Sumner. While most of us talk about becoming “involved”, and are quick to say what “we believe”, very few of us take the time to become involved. Very few of us do what it takes to make “what we believe” a reality. Sumner again, is guilty. This, and this alone, is the cause of the threats, legal and physical, which he has received, including simple assault’ charges. Someday, perhaps, there will be others, with the courage to stand with him, publicly; when that happens, Perry will be a better community in which to live. Fred Thomas is For Ll Sharing i * ~ i Rev. Dick Reese M Crossroads Methodist Church JB “He who forgives an of fense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter alienates a Likes Big HHJ Photos Dear Mr. Branch, I happen to be one of those “back to front” readers. One of the first pages I read, therefore, in your March 30 issue, was page 16A. And the thing that caught my eye immediately, of course, was the oversize picture of the Newcomers Club officers. What a great idea. An ex cellent photograph, too and top flight reproduction. Then I noticed the same fine touches elsewhere throughout the peper. “I must write to Mr. Branch,” I said to myself, “and extend to him my hearty congratulations.” as I read your column Out On A Branch, I noticed your specific reference to these changes and your request for your readers’ reactions. You now have mine and my apologies for being late. Sincerely yours, Robert E. Brown, Jr, Boca Raton, Florida PAGE 4-A friend." (Proverbs 17:9) The writer of Proverbs is talking about some-thing which we today would call gossip. Gossip seems to be a disease that infects most of us at one time or another, but some seem to have worse cases than others. Have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “Why do people gossip?” There are many reasons, 1 am sure. I do not know all of them, but common sense and ob servation of persons could help us discover a part of the answer. Let’s look at five reasons why people gossip. The first and foremost reason is found in the con dition of men which is ex pressed through this little used word, “sin". Because of the improper relationship that exists between man and God and man and his fellowman we become in volved in tearing each other down rather than building one another up. The proverb mentioned above reminds us that in forgiveness we build relationships of love, but in repeating a matter con cerning a friend we may alienate him. Stephen Harvey has written; “And there’s lust in man no charm can tame of loudly publishing our neigh- PERRY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1972 bor’s shame; on eagles’ wings immortal scandals fly, while virtuous actions are but born and die.” Because we have not built relation ships of love we often pat each other on the back when we stand face to face and stab each other in the back when we turn and walk away. A second reason why people gossip is to take the spotlight off themselves. There are some who feel either consciously or un consiciously that if they can call attention to their neigh bors sins, then people will not see their own. They feel that when they hold the spotlight on someone else they can stay out of its light. People gossip also to build up their own ego. Some seem to feel more important when they know some scandal about someone else. Their minds work like vacuum cleaners, picking up all the dirt they can about anyone and everyone. Gossip seems to grow best in the minds of those who feel that they must look after everyone but themselves. If we were as busy as we should be trying to keep our own lives in order we wouldn’t have time to know about all the faults of others and certainly not enough time to tell others about these faults. Gossip usually stems from envy, jealousy, or a lack of understanding. Whatever the motivation, it is never justified. Gossip never helps, it always hurts. We might do well to remember a motto of Augustine. It is said that he had this printed on the wall of his dining room; “He who speaks an evil word of an absent man or woman is not welcome at this table.” In the words of the author of Proberbs; “He who forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter alienates a friend.’’ Paul Hodge Sr. Services Today Paul H. Hodge Sr., age 75 of Leslie, Ga. died at Americus and Sumter Co Hospital late Monday night! Services will be held Thursday at 3:00 p.m. at the Leslie United Methodist Church. Rev. H. W. Jenning, Rev. Alton Davis Sr., and Rev. Emory Gilbert will be officiating. Interment will be in Henderson Cemetery. Mr. Hodge was a native of Houston County but resided in Sumter County for the past 34 years. He was a retired rural mail carrier and member of Leslie United Methodist Church. Mr. Hodge was a Mason, Shriner, former member of the board of Stewards of Leslie United Methodist Church and member emiritus of ad ministrative board of the church. The family requests that memorial be made to the building fund of Leslie Methodist United Church. Survivors include: wife, Annie Howard Hodge of Leslie, Ga.; one daughter, Mrs. Cathrine Hodge Wynn of Winchester, Mass.; one son, Lt. Col. retired Paul H. Hodge Jr. of Martinez, Ga., one sister, Mrs. W. M. Haywood of Perry; Warren B. Hodge of Henderson and other nephews and nieces and 5 grandchildren.