Newspaper Page Text
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MERCER UNIVERSITY, MACON, GEORGIA
October 30, 1964 Volume XLV No. 6
Bill Dayton Bob Hurt
v Editor in Chief Executive Editor -
Diana Deaton
Managing Editor
&
Ben Jordan
Business Manager
John Weatherly—Editor of the Chietar Review
News Editor Bernard Lindsey
Contributing Editors Anne Johnson, Katie Koellner,
Sam Onl, Edward Simmons, Jacob Beil, John Lough, Harry Chaffin
Social Editors Lucy Green, Sara June McRae
Associate Editor Davis McAuley
Sports Editor _... Lamar Oglesby
Circulation Manager Joyce Davis
Advertising Manager Lee O’Brien
Den Mother Mary Beth O'Quinn
News and Features: Ellen Janes, Joyce Davis, John Lough, Bobby
Douthit, John Johnson, Clayton Stephens, Charles Lewis, Faye Johnson,
Nancy Hendrix, Sue Evans, Toni Vissage, Nancy Barrett, Diane Wilder,
Charles Brooks, Anne Jo Hendrix, Daniel Sheffield, Helen Van Vlack,
Laura Castleberry, Julia Stovall, Slayton Shaw.
Staff Photographers: Jimmy Gibson, Bob Hurt, Gary Broadnax.
Proofreaders: Nancy Willet, Frances Hobbs, Walter Pharr, Mela Perira,
Cherry Skinner.
Business Staff: Jimmy Hilliard, Joyce Davis, Mary Beth O’Quinn,
Nancy Barrett
Artist John Wires
Cartoonist _ LeRoy Young
A Prayer For Election Day
As we observe today the re-dedication of the American ideal of
free election, let us collect our hearts in prayer.
ALMIGHTY GOD: Come into our hearts in this hour of consecra
tion. This day marks the climax of one of a series of elections in our
nation’s history which prove every four years that a nation can survive
and prosper under the freedom You have given us.
We ask not that You bestow Your blessings upon any particular
man or any particular group, but the You will help us all to make
the right decision, and help us to stand by that decision once it is made.
We realize that we do make mistakes, dear God, but help us to
never make mistakes “which result from faintness of heart or abandon
ment of moral principle.”
Be with us who have acted, sometimes in haste, sometimes in anger,
that we may issue only words and thoughts that come through careful
deliberation. Help us further, O Gracious Father, to put away the
brashness and rudeness of this campaign, and teach us to walk humbly,
always aware of the fact that it is by Your grace that we even exist as
a great nation.
Give the men in high positions of leadership the vision and strength
to guide our magnificent land through times of suffering and discord.
Lead them when they stand most alone, and direct them to make the
proper judgements in the complex tasks which face them every day.
Give vision and strength, too—vision and strength to see what is
right through the clouds of emotion and doubt which engulf us.
Please help those who have given of their time and energy to
present themselves to the American people. Help us to understand the
seemingly insurmountable odds and feelings of insecurity which sur
round them. Be with their families and friends that their triumphs
and successes might outshine their failures and disappointments.
With Your guidance, we shall prevail over the forces which are
trying to destroy our country. Lead us to the preservation of the
high ideals which form the backbone of American tradition, and to a
unity and a sure peace that will let all men “live in freedom, reaping
the just rewards of their honest toil.”
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen.
Stand For Dixie
■HI Ml
states' and human rights
One of the most important, and certainly one
of the hotest issues in the present presidential
campaign has been the matter of States’ Rights
as joined with or opposed to Human Rights, to
affairs which seem to have gotten more than
their share or heat, but not really enough light.
We all hear on one hand how, if elected, John
son will completely obliterate the Jeffersonian
system of checks and balances, make it illegal
to be white in the South, and sell Arizona 'to the
Russians; and on the other hand, we are told
that a Goldwater victory will be celebrated with
gala slave auctions, an atomic war, and a return
to the Articles of the Confederation after declar
ing the Constitution unconstitutional.
This is all loads of fun, but really has little
practical value. Consequently, I would like to make
a small investigation into the matter from a more
serious point of view.
Senator Goldwater’s followers of the Ku Klux
Klan mold are not entirely happy with Barry,
and show about as much dissatisfaction with the
Senator’s NAACP, pro Civil Rights background
as the Northern “ultra-liberals” show for Presi
dent Johnson’s years among the segregationists.
Goldwater’s speeches make numerous refer
ences to the necessity for preserving States’
Rights, while Johnson has made several nice
statements in defense of Human Rights; but
neither comes out with anything but rather
glittering generalities, as is to be expected in an
election.
To find something more definite and less gen
eral, one looks to the official, written platforms
on which the candidates are running, and to cer
tain politicians, the people “in the know” on such
matters, to see where they stand.
It is here, I think, where Senator Golds
falls down. Like Johnson, he Is sworn to sup
the Civil Rights Act, but unlike the prssk
Goldwater makes no stipulation about leaving
enforcement of that in the hands of local aut)
ties except in cases where they are unabl
manage things properly. To follow the sens)
policy, is not only to upset the balance of st
and federal authority, but to invite the ineffk
cy which taking law enforcement from the hi
of local authorities who know the local situs
best will involve; not only to infuriate the —
gationist with “outside” law agents, but to h
the Negro with the increased terrorism and h
feeling which further infuriation of segregal
ists would involve. Johnson’s platform, by 1
ing things to those who can best handle I
situations, provides a much better picture.
As further evidence of the wisdom and su
iority of President Johnson’s platform in i
matters, one has only to point to Johnson’s h
era. The Negroes and prominent figures jn
campaign for Human Rights are solidly bel
the Democratic candidate. The great and uni
sally recognised champions of the principk
States’ Rights, Richard Russell, Herman/"
madge, Spessard Holland and Olin Johnstoi
name a few, are also behind President Johns
Jeffersonian democracy was not set up to |
vide us with a choice between States’ Rights
Human Rights, but rather, when properly <
side red, it has room for both to stand in con
ment of each other. With Lyndon Johnson,
two remain in this proper perspective.
Mortimer Hyde Writes
This article, which is the first from its source to appear in this publication, is a legible expression of
experience recently encountered by its author. The possibility exists that it may also be the last from
same source, because the continued appearance of these writings will depend upon the author’s ability
perceive a need in future situations and on future issues as he has perceived the need in the immed
issue.
The author's purpose is to make
an earnest attempt to provide a
contribution to the positive indi
vidual development of his fellow
students and anyone else who
chances to become exposed to the
content of this expression. In light
of this intention, the author has
deemed it best to use a pseudonym.
(Mortimer Hyde) so that when
one reads the material, he will be
neither favorably nor unfavorably
impressed or bent by his knowledge
of or acquaintance with the author;
but that he might ponder and eval
uate the idea or concept solely on
its own credit, dismissing from
consideration the specific fallible
individual who expressed it
Our national presidential cam
paign and the activity and conver
sation of our Mercer students con
cerning it is probably the chief
stimulus for this first expression.
As you know, there are two major
candidates each with his own per
sonality, his own background, his
own record of service and activity
to this point his own party’s plat
form, his own expressed opinions
and value judgments, and his own
supporters. This is where you and
I enter the arena. If we participate
at all, it is in this realm that we
do so.
The role of supporters being
ours, we must look at ourselves as
such. Before we can intelligently
vote for or support either candi
date, thus deciding who is the best
for the position and for our coun
try, we must first decide who we
are and what our “rights and re
sponsibilities” are.
First, we shall review our respon
sibilities as citizens and voters, for
j
it is only after fulfilling our
a pons Utilities that we deserve
claim any “rights”. The ultin
responsibility in any election,
course, is to vote. But what are i
prerequisites to competent i
ing? We should read and listei
both candidates’ views via the i
tensive and reliable news ms
which may be found at our fiq
tips. We should examine the a
didates’ records of effort, suca
and failure in politics, busia
and society, what motivated the
fort, and what caused the suot
or failure. We should consider I
degree and concentration of I
education, both formal and pi
tical. We should study the a
gruency of his professed policy,
statements, and his actions. \
should listen critically and res
(Continued on page 8)
At last week’s performance by the Norman Luboff Choir, we were
rather disappointed to see the audience violate an old and beautiful
Southern tradition In remaining seated when the choir sang “Dixie.”
Like the tradition which requires one to stand for Handel's
“Halleluiah Chorus,” the custom of standing for “Dixie” has a definite
and significant meaning. It marks a remembrance of those who gave
their livee for the South during the War Between The States, a respect
for the traditions end history of the South, and a recognition of the
more beautiful aspects of Southern culture.
like the National Anthem, the American Flag, and most other
significant symbols, “Dixie" has had the misfortune to be misused by
various nefarious groups. In the South, it has suffered the fate of the
Confederate Battle Flag in being forcefully adopted by numerous racist
organisations. Foolishly, some of us have confused respect for these
symbols with respect for those who have misused them, when the only
adequate gesture of contempt for the misuser is to completely ignore his
attempted connection with something of value like “Dixie.”
In standing for “Dixie,” we tender our respects to the traditions
of Negro folk music, in which the song was written; to the traditions
of the Southern Confederacy, in which the song took root; to the tra
ditions of the South freeing itself from Reconstruction, in which the
song attained its prominence; and to the traditions of the modem,
emerging South, in which we cannot afford to loee touch with the finer
things of that past which “Dixie” has come to symbolize.
EDWARD SIMMONS
exploring the depths
SOPHOMORE EXAMINATIONS
The Sophomore Examinations will be administered on
Thunday and Friday afternoons, November 12 and 13,
1964 from 1:30-5:00 P.M.
AD students who have completed 55 quarter hours of
study, and have not taken these testa, are required to
do so.
Students will report to the third flood—Humanities
at 1:20 PM. on both afternoons.
1 sm in debt to a member of the faculty who
pointed to what I suspected was s weakness in
the policy for bridging the gap. I said that church
es refuse to add depth to the “old time religion.”
What I referred to is the phantasm that the
churches rear against the students and those
critical of the churches as they are. The truth
of the matter is that both need to explore the
depths of the “old time religion” as expressed in
the Reformation. Therefore, I request that stu
dents and churches alike join in a policy by which
both shall search for the truth in the depths of
the faith—always remembering humility end
love.
Both students and churches are ignorant of the
basic doctrines that arise from the Reformation.
And the guilt of the students largely falls upon
the churches; for whose responsibility is it to
study aad preserve the wwitial Protestant tradi
tions and doctrines? Why do Baptist students
coma to Mercer ignorant of Augustine, Kier
kegaard—and even Luther and Calvin?
One reason seems to be fear. When parents
sand thsir children off, invariably the last plea
is; “Don’t let thoee Godless professors shake your
faith.” Churches have become defensive before
science aad oven Calvinist pied—Hnetian And
all along, the Solution to tha problems Has la a
true understanding of the thisingtara they
I recently heard a
pulpit his fear of contemporary theology. I
amazed to hear a remarkably able pastor
dare that be feared that the Devil would ci
into the logic of the theologians and lead tk
astray.
If the depths of the faith art to be sound
we must first quit our fears through faitk
Christ In this stats of fearlessness ws would i
cover that many contemporary theologians
re-emphasising the doctrines of the Reformat!
These men don’t lick the boots of science by I
ing to “prove” Christianity. In the face of i
cal science they reassert the meaning and vi
of faith.
Such a recognition would then land us beck
the Reformation. There we would examine
manning of faith and the understanding
the assertion of the sole authority of the
tares.
Corns then, join me in exploring
Before we depart, however, I must warn you I
it can only happen through genuine dialogue. 1
cause is lest whan either side doses tha
by defensively asserting its |
Another owning to the churches, for the I
of the critidsa will fall upon you as the <
edifice winch needs
go let
. v
m uskiemea
mm is ufcta either the
tioae, bat VtheosM who said: “1 am the