The Wateree messenger. (Camden, S.C.) 1884-1942, November 13, 1928, Image 2
THE WATEREE MESSENGER
, Published Every Tuesday by
CIIAS. W. BIRCHMORE, Prop.
Subscription $1.50 A Year in Advance
Entered as Sccond Class Matter at the
Postofficc at Camden. S. C.
Tuesday, November 13, 1S>28.
HOOVER ELECTED
In the presidential election helJ
last Tuesday the republican party was
successful, Herbert Hoover, their can
didate, being elected by the laigest
vote ever given a presidential nom
inee. From the first the chances for
Gov. Smith, the outstanding demo
cratic candidate, were slim, for there
were so many agencies operating a
gainst him. ; Many unreasonable
charges were brought against him be
cause of his religion, he being a
Roman Catholic. This should not
have had any influence, for the cath
olics are good people ami as patriotic
as those of other denominations.
There were some who were fooli?h
ert,mrh to beluve ihai the pope would
move into the White House and take
charge of the country. Many unkind
and untruthful things were said of
Gov. Smith because lie was a catholic.
Then there were those in the demo
cratic ranks who believed that he
would have power, and wou'd use
that power to repeal the 1 St h amend
ment. We did not like his views on
the prohibition question, but we ad
mired his absolute honesty and be
cause he was the overwhelming choit\
of the democratic convention we sup
ported him heaVtily an 1 desired .his
election, for we believed then and
believe now, that he would have made
a great president, and his administra
tion would have been an outstanding
one. But the religious intolerance,
manifested s0 greatly, along with oth
er movements for his defeat, it is
n wonder that he got as great a vote
as he did.
One thing we are proud of, is that
Kershaw county gave him a practical
ly solid vote and our great state was
overwhelmingly in his behalf. Several
southern states, however, went repub
lican. Florida, North .Carolina and
Texas are among those that are now
linod up with the republican party.
The attitude of Mr. Hoover since
his election, has been very commend
able, and he will no doubt make
good president, and we would, see him
have all the cooperation in his great
responsibility as possible.
CAN'T PROTECT CARELESS
MOTORISTS
The results of well directed, sys
tematic safety education and practice
lire well illustrated by the fact that
the railroads have reduced fatal acci
dents to employes 57 per cent during
the last 15 years.
While this is true of railroad em
ployes, President Crowley of tho New
York Central Lines, points out thnt
accidents at railroad grade crossings
have greatly increased during the
same period, due to carelessness of
automobile drivers.
"Safety work was first undertaken
on the railroads in 1913," says Mr
Crowley. In that year 3,353 employ
es were killed and 170.231) injured. In
1927, after 11 years of earnest effort
to prevent accidents, including con
stant urging of employes to be care
ful, 1,427 employes were killed and
83.H83 injured. That is, by system
atic effort, the number of employes
killed was reduced 57 per cent and the
number injured 51 per cent, although
the business 0f the railroads greftly
increased during that time.
"In startling contrast with this en
couraging showing is the fact tint
the number of persons killed at high
way crossings on the railroads in 1913
was 1,125, while in I9S7 the total had
increased to 2.371."
The railroad companies have ef
fectively reached their employes,
while automobile drivers continue,
through pheer carelessness or disre
gard of adequate warnings and safety
devices, to contribute to the list of
grade crossing fatalities.
TWELVE BILLION A YEAR.
According to the National Industri
al Council, authoritative estimates
state that the annual outlay for public
expenditures in the United States has
passed the 12 billion dollar mark.
It is said, further, that spending of
the majority ()f this sum is controlled
by stnte and local governments.
Within the space of a few years
governmental expenditures have
reached proportions that would form
erly have seemed the wildest flight
of fancy. State, county and munici
pal governments seem each trying
to outdo the other.
As the Industrial Council points
Out, what is needed is greater effici
ency; better budget methods, improv
ed borrowing practices, reorganization
And economic improvement in the
vArtouD departments of local govern
? in such ways as these can
' expenditures and taxes be lowered.
DII) GOOD WORK
A detective from Gov. Richards' ,
office, J. \V. Richardson, and a form
er Columbia detective, now located in 1
Atlanta, Ga., John W. Lowe, did sonic
mighty good work last week. Some
nights ago Detective Bickley at the
Jefferson hotel, was called out to a
car which contained three passengers,
two men and a woman, and was shot
down and instantly killed. They then
sped away in the car and for soem
time it appeared that they had suc
ceeded in making their escape com
plete. The hotel management offered
a reward which was supplemented
by a very substantial one by Gov.
Richards. Last week a man and a
woman were arrested in Atlanta, Ga.,
charged with being occupants of the
car, and after their arrest made a
confession of the horrible crime and
implicated C. R. Vaughan, formerly
of Jacksonville, Fla. The man and
woman were brought to Columbia and
are being kept in the penitentiary.
The detectives also captured the death
car and the pistol that was used 11
committing this foul murder, and at
this writing are closing in on Vaughan
who is said to be the one of the trio
who shot and killed the detective, lie
will hardly make good his escape,
f< r a nation wide search is being
made for his capture.
A VIOLATION OF LAW.
It is a violation of law to mal<<"
statements about the condition of
batiks, which are liable to cause a run
on a bank, yet this seems to have
happened in the lower part of the
state renntly. Several banks closed
their doors, and in at least ne in
stance the statement was made : a it
false reports about the eon Jit-ion of
the bank was made outside of th
county and this caused chose who had
money in the hank to begin t? with
draw it, and after two days of this
the directors decided to close the bank
in order to prottct the depositors. It
is never ju-tifiahlc to make false
statements about any institution, and
if the parties who started the false
statements about banks could he de
tected and punished as they deserve to
be, it would be a great help to any
community. We imagine that co!
1-ctions at most of tike banks have
not been any too good, hut as a rule
they are secure and are rendering a
pient service in their efforts not only
-o protect their own interests hut
the interests of their patrons. Flip
pant remarks some times prove rath
er costly, and with regard to banks
lis a violation of the laws of the state.
ALL FIRES PREVENT ABLE.
The majority of fires result frcm
hazards that could have been lemoved
at the beginning, at a small cost or
.vith a little caution. Hundreds of
millions of dollars and thousands of
lives arc destroyed each year because
of ignorance or carelessness.
The unpreventable fire is almost
non-existent. The chi?.f causes of
conflagrations are defective chim
neys and flues, carelessly handled
matches and cigarettes, defective wir
ing and electrical equipment.
It is better to prevent fires than
to extinguish them after tht y have
lone their damage. It should be the
ivie duty of every citizen to see that
.!. possible fire risks under his con
rol are regularly inspected and made
safe.
WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL GOLD
EN RI LE SUNDAY?
In the autumn of 1023 an interna
tional group of social workers, moot
ing in Geneva, Switze rland, expressed
despair of educating the world to ?ho
better day of brotherhood thr.i-ig'i the
customary persuasions of war and dip
lomacy. Yet the aim was so infinitely
to be desired! Could the persuasion
of the Golden Rule be- made effec.i - e ??
If on an appointed day, say the first
Sunday in December, th< whole world
should sit at a common table, eat
bread and salt and think of the iuing
ry and the sorrowing and make a
donation for their aid, would not a
great advance1 be made in nravtica!
religion.
The idea find the imagina-im of
the world. Presidents, kind's : r.d
premiers; the Pope, religious le
and Patriarchs; powerful financier*,
influential statesmen, < ducat'u , labor
leaders, approved and led frieii l.< ?' ro
followers to ? community of thought
and feeling such as this old r >;in I
earth has never known. On tin third
anniversary of International Golden
Rule Sunday fifty-three countries
united in its observance and contrib
uted to the near Kast Relief orphans
who nre the foremost beneficiaries.
The day falls on December 5? this
year.
FARM GOSSIP
Jack Frost is a great pulverizer of
fall plowed soils.
The time to get rid of grain smuts
is before sowing the seed.
Farmers pay cash to insure farm
building!* and then fail to store cot
ton baleg to initure quality.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
November 18, 1928.
Paul in Jerusalem
Tex^: Acts 21:17-23:35.
So much ground is covered by \^he
chapters assigned for this date that
one may only hope to touch the high
spots in the lesson period. There are
many spiritual lights in these experi
ences of Paul' and a careful study of
these three chapters will yield a rich
reward to the earnest student.
Let us recall the sorrowful farewell
spoken on the beach, the hot tears,
and fond embraces as Paul left tlv
devoted believers at Ephesus (ch. 20).
The feeling seemed to be present in
every heart that they would nevei
meu again on earth. A speedy voy
age is recorded, and the first recorded
incident of note occurred at Tyr<
(21:1), where the ship tarried seven
days. IL re Paul was surrounded b;.
Christians who said "through tht
Spirit that lie should not go up t.
Jerusalem" (cf. 20:22-"23).
Paul's motive in desiring to <;() ;
Jerusalem was doubtless his affec
tion for the Jews (Horn. <J:l-2"?). I
is difficult to understand the stat
ment of v. 1 as meaning that it wa
the voice only of human affection that
warned Paul "not to go up to Tecu
salem" (lit. "not t,> set font insid<
of Jerusalem" >. We are plainly told
that it was "through th- Spirit." Pan
later admits (22:17-18) that 1k> wa>
v .irned of Christ to leave Jerusalem
at once. \\ e must stick to plain
words, though we part company with
some of the commentators who would
represent Paul as a pi r feet man.
It is difficult t() know the differ
ence between the voice of the Holy
Spirit and the voice of our own spir
its (2ft:U). A (*hristian may have
tin sincerest motives and. be misled
Simetimes men take queer methods of
getting guidance, such as casting lots,
opening the Bible at random or de
pending upon d-eams or sudden im
pr. ssions. No action of great impor
tance should be taken unless we are
sure that we have seen from heaven
the light of Ciod's approval on our
way. This means faking time to pray
and nuditate.
Paul went on his way. At Caesar
ea they tarried again. There he met
Agabus, a prophet (v. 11; cf. 11:27
30), who ''took Paul's girdle and
bound his own hands and feet, and
said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So
shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the
man that owneth this girdle, and shall
deliver Him into the hands of the
Gentiles." This waVning was even
more definite than the previous one.
It is God's way to make things clearer
as we go on. Does it not seem that
the voice of the Holy Spirit was
clearly protesting against the act of
this devoted servant of Christ?
The people "besought him not to
go" (v. 12). The commentators come
to the rescue and explain that Agabus
did not forbid, but merely, through
the Spirit warned Paul that he was
going to have a hard time. In our
day, we would say ? "a joy killer,"
"ca la m i t y-h owl e r . "
But the best judges of what Aga
bus meant are those who were present
They interpreted his word as a warn
ing of Gofl that Paul should not go ?
that he should' avert unnecessary
peril and prolong his usefulness.
Paul n.eded no one to tell him he
was getting into trouble. Already he
had been given a premonition of it
(20:22). Furthermore, it is not like
God to keep taunting His child, un
less it is to change his course. When
one is in the absolute will of God,
it is His usual way to divert His
servf^t's mind from future perils.
n ready not to be bound only,"
say,. . ..ul. ''but also to die. . . for the
name of the Lord Jesus" (v. 13). We
cannot help admiring the splendor of
hi-! heroism. For twenty years ho
had known nothing but persecution
an.-l therefore gave lottle thought to
it now. More than once, he had been
in the grip of death (2 Cor. 11:23).
"When he would not be persuaded"
tlie Christians said: "The will of the
Lord be done'' (v. 1-1). We can only
judge by the fruit. It is striking that
there is no record of the conversion
of unbelievers at Jerusalem; that
Paul got. upon Jewish ground, coni
P" mising hiu testimony ami ending
his missionary work, and that he lan
guished in prison two years, after
which he was sent to Rome in chains.
He arrives at Jerusalem and re
ceives a warm welcome from believers
(v. I '). I he day following, he put
his foot into a snare. It had been
rumored, he was told, that he was
opposed to thetMosaic law. In ord' r
to quiet this talk, why not enter into
a vow with four men? Then "all
may know that those things whereof
they were informed concerning thee,
are nothing" v. 21). What a chance
to make good with the Jews! Take
a Nazarite vow (Num.' ft) and enter
upon ceremonial purification, a cere
mony lasting seven days! The ad
vice was well meant, but it wns of
doubtful policy.
It was meant to save Paul ? but it
didn't. It was meant to gain the
Jews? but it didn't. It was meant to
recommend Christianity?but it didn't. I
GOAL OF REQ GROSS
ANNUAL ROLL CALL
f 5,000,000 MEMBERS
a
?4
(Disaster Relief and Work for Vet
erans Cause Heavy Drain
on Resources.
In order to enable the American
Rod Cross to carry on Its broad notivl
tie 3, ranging from service to the world
war veteran to Instant response In
time of disaster, a membership of
r>. iioo. 000 should be enrolled, and In this
year of 1928-1929 that Is the goal sel
'lor the twelfth nnnnal roll call, to be
hold from November 11 to 29. Armis
tire to Thanksgiving Day.
John Barton Payne, chairman of the
American Red Cross at Washington,
in calling upon the nation for 5,000.000
I a lult members, directs attention to
? tiie great expenditures required of the
tiled Cross for disaster and veteran re
hlef work, and for Its many other ac
tivities devoted to health preservation
and improvement and to cutting down
| ho number of accidental deaths,
through life saving and llrst aid
oourses.
"The Red Cross should at all times
have a large reserve fund." Judge
l'ayne slated, "because when disaster
strikes, and this organization Is called
Into instant action, there Is no time to
i.top and raise funds. Dollars may
m- "t lives, so we should have at all
times a good reserve. We lu.ve been
to reed each year to draw upon our
?reserves, and wo lind that the de
mands are increasing annually."
Judge l'ayne pointed out that In the
fiscal year of 1927-26, the Rod Cross
had extended aid In GG major catastro
phes lu tho United States and Its
Insular possessions, and lu 22 nations
abroad. This does not Include the
'"West Indies hurricane disaster in
{Porto Rico and Florida, which oc
curred after the close of the Red Cross
liscal year, June 30, 192S.
Tho Red Cross expenditures for dis
aster In that period were $16,544,
253.87, of which approximately $13.
000,000 was expended in the Missis
sippi Valley for tho flood relief work,
which canto from a fund contributed
by tho public. More than $1,000,000
?was expended in the St. Louis tornado
damage, and more than $1,000,000 In
New England. In both cases public
relief funds were raised, although In
No# Englaud tho Red Cross contribu
ted in excess of $500,000 from Its own
funds for tho relief work. In the ma
Jority of tho other 06 disasters, and
In all of tho 22 foreign catastrophes
In which the Red Cross extended aid,
the money came from Its own re
sources.
The largest Item In the annual bud
get offlTo Rod Cross Is for its veteran
relief and work for disabled ex-sorvice
and service men, upon which It ex
ponded in this year $1,1G9,795.
Every man and woman Is asked by
Juilgo Pnyue to Join tho Red Cross
during the roll call period, to aid in
those hum.-!- ? nil enterprises.
Good men may give very bad advice
and may even take false steps in
defense of the Gospel. It is of little
use to devise any schemes to silenca
wgging tongues. Why fuss with
critics who do not care to be convinc
ed ? (1 Pet. 2:111-23). We certainly
cannot prove our orthodoxy to men
by going through religious forms for
their benefit. Let us be true to
Christ and go on our way of serving
others. God wll take care of the
reputation.
Paul went through the ceremony
(v. 2G). The result ? he was arrest
ed (v. 27). In characteristic .Jewish
fashion, the people didn't even hesi
tate to interrupt a religious service
in order to lay hands on Paul. En
gaged in a non essential ccremony, in
the attempt to gain favor! Was it
worth while? Put for the chief of
police, Paul would have been mobbed
(vs. 31-32). As he was taken into
custody, tho cry for Mood rang out:
- "Away with him" (v. 30).
Standing upon the castle stairs,
Paul was given leave to say a few
words to the people (v. 40). The
next chapter records his address in
which he recited the marv< lous story
of his conversion and call to service.
Then he came to the subject of his
call to preach to the Gentiles (22:21).
That moment all rr ason or reverence
..is overborne in the outburst of rage,
.halousy that the Gentiles should be
fellow heirs of the promises flamed
lip. They threw dust in the air and
tore up their clothes to express their
indignat ion.
Again Paul was saved from them
only by an appeal to his Roman cit
izenship (22:24-26). No earthquake
came to his deliverance now*; no an
gels led him out. He devised his own
shelter. He took the only lawful
means at hand to protect himself.
We should not depreciate the benefits
of earthly citizenship, nor forget that
there are many dark places through
which it cannot take us. The privi
lege of a heavenly citizenship brings
ns all that is desired (Phil. 3:20).
Standing before the council, Paul
pleaded his own case. Almost 25
years before, he had endorsed that
very council's persecution of Stephen
(Acts 0:12). It was al?o the very
snot where Christ had stood when
Caiapha* pronounced him worthy of
Telephone service,
- a public trust
THE widespread ownership of the Bell Telephone System
places an obligation on its management to guard the savings
of its hundreds of thousands of Stockholders.
Its responsibility for so large a part of the country*!
telephone service imposes an obligation that the serving
shall always be adequate, dependable and satisfa<Sory to
the user.
The only sound policy that will meet these^obliga
tions is to continue to furnish the beSt possible service at
the lowe?t coSt consistent with financial safety.
There is then in the Bell SyStem no incentive to earn
speculative or large profits. Earnings muSt be sufficient to
assure the beSt possible service and the financial integrityof
the business. Anything in excess of these requirements
goes toward extending the service or keeping down the rates.
This is fundamental in the policy of the company.
The Bell System's ideal is the same as that of the
public it serves---the moSt telephone service and the be?,
at the leaSt coSt to the user. It accepts its responsibility
for a nation-wide telephone service as a public truSL
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death (Mt. 2C> :,">7).
"Men and brethren," he began, "I
have lived in all Rood conscience" (23:
1). His hearers looked upon him as
an apostate.'. They could not tolerate
this assertion of innocence (v. 2).
Perhaps also they were offended hy
the way he looked them in the eye
( v. 1). At the high priest's com
ma:. d, someone struck Paul across the
mouth.
"God 8hall smite thee, thou whited
wall," said Paul in sudden anger (v.
3). We will grant that Ananias rich
ly deserved the title. Sitting there
in his white robe, Jehovah's repre
sentative, he was little more than mud
, daubed with whiti wash. ''Decorated
hypocrite" was a choice name for him.
It is remarkable that such a f i 1 1 i n K
name came to Paul's mind while he
had a chance to use it.
But ? was Paul right? Was the
passion with which his remarks were
'accompanied, the fruit of close fel
lowship With the Lord? We fear int.
Kvidently he had a lively temper. Re
call the "paroxysm" with Marimbas.
The commentators need not try to fix
it up for Maul. We ne< d not think
he was perfect. Where is there any
man it the Mible who was the equal
of his divine Master? Kven the ? x
cellence of Paul comes short of our
Lord's behavior, "who when lie suf
fered, threatned not, and when lie
was reviled, reviled not again."
Maul's ready apology is evidence
enough of his mistake (v. f>). He re
cognized lhat be had done an unscrip
tural thing. A Christian must al
J ways be courteous. A man is a truly
great man who can humbly apologize
to one who has done him a gr at
wrong. That is Christianity. In
Paul's letter to the Romans (HI: I -7)
I he teaches our duty toward the prop
erly constituted rulers, corruct as
they may bo. God often tests us by
giving us hard masters. We lose t he
opportunity of proving the reality f
our religion when we ''fly off the
handle.''
Paul next saw his opportunity to
throw thn whole assembly into an
uproar by playing their party spirit.
There were both Saddueees and Hhar
isees present. "I. am a Mharisee," he
said, and immediately the Mharisees
began to give battle tf the Sadducees
on the question of resurrection (vs.
0-7). This would be considered good
politics, but from the Christian stand
point, \vt cannot help questioning
Paul's method. Paul himself later
had some question in his min I as to
his course (21:20-21). How could he
describe himself a Pharisee when he
knew he had utterly and permanently
broken with them?
It was a clever device for starting
a riot. Again watch the result he
nearly lost his life. Such a rumpus
was stirred up that it was necessary
to call out th? reserves (vs. K-10).
With Pharisees pulling at his feet and
Sadducces tirrging at his arms, he
would have been pulled in two had
not the police emkv't tlx t n k ' I war.
lie was probably a wiser and a taller
man after this experience.
Did Paul become dnwnhvuiT 1?
How good of the Lord to come and
stand by him and whisper a word of
cheer into his spiritual ear (v. II!
Cheer up, Paul "thou must bear
witness at Rome." (!od could over
rule all thes" secular events to give
Paul an opportunity to witness, lie
slv>uld have his desire to go to Rome
fulfilled (Rom. !:!? I'l) and the gov
ernment should pay his traveling ex -
penses.
Forty Jews handed themselves to
gether under a curse to ki Inap Paul
from the authorities and make short
work of him (v. l'J). The plot lell
through because f 1 permitted Paul's
sister's son to overhear th< plot and
reveal it to the officer- (v. 1 <? ) . It
was a minor part in Cod's urogram,
but necessary, and well taken. Cod
can use a young man to up-ei mighty
calculat ions ? > f the ?devil. How little
wr know the worth of this little deed
in Christ's name.
This youth secured for the church
a rich legacy of ^n r iliiol li ! ? ? r :i t tire.
Had the conspirator- won. 1 li ? ? prison
epistles of Paul wou'l not h:ive been
written. I ,<? t us b willing to be just
a cog in life's vast wheel. I.et us lo
the small deed for the goo I of our
fellow man. Mt'-rna) is-mes may
hang upon it. The devil's agents may
be outwitted. A rich reward may be
won for our faithful and humble ser
vice.
South Carolina's percentage of the
Annual loss of $<>0,000,000 from forests,
fir; is inexcusably great.
Frank Farmer says: "I have quit
growing corn to feed weevils in tho
bin; carbon bisulphide is to() cheap."