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The Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C., Thursday, February 23,1967—Page 7 Letter to Editor February 14, 1907 Editor Newberry Sun, Newberry, S. C. Dear sir: Of the rarious matters being debated in the South Carolina General Assembly this month, I think one of the more inter- eating issues is the one involv ing the placing of women on South Carolina juries. I agree with the majority of the leg islators that women should have the right to serve on jur ies. However, I also agree with the reasoning Representatives Saleeby and Shealy used in voting against dropping the ex clusion of women. To comment on Shealy’s statement in The Greenville News, February 8, his objection is based more or less on the grounds that jury duty could be embarrassing or shocking to women not fam iliar with court trials. Although it appears that there is really no right sinct the voting has thus far been greatly m favor of letting the ladies in the jury box, I think a compromise is in order. The Uited States Constitu tion will not really permit bar ring women from juiies, but because they are women, I believe that whether or not they serve should be at their option. A man does not "duck” jury duty, because it is one of the most important duties he has in our society. Therefore, we must not for bid ladies from serving as jurors. However, we can give them tiie feminine privilege of refusing to serve if they feel that the reasons for their re fusal are enough. So let's get on with it! I cannot see the jury system be ing threatened by a little lace. David E. Sease Columbia. Baptists show increase in membership Columbia.—Membership in the South Carolina Baptist Convention increased by 10,910 during 1966 bringing present membership to an all-time high of 555,888. Thomas J. Brannon, director of public relations for the State Baptist Board in releas ing the denomination's annual report which is compiled from reports of the churches, noted here today that 18 new churches were organized or received dur ing 1966 raising the total num ber of churches to 1566. There were 16,333 baptisms during 1966, a decrease of 5 over the previous year. Church property owned by Baptists is valued at 3182^07,- 032 ,an increase of $17,068,884 oved 1965. Receipts through churches totaled $39,367,368, an in crease of $3^102415 over the previous year. The churches gave a total of $5470,305.21 to missions last year with $4,282^03.74 of this amount given through the Co operative Program, the denom ination’s system of financial support for all phases of its world-wide ministry. While membership and re ceipts showed remarkable in creases, enrollment in church program organizations was generally on the decline. Only enrolments in the mane min istry and the men’s Brother hood showed increase. The Mimic ministry increased by 6494 to a total of 19,955. Roy al Ambassadors, mission or ganizations for boys, has a membership of 16,611, a loss of 396 over the previous year. Sunday school enrofaaent de creased by 4,576 to a present enrolment of 426,856. The Training Union dropped 4,141 to a total of 140,497 and Wo man's Missionary Union, a missions organization for wo men, girls, and children, re ported an enrolment drop of 2,408 to a total of 118,159. Vacation Bible s c h o o 1 s showed an enrolment loss of 1,441 for a 1966 enrolment of 168,948. Fourteen new kinder gartens were reported. Pastor's salaries last year totaled $7406424 znd churches spent $11443425 on new con struction. At tiie time the churches made their reports n October and November, 112 reported no pastor. There are 87 missions currently operated by churches. The churches licensed 10 5 men to the ministry and or dained 69. Dr. Horace G. Hammett, general secretary-treasurer for the S. 0. Baptist Convention, called the annual report a call both to thanksgiving and to even greater dedication.’’ “While we rejoice in our growth and in the increased stewardship of our people, we are concerned about the de crease in church program or ganization enrolments. This decrease is consistent with the pattern in Southern Baptist churches across the nation last year but it calls each of us to renewed faithfulness and ded ication of the greatest mission ary thrust in our history," Hammiett asserted. NEW YORK—Auto thefts in the United States nearly doubled in the 10 yean from 1956 to 1965. THE M ANION FORUM ft. MARILYN MANION HOMECOMING “My soldier son has returned from Viet Nam.” With these poignant words. Dean Clarence Manion began his radio broadcast a few weeks ago. The soldier of whom he spoke, his eldest son, and the writer’s brother, was beside him at the microphone. While I cannot presume to speak for Dean Manion, I suspect he had a lump in his throat as he introduced Dan to the radio audience. I have one now, as I try to give words to the thoughts of pride, relief and disbelief that rill my mind For those of us who could only wait, the months seemed like an eternity. Many prayers have been answered, not the least of them the nightly request of three small voices who beseech- ed that “God bless Uncle Dan ny at the War.” He is home and whole and we are happy! He is also full of firsthand reports from Viet Nam, along with some hard hitting conclusions. Here is what he told the Forum radio audience: “In a nutshell. I'd say we are winning tactically, but we are losing strategically. Tac tics involve certain immediate objectives. We are accomplish ing these objectives very well. We push the Viet Cong all over Viet Nam. It is costly in both materials and American lives, but successful. “ Strategy, however, is the over-all design for running the war. Our policy here is decided by the President and the De fense Department. It is here that they have chosen not to win; rather, they want to carry on a long, drawn-out war with the hopes of discouraging the Communists so they will even tually quit. “Let’s compare our policy to a football game: say we have a very strong team. The coach tells us to go out and make a lot of first downs, to show them how strong we are so that they will become de moralized and leave the field, because they know they can’t win. But the other team knows we don’t want to win, so they have nothing to lose if they continue playing. Thus they will play as long as we will and eventually they will throw a long pass and score a quick victory.” The “long pass” would be the Reds’ bombing of all the harbors we need to keep our men and supplies coming in to Viet Nam. This crippling at tack could easily take place if Russia were to supply North Viet Nam with missiles. “If these targets were destroyed,” said Dan, “our troops in Viet Nam would lie helpless. There would be no way to receive supplies from,the United States —we would be unable to supply combat areas. If this condition prevailed for more than a few days, our troops would lie without food, fuel, or ammuni tion.” How to prevent such a catas trophe? By winning the war before the enemy has a chance to throw the long pass. That is why Dan's family must salute his statement that “This war has to be won; and if and when we decide to win, I will be glad to go back and help.” No, we do not like to think of h's return to the war. But the sooner it is won, the sooner will be 400,000 homecomings. If the enemy throws its “long pass’* first, there may be none. Medicare bill payments are explained “Show your medicare card to your doctor where you go for treatment,” advises Miss Martha Pressly, social secur District manager. Persons 65 or over who are insured under medicare receivn an identification card with red, white and blue stripes across the top. The card shows thoir name, claim number, and the date that protection begins un der hospital or medical insur ance or both. “Most doctors have a supply of forms wrhich are used to claim lienefits under the med ical insurance part of med care,” Miss Pressly says. “The patient arranges for the pay ment of the first $50 of doctor bills in a year. Medicare pays eighty per cent of the reason- able charges of the rest of the covered medical services.” Add these, or whatever else you like: • Cjstom Interior • Sports Console • Vinyl Roof Cover • 4-speed Transmission • Stereo Tape System 9M:B with MtySpM equipment. 39-6068 KEMPER CHEVROLET College Street Extension COMPANY Newberry, Sooth Carolina