Watch The Label On Your Paper, Aa It Carries The Date Your Subscription Expires THE ENTERPRISE Advertisers Will Pind Our Col umns A Latchkey To Over 1.000 Homes Of Martin County. VOLUME XLill?NUMBER 101 ff'Uliamtlon, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuetday, December 17, IVW. ESTABLISHED 1899 We Have Forgotten God, Bishop Darst Declares In Sermon Beloved Churchman Heard by Large Congregation Here Sunday The Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Darst, Bishop of the Diocese of East Caro lina, made his annual visit to Mar tin County last week-end. As usual Bishop Darst brought a message that stirred the hearts of all who heard him. , On Friday night at the Parish sup per in the Woman's Club, the Bish op challenged the hundred people there, with the plans of the national church. He told of the ten-year pro gram by the preceding bishop and how each person in the Episcopal Church had a great part to paly in its success. "We can only bring the world out- of chaos by letttng God take away our selfishness, greed, htared and sin," said the bishop On Sunday morning Bishop Darst preached a stirring sermon chal lenging the large congergation who heard him to re-dedicate themselves to God's purpose for the world. The situation of the world today is caus ed, not by dictator or political schemes, but because we who call ourselves Christians have forgotten God. Christ is calling to his church to be penitent, to get down on its knees and hear his voice. The only agency in the world today that can give us strength to overcome the hate, fear, suffering, softness ? the sin in our world in the church of the living God. The Bishop built his ser mon around the spirit shown by the little group of men who, at the risk of their lives removed the time bomb that threatened the destructoin of St. Paul's Cathedral. in London. They endangered their lives for a symbol. "The church today stands as a bul wark against the incideous disease of fear. It remains as a symbol of an unquenchable faith in God, a symbol of a free nation and a free people." Sunday night the Bishop preach ed at St. Martin's, Hamilton, and confirmed one person. Bishop Darst based his sermon theme on the following taken from a sermon by Rev. Fairfield Butt, West Point: In London for the first time in many years there were/no Sunday services at St. Paul's Cathedral. But all London was praying for St. Paul's. Within the shadows of Wren's gray, old dome a squad of tight-lip ped men worked to remove a huge time bomb dropped by the Germans and buried 27 feet in the ground. Toward vespers they got it out, lashed it onto two tandem trucks and hauled it away through clear ed streets. Exploding harmlessly in the Hackney marshes, it blew out a crater 100 feet across Lt. R. Davies, a Canadian engin (Continued on page four) Christmas Cheer Fund Totals $98.50 Late contributions have boosted the Christmas Cheer fund here to mBO. TKe~ sponsors of the move ment stating that the amount is far from adequate in meeting the needs even in a very limited way Other contributions are earnestly solicited, and an immediate response is urged. Packages and boxes for the needy will be prepared the latter part of this week, and it will aid the work if the contributions are made by that time. Contributions not previously ac knowledged, follow: Senior Woman's Club $10.00 Harrison Oil Company S.00 Mrs. G. H. Harrison 1.00 Belk-Tyler Co. 2.00 Moore Grocery Co. 5.00 Charlie James 1.00 J. L. Hassell 2.00 A Friend 5.00 W. J. Hodges 2.00 American Legion 5.00 N. Israel 1.00 Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Griffin 2.00 Fowden & Simpson 1.00 Building and Loan Ass'n 5.00 Mrs. Vernon Bunting 1.00 Previously Reported 50.50 TOTAL $9850 Little Child Died Here Early Today William Gray Clayton, six-wecks old, died at the home of hi> parents, Ifr. and Mrs. D. V. Clayton, on War ren Street at 1 o'clock this morning following an attack of pneumonia. Taken ill about three weeks ago, the infant successfully withstood an at tack of pneumonia and ten days ago he was much improved. Left in a weakened condition he suffered a relapse yesterday, death following just a few hours later. Besides his parents he is survived by three brothers, Dsrrel, Bobby and Joseph. runeral services are being con ducted at the home here this after noon at 2:30 o'clock by Rev. B. T. Hurley, Methodist minister. Inter ment will follow in a Plymouth cem etery. Decorations Are Placed in the Residential Areas This Week Decorations that have added so much to the holiday spirit here in years past and which will, no doubt, be advanced on a larger scale this Christmas season, are beginning to dot the doorways and yards of lo cal homes, and by the latter part of the week cheery lights will burn! in numbers of yards, doorways, on public building^ and in quite a few rural homes in this community where darkness has yielded to the touch of scientific man. Mr. and Mrs. Charles A James have already made a strong bid for a first prize in the home decora tion group. Charlie, working under well-planned instructions, did a good job of it, too. Hicks Allsbrooks, local officer, do ing his best job at decorating the old town clock tower, has given the courthouse gang something to shoot at. and Sheriff C. B. Roebuck is rounding up his artistic group, head- i ed by ABC Officer Joe Roebuck, and making ready to enliven the county's old hall of justice. Bob Man ning and Millard Lilley changed their decorative scheme on top of the water tower where the inviting lights spread their cheery glow to thous ands of persons miles away. Calling in an individual artist. P P. Peel is making a bid for recogni tion in the store interior group. Add ing a patriotic touch to his decora tion plans, the merchant out on Washington Street has a very at j tractive store w ith a large stock of I Christmas goods to match the dec orations. Possibly local people are starting their decoration work a bit late this year, but by the end of the week and in ample time for the judges' visit next Monday night thousands of cheery lights will burn in their ap pointed places here on trees, door ways and housetops. Farmers ilave Stored 850,000 Bags Peanuts CANTATA A sacred cantata, "Prince of Peace," will be given by twen ty-one members of the choral club at the Baptist Church. Fri day night, at eight o'clock. There will be no admission fee and the public is invited. Threatens Life Of Farmer. Man Loses His Freedom Here Boli Small Tried, Sentenced I'aroled and Rearrested, All in One Week It was a week of lightning events J for Robert Small, colored man, who went into the superior court here Monday, December 9, for the theft of tobacco from Farmer J Robert Everett in Poplar Point Found guil ty, Small was sentenced to the roads for a period of eighteen months. The sentence was suspended upon cer tain conditions which called for the payment of the case cost and one hundred dollars to Farmer Ever ett for the stolen tobacco. He was then placed on probation. Parole Of ficer Kenney appearing in court that morning to help the boys out the minute the court convicted them and sentence was pronounced by the judge While some thought the alleged tobacco thieves got off light, no di rect criticism of the judgment was heard, and the case was fading from the public eye when Small perhaps in an indirect way threatened the lift? of Farmer Everett "You know when I ran away when the officers started arresting the others in the tobacco stealing case, why I saved your life that week," Small was quoted as saying to Far mer Everett after he had com manded him into a corner for a se cret conversation. Continuing, Small said, "Now, they have a $100 debt on the court records against me, and you can get it off." Pulling some old roots and herbs from his pocket. Small attempted conjuration. "If you don't get that $100 off, you are go ing to die within a certain time," Small warned the farmer in a haughty manner. A bit angered by the threat, Mr. Everett reported the incident to of ficers who arrested Small. Proba tion Officer Kenney, learning of the threat, invoked the sentence, and Small, after being tried, sentenced, and placed on probation, started serving the eighteen months' road term within a week. Farmer Everett will lose his $100, the value of the tobacco stolen by Small. Arrested last Saturday, Small started serving his sentence on the roads this morning. BASEBALL? Whether Willtamston will have baaeball next season or not will possibly be decided at a meeting to be held in R. H. Goodmon'a office here tonight at I o'colck. L. T. Fowden and aeveral other fans are calling the meeting, and everyone Interest ed in the sport Is Invited and urged to attend. "If you are net able to support the club finan cially, eeene out and lend your Mr. Fowden that the reining would offer some long days and nights without the Mr. Eason Lilley, elub own r, has stated that he wanted else to ran the elab R. C. Holland Gives Review Of Growers Peanut Cooperative W illium>loii llou-r-. Ilailillr About Ono-Kifjlith of drop In Serlion R. C. Holland, assistant manager of Growers Peanut Cooperative, In corporated, in charge of operations of that association in North Carolina in commenting on the operations of the association during the present peanut-marketing season, said: "Fol lowing the announcement by the Surplus Marketing Administration of the II S. Department of Agricul ture of the Peanut Surplus Remov al Program this association set out to establish a warehouse system in North Carolina and Virginia to han dle that program. The first lot of peanuts was purchased by the asso ciation at Wilmington, N. C., on No vember 11. During the week of No vember 11. warehouses were open ed to purchase and receive peanuts for the association at various points in North Carolina, but the opera tions of the association did not real ly get underway until November 16. During the 25 working days begin ning November 16 and ending De cember 16 the association purchased, received, graded, weighed and stored an average of 27.240 bags of pea nuts per day for which it paid the growers delivering them an average of $81,000 per day. For the period from November 11, 1940 through December 14. 1940, the association purchased from 3800 peanut farmers 32,317 tons of farm ers' stock peanuts, or the equivalent of 681,000 bags, which peanuts were graded, weighed and stored in warehouses in North Carolina for which the association paid $1,975. 000. These peanuts were stored in 60 warehouses conveniently located in the peanut territory. The warehouses serving the asso ciation in North Carolina have been authorized to cease receiving pea nuts for the association at close of business on Saturday, December 21 and to resume buying and receiving peanuts on December 30; and to con tinue buying and receiving opera tions until midnight of April 30. 1940?the last day of the buying per iod of the association, as fixed by the Secretary of Agriculutre. It is conservatively estimated that the association, if good weather pre vails during the remainder of this week, and based on receipts during the past week?will have purchased and stored in North Carolina at the close of business on Decernbre 21. 39,000 tons of peanuts, or the equiv alent of 850,000 bags, for which it will have paid to the peanut farmers delivering the peanuts $2,500,000 More than 100,000 bags or about one eighth of the stored crop is in Wil liamston houses. Competent authoriteis estimate that the Peanut Surplus Removal Program will increase the income of peanut farmers of North Caro lina for the 1940 crop by not less than (Continued on page four) Exlentive Decorations In P. P. Peel't Store Keeping stride with the Yuletide season and the town-wide decorat ing scheme, P. P. Peel, old-establish ed local merchant, has elaborately decorated his store on Washington Street. The services of John Phi I pot were used in painting a life-sized portrait of Santa Claus and his rein deer which covers the three walls of his store. In keeping with the national re armament program, he had painted, and now has on display in his two show windows, two large urawings of the army and navy in action. Assisting Mr. Peel in planning his elaborate decorations were Joe John son and J. Carroll Jones. Christmas Pageant Well Received Bv 1,00ft People Here "The NaHvity" Impressively I'ri'M'Hlnl hy IIifsli School I'npiU Attracting one of the largest crowds ever seen in the local high school building, the Christmas pag eant. "The Nativity," was impress ively presented by eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh grade pupils and a few from the lower grades in the high school auditorium last Sunday evening Filling every one of the 734 seats, the crowd overflowed the aisles and halls, one estimate plac ing the number of spectators at a thousand. Quite a few turned back when they found no room. Staged under the direction of Miss Kathryn Mewborn, the pageant was regarded as the most impressive ev er seen here, and it was well re ceived by tne record-size audience. Favorable comments were general among those who came from all over the school district, and many com ing from neighboring communities were greatly impressed by the gen eral theme and by the able and sin cere acting. While the entire per formance commanded a strict si lence. the three boys, Zack Piephoff, Bobby Harrison and Bruce Powell Rogersbn, highlighted the program with their parts. Two unfortunate events, caused by excessive heat and the apparent emo tional and physical strain, did not mar the program as the cast exe*l ?uleil each part Willi precision and without the slightest interruption. Suffering fainting spells, Carlton Phelps and Jasper Browder were quietly removed from the stage and the play went on. the two youths quickly recovering as soon as they reached fresh air. The cast, supported by members of the glee clubs and the seventh and eighth grade chorus, included, Jim Critcher. Grucifer; Wajrrcn Pope, reader; Evelyn Wynne. Mary; Mid burn Hardison, Joseph; Jack Bailey, Billy Mercer and Benny Weaver, shepherds; Zack Piephoff, Bobby Harrison and Bruce Powell Roger son, children; Elizabeth Parker, Len ora Melson, Mary Trulah Peele, Mil dred Thomas, Marjorie Grey Dunn and Frances Jarman, angels; Bill Peel. Luther Peel and Jasper Brow dor, three kings; Parker Peel, John Whitley and Jack Mobley. attend ants. The instrumental quintet was composed of Billy Mercer. Courtney Jenkins, Anne Lindsley. Billy Peel and J. B Taylor. Miss Mewborn was assisted by the following, stage. Mr. Barrett, Mrs. Hassell, Mr. Hix, Charles Coltrain; programs, Misses Whitley, Fowler. Everett, Sylvia Green and Mary Had ley; costumes, Mis.s Glazener; brass quintet, Mr Butler; pianists, Miss Grace Talton and Mrs M. B. Dunn, and violinist, Irving Gurgan us. Legality Of Liquor Store Is Uncertain The legality of Jamesville's Alco holic Beverages Control store is now uncertain, according to unofficial in formation rt'CeiviH hi n- fhin morn. ing from a reliable source. Alcoholic Beverages Control Board officials could not be reached immediately for a statement, but accordinglo one source of information the legislative act providing for the establishment of the stores requires certain police protection. Jamesville is said to be without law enforcement officers at the pres ent time, and it is believed that the operation of the store under such conditions is illegal. How the situa tion will affect the burglar insur ance on the store is not known. Ruled Ineligible on account of non residence, Joe H. Hardison, recently elected constable of Jamesville Township, did not take over the du ties formerly nanaled by Paul Hol liday. Clarence Sexton, appointed constable by the Martin County Board of Commissioners ?n session here December 2, has not formally accepted the post offered him. GKKHK FUND American* have been warm ly applauding the heroic Greeks in their fight against slavery and barbarism, but the move ment to raise funds for the suf fering Greek civilians is ad vancing slowly in this section. There have been several cases where Italians in this country have made sizable contributions to aid the Greeks, one report stating that Fredericksburg had a goal of 11,500, that after II, 200 had been raised, the Italians iKKMted the figure to 11,500. Two contributions have been reported here, but it is under stood that other donations have been made to the Greek Relief Fund direct. The Woman's Club Is contrib uting |5 and The Enterprise Is donating a similar amount. Oth er donations will be received by The Enterprise and forwarded Immediately to headquarters, Greek War Relief Association. Incorporated, Fifth Avenue, New York. Personal Property To Be Listed In January Commissioners To Name 2 Additional Property Assessors Sii|Mki'vi*or and (.ommixMoiicr In Clliaprl Hill For l)iwn? sion of Tax Problem* Determined to iron out existing in equalities as far as it is humanly pos sible to do so and to possibly lift the county's total assessed property val ue to fifty per cent of their true worth, Martin officials are spending much time and giving study to tin1 revaluation work to get underway next month. Attending a school for tax author ities in Chapel Hill last week. Tax Supervisor S. H Grimes and Com missioner C. D. Carstarphen gained a pretty good idea of the plans fol lowed in revaluuating property in many of the other 99 counties in the State. Certain legal points were dis cussed, and it is likely that the Mar tin Commissioners will effect some changes in the present plans for handling the property revaluation when they meet with list-takers and assessors in a special meeting here next Monday. Proposed plans will eliminate the list-taker as an assessor in at least two townships and possibly in one or two more. Following the Chapel Hill meeting, Tax Supervisor Grimes and Commissioner Carstarphen stat ed that they were convinced that tin* listing of personal property should not be delayed until the real values had been determined. According to present plans, the list-takers will serve us assessors, handle the reval uation of real estate and other real properties and then take their reg ular posts to handle the personal property listings. This, it was point ed out. will delay the listing of per sonal properties in some townships until the mdidle or late February. To avoid possible delay, the com missioners, at their special meeting next Monday, will consider the ap pointment of an additional assessor for WiUiamston and Robersonville Townships and possibly for one or two other districts, leaving the reg ular list-takers free to handle tin personal property listings. In the smaller townships, it was pointed out, the assessors including the list - taker, can effect the revaluation of real properties within a week or two, leaving the list-taker ampleI time to complete the personal prop- I erty listings before tin- end of Jan uary. According - to- the tog auuervisorj tnd county officials, the property re valuation next month will be advanc ed on an extensive scale. Every piece j of real estate will bo visited and as sessed on the ground. In addition to that, personal property schedules will be based on sample tests which the authorities will handle them-j selves or call in specialists to set up 1 values "We are not trying to cause a hardship on any one. W?- are trying to iron out inequalities and give the owners and the county a fair and just properly vuluutoin," Commis sioner Carstarphen said, following his return from the special school held in Chapel Hill last week. Escapes Serious Injury In Wreck I Cecil Bullock, young white man, was painfully hut not seriously in - j jured on his hip last Saturday night about 11 o'clock when the car he was driving went out of control and . turned over on the Roberson villi Gold Point Road, near Robersonville The car was said to have turned ov- i er five tmies, Bullock stating that he was in the seat on the ^first "turn and I in the foot on the second and third turns. He lost count then. Striking a muddy place on the road, the car, belonging to Tom Bunting, skidded on the long curve, and turned over and ovc;r on the road and shoulder. The car, stored in a garage lot here yesterday, had its top smashed and its doors nearly ripped off. The engine would stlil run, however. Damage to the machine, a Ford se dan, was estimated at $450. 9 Movement Started For A Two-Day Holiday Here A movement for a double holi-1 day?December 25 and 20?has been started here, but according to one report some opposition has been di rected against the two-day holiday schedule for Christmas. Governor Clyde R. Hoey has proclaimed n hol iday for all State banks, and it is likely that some public offices as well aa the banks will observe De cember 26 as a holiday as well as Christmas day, irrespective of the action taken by the merchants. Quite a few towns in this section, including Plymouth and Ahoskie, have announced a double-holiday schedule for its business houses next week. ELECTOR Flbcrt S. Peel, local attorney, cast his vote for Franklin l>. Roosevelt in the presidential electoral college at Raleigh yes terday. Don't be alarmed, the vote cast was for the same man the |h ?ple voted lor last month. The Klectoral College is just the out-m