“Uncle Bill” Everett wasn’t much
for frills, but We’re inclined to be-
lieve that the venerable Free Will
Baptist parson would have enjoyed
the music sung at his graveside in
Cedar Grove cemetery.
For all we know the grand old
codger heard it too, even in death.
Certainly he heard it, if God so
willed, and a lot of us would like
to think it happened just that way.
A robin, perched in a low-hang
ing tree, provided the hymn for
the brief committal service, after
last rites had been held earlier in
St. Marys, where Everett long
served as pastor. A vested choir
couldn’t have done better.
It seems only yesterday, and
what a day it was. Skies were never
bluer, and the sun was beaming in
as warm and friendly a fashion as
“Uncle Bill” beamed during a life
time of usefulness to his fellow
man.
Preachers come and preachers go,
but the Methodist writing these
lines is satisfied in his own heart
that New Bern never had another
minister quite like Brother Everett.
The Baptists could be proud of him,
and so could the rest of us who
knew him for the kind and utterly
selfless person he was.
“Uncle Bill” didn’t have much of
an education, even with a lot of
book learning it is doubtful that
he would have delivered so much
as a single brilliant sermon. Where
Everett displayed the characteris
tics of a true man of God was out
of the pulpit, not in it.
No..^e, probably, remembers the
text of the most outstanding mes
sage he ever brought to his flock.
But a lot of folks— most especially
the poor and the friendless— re
member how he deprived himself
of bare necessities to give'what he
had to others.
Larry Moore, a New Bern at
torney no longer among the living,
was a great admirer of “Uncle Bill”
and quite aware of his habit of do
ing without to ease the burden of
those he considered less fortunate.
Every time Moore tried to do
something for Everett, the money
was passed along to somebody
else.
One day the attorney noticed
how badly worn were the shoes
that the parson had on. The wear
and tear was understandable, see
ing as how Everett kept the. pay
ments hot going to and from the
jail, hospitals and sundry shanties
where misery and despair werd
holding forth.
“Here’s some money for a new
pair of shoes,” Moore told Everett,
“and don’t give it away.”
Several days later, “Uncle Bill”
dropped by to see the attorney at
his Elks Temple office, still wear
ing the same old shoes. When
Moore confronted him with this
fact, the parson shrugged his
shoulders and grinned apologetical
ly. “I bumped into somebody that
was in trouble,” he said.
Moore, convinced it had to be
done, marched Everett to a shoe
store and saw to it this time that
the Baptist minister actually got
the much needed footwear. It was
only one of many incidents^ that
could be related, if going info the
matter wasn’t superflous.
“Uncle Bill” was no expert theo
logian, but he had a pretty good
understanding of the things he
read in his Bible. More important
he took it at face value, and prac
ticed it to the letter.
If we were looking for a portion
of the Good Book to remind us of
Everett, our choice would be some
thing from the pen of Matthew,
passing along the words of Jesus.
“For I was an hungred, and ye
gave me meat: I was thirsty and ye
gave me drink: I was a stranger,
and ye took me in: Naked, and ye
clothed me: I was sick and ye visit
ed me: I was in prison, and ye came
unto me.”
Uncle Bill did all of these things,
The NEW BERN
PUBLtSHED WEEKLY
IN THE HEART OF
EASTERN NORTH
CAROLINA
5^ Per Copy
VOLUME I
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1958
NUMBER 36
BEAR BACK RIDERS—.Trouble might be “Bruin” for Patsy
O’Ngal and Terry Midyette^ if-they vwer^nt Ort frifendly
terms with their docile mount. Everybody at New Bern
High School loves the qampus bear. He shares their joy and
woe, listens to thelT whispered secrets, and never ever tat
tles.—Photo by Billy Benners. "
New Bern Readies Welcome
For World-Famous Traveler
Familiarity breeds contempt,
they say, but for a guy who come.'
to town every year this fellow San
ta Claus is certainly getting a lot
of attention.
You would think it was his very
first visit, the way his scheduled
arrival this afternoon has caught
the fancy of folks hereabouts. In
fact, if Rudolph—back home at the
North Pole with the other reindeer
—didn’t love his master so much,
his red nose would turn green with
envy.
No one else who ever traversed
our streets—not even George Wash
ington, Harry Truman or Babe
Ruth—was fortunate enough to be
accorded'the rousing welcome that
is reserved for the patron saint of
childhood. "It’s a thing to behold,
thrill' to and remember.
In keeping with the sacred as
pects of our happiest holiday sea
son, New Bern churches will have
a series of religious floats in to
day’s parade. Covering every phase
of the Christmas story, they have
been well-planned and prepared.
But. there’s no getting around it,
the main attraction for the small
fry who will be lined along the
curbs in our downtown, section is
going to be Santa. The youngsters,
in their respective Sunday schools,
have acquired a knowledge of
events that transpired at Bethle
hem, and Biblical characters in the
procession will be familiar to them.
not once but many times. It is our
belief that he did them because he
loved his neighbor, rather than as
a minister living up to his calling.
How he must have gladdened the
heart of One Who said, “Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the
ieast of these my Brethren, ye
have done it unto me.”
Even so, Santa Claus will fall heir
to the limelight.
Most adults, including those who
feel that religion isn’t emphasized,
enough in our celebration of Christ
mas, aren’t overly critical of this
attitude on the part of the children.
It is entirely possible that the San
ta Claus myth is a God-intended
thing. Certainly no one knows bet
ter than the Good Lord what is
dear to the heart of childhood, how
it came about, and how it has sur
vived through the centuries.
If the truth were known, parents
witnessing this afternoon’s parade
with their excited offspring will
get as big a kick as any tot. Wheth
er it’s good, bad or mediocre,
there’s something about a welcom
ing parade for Saint Nick that
makes it extra special.
Tickets for Yuletide Revue
Have Now Gone on Sale Here
Reserved seats for the 23rd an
nual Yuletide Revue, America’s
oldest Christmas charity show, have
now gone on sale at the usual
price.
To be presented Friday night,
December 19, in the New Bern
High school auditorium, the latest
Revue, like others before it, is ex
pected to be a sell-out in advance
of the one-night performance.
All proceeds are devoted to
Christmas cheer for underprivileg
ed children, and more than 5,000
have been made happy in the past.
Acclaimed coast to coast by press,
radio and television, the show has
many well wishers in all sections
Governor Luther Hodges extends
greetings annually, and mayors of
Tar Heel cities large and small
have sent congratulatory telegrams.
In the entertainment field, its
boosters include Cecil B. DeMille,
Jimmy Durante, Ray Milland, Roy
Rogers, Sid Caesar,' George Gobel,
Dave Garroway, Pinky Lee, Arlene
Francis arid Will Rogers, Jr., to
name only a few.
Its most distinguished graduates
have been Mickey Gunnersen and
Johnny Genolius, both of whom
climbed to Broadway; Johnny O’
Steen, widely recognized organist;
and Kathy Young, who became a
Paramount starlet and a top-rank
ing photographers’ Tnodel.
Reserved seats for this year’s Re
vue may be obtained ^from Miss
Irma Salter at Gussman Cleaners;
Miss Margie Bray at Mike’s Sand
wich Shop; Mrs. Elliott Bennett at
Armstrong Grocery Company; Miss
es Kay Phillips and Kitty Whitty
New Bern High school; Milton
Langston, Jr., at City Drug Store;
Billy Crawford at Bynum’s Drug
Store; and John McDaniel at Pinnix
Drug Store.
Everyone connected with the
show contributes his or her time
and talent. It was originated in 1936
as one New Bernian’s idea of “what
to do about Christmas.” First stag
ed in the Masonic theater, it has
since drawn full houses at the
City Recreation Center, the Shrine
Auditorium and in recent years at
the New Bern High school audi
torium.
You sense it in the air of tense
expectancy, and you see it in the
animated expressions of kids—rich
and poor, white and colored. Some
of these kids will get a lot—far too
many a little, on Christmas eve.
But all of them have a deep and
abiding faith.
No one in his right mind should
ever grow too old to' share that
faith. To share a belief in the im
portance of stockings hung by an
open fireplace, and the incredible
speed of eight tiny reindeer, capa
ble of racing all over the world in
a single night with a sleigh full
of toys and a jolly gift bringer
manning the reins.
Santa himself, older than the
memory of man, is a classic exam
ple of eternal youth. He needs no
tonic, no tranquilizers and has nary
an ulcej to contend with. This de
spite the most gigantic responsibili
ty imaginable.
So, if anyone as exceptional as
he is causes New Bernians of all
ages to get exceptionally excited,
it’s just as it should be. Scrub up
the young’uns. Mom, and put on
your best hat. Santa Claus will be
in town today.
College Glee Club
Sings Here Tonight
Greensboro College glee club is
appearing here tonight at the Cen
tenary Methodist church, and the
public is extended a cordial in
vitation to attend.
Favorably received in their ap
pearances elsewhere, the visiting
coilegians display a versatility that
will appeal to all lovers of fine
music.