VOLUME 42 SMITHFIELD, N. C., TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1923 NUMBER 63 MASONIC PICNIC AT POLENTA LODGE Dr. H. M. Poteat Speaker of Occasion; W. M. Sanders Makes Co-op Talk For weeks past the people of the Polenta community and surrounding sections have been looking forward to the annual Masonic picnic. Last Saturday was the day, Polenta Lodge, the place, and Dr. Hubert M. Poteat of Wake Forest, the speaker. Such a combination—a day when the farmers could suspend work, a place where cool breezes fanned the leaves of the fine old oak gr-we making it comfortable for the civ>wd which gathered, a speaker of such fulency— could not but make for a successmul occasion, to say nothing of the long table which groaned under its heavy load of picnic viands, Brunswick stew and barbecue. A big crowd greeted Dr. Poteat and others as they took their places upon the improvised rostrum erected in the open. Mr. A. M. Johnson wel comed the folks to the picnic and called upon Dr. R. J. Noble, Past Grand Master and who has been Im perial Potentate, to say a few words. Dr. Noble, who has been given every Masonic honor which can be given him and wrho was probably the oldest Ma son present, advised all of the young er boys to be Masons. He believes in the order strongly and wants to see its influence growT. At the conclusion oi' his brief remarks he called upon Mr. Chas. U. Harris to introduce Dr. Poteat, the principal speaker of the occasion. Mr. Harris characteriz ed Dr. Poteat as blessed with more accomplishments than any young nan vn North Carolina, and one who though he might win fame in fields afa>% preferred to serve his native North Carolina. The fact that at the age of thirty-six. Dr. Poteat is Grand Master of North Carolina, shows the esteem in which he is held by this fraternal order. Dr. Poteat then addressed the au dience. After a few pleasantries ap propriate to the occasion he announc ed his subject—“Why Is Free Ma sory?”—and for twenty-five minutes he spoke to an attentive crowd. “So ciety,” he said, “is a great organiza tion. Within this organization are other organizations. Chui'ches, clubs, fraternities, etc., wheels witl-.ir a wheel, the purposes of which are evi dent. Every one he said knows the purpose o« the W. C, i L un i the V. M. C. A. Got everyone, hr • over knows the pit pose of Masonry, llie fact that time and money and energy have been expended in building up the Masonic order, indicates that it is an organization worth while. But not every one, even those who decide to become members, realize at first the real purpose of the order. Some ac cording to Dr. Poteat, join the order for unworthy motives. Perhaps they join to gain certain business advan tages, perhaps for political benefit. Others may want a reason to be away from horn at night, he said, and still others may be allured by the buttons indicative of the “grinding of the de gree will.” But, after enumerating these mo tives which fall short of the real pur pose of the organization, Dr. Poteat proceeded to present the real purpose underlying the Masonic order—char acter building. An important phase of the Masonic system is that 01 re lieving: suffering. harCity, in this or ganization, is founded on brotherly love. Masonry, too stands for a spirit of tolerance. ‘‘The spirit of tyranny,’ Dr. Poteat said, ’“is exemplified in America in the spirit of intolerance. Masonry teaches command for the law. It believes in education; and for separation of church and state. Ig norance and freedom do not go to gether. “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free,’ he uoted from the Book. Another purpose of Masonry is to lift men out of the hum drum into a life of the ideal. We need all the beauty and idealism we can get in this world of materialism. And last but not least of the purposes of Masonry, stated Dr. Poteat, Is to aid in bringing in the kingdom of God. The Mason ic fraternity is the hand maid of the church. A number of prominent Masons in this section were present at the picnic among whom were: Dr. R. J. Noble, (Concluded on page four) ICOUNTY WILL GIVE | THANKS ON SEPT. 3 Program, Finance, Publicity and Music Committee Are Appointed. A good representation of the committee to arrange for a Johns ton County Thanksgiving service appointed recently by Judge F. H. Brooks, Chairman, met in this city yesterday to further plan for this occasion. Those here from the various townships are enthusiastic over the proposition which in view of the splendid crops growing in Johnston Coun ty is very fitting. One of the important changes made is the day for the Thanks giving service, w hich has been changed to Monday, September 3. The chairman has not definitely yet as to who the speaker will be but announcement will be made in due time. The following committees were appointed yesterday: Program: C. W. Horne, Rev. Neill Mclnnis, W. H. Royal!, W. H Call, Rev. N H Shepherd, C M Wilson, W H Austin, Rev. J. R. Woods, F H Brooks, Chairman; Finance Com mittee: F K Broadhurst, N. B. Grantham, Jas. A. Wellons and H C Woodall; Publicity Committee: John R. Morris, Mrs. T. J. Lassi ter, W S Penn. W L Ellis, M L Stancil and J B Benton; Music Committee: Mrs. Charles G. Gul ley, Mrs. E. M. Hall, Mrs. C V Johnson, R E Thomas, Matthew Raynor and Hector Creech. NEW TYPE OF “FLU” FOUND IN VIRGINIA State Health Department Wrestling W7ith a New Disease WThich is Causing Widespread Interest Danville, Va., Aug. 1.—The State ' health department is wrestling with a new disease which has not been defi- ; nitely diagnosed as yet, but which is being sent out to health officers and | practitioners throughout Virginia by Dr. Ennion Williams of the state j board of health at Richmond. City Health officer R. W\ Garnett, who has just returned from Richmond says that the new malady is causing a good deal of interest and existing medical authorities are being scrutin ized. The victim is taken first with a fever, this coming suddenly, and on the following day severe abdominal pains set in. These pass usually with in 24 hours, leaving the victim in an extremely weakened condition. The malady so far has been confined to eastern Virginia, but doctors through out the state are being urged to watch for cases with these character istics. There have been no deaths. The malady has been termed by those living in sections W’here it ap pears as “devil’s grippe.” It is sim ilar to the malady which broke out in 1896, it is said. So far as doctors have been able to determine it is not J but is considered by some as a new type of influenza. LIEUTENANT OSCAR R. RAND REACHES HONOLULU Cards received by friends from i | Lieut Oscar R. Rand, announce his 1 | safe arrival on Oahu, one of the Ha- j j waiian Islands, where all of the | American troops in Hawaii are sta- I j tioned. He has been assigned to m i 27th Infantry located at Schofield ! Barracks. Lieut. Rand says that sugar j production and rice growing are chief I industries in Hawaii, whch are car- I red on largely by Japanese labor j there being about 120,000 Japanese I on the Islands. He seemed impressed with the tropical vegetation, wThich includes pineapples, cocanuts , and bananas, and with the wonderful col oring of the plants and flowers. Lieut. Rand formerly lived in this city and has many friends who will be interested to learn that he has been stationed in the.Hawaiian Islands. Mr. and Mrs. 0. W. Rouse of Wil mington were the guests of their sm Mr. A. M. Rouse for the week end. HARDING S FUNERAL WILL BE SIMPLE Body Will Arrive in Wash ington Today; Burial in Marion, O., Friday. Washington, Aug. 4—The national capital, in sorrow and mourning, sym bolic of that of the nation, went for ward today with the preparations to receive and pay a last tribute to the dead President. A state funeral to be marked by a solemn dignity and simplicity, was arranged for by President Coolidge and other high officers of the gov ernment, who devoted themselves un tiringly to the preparation of cere monials that will fittingly express the grief and reverence of the American people. President Coolidge, Chief Justice Taft, and members of the cabinet and of Congress, and others high in gov ernment councils will participate in the ceremonies. Upon its arrival here from San Francisco Tuesday, the funeral train will be met by Mr. Coolidge and other ranking officials, who will accom pany the body to the White House behind the escort of a squadron of calvary and a batallion of field ar tillery. It then will lie in the east room until Wednesday. Whether there will be private services at the White Houe will depend upon the wishes of Mrs. Harding. In Capitol Rotunda Wednesday morning the body will be escorted to the capitol and placed in the rotunda. After funeral serv ices there it will lie in state until 6 p. m., and an hour later will start on the last journey to Marion, wTiere on Friday it will find a resting place in the soil of Ohio. As the flag-draped casket moves from the White House over Penn sylvania avenue it will be escorted by several thousand troops under Gen. John J. Perishing, and behind the automobile carrying Mrs. Hard ing and members of the family will be President Coolidge, members of his cabinet, members of the supreme j court, and senators and representa tives. In line also will be represen tative groups of patriotic organiza tions, headed by their respective com manders with colors and uniforms as well as many civic and commercial organizations. The Masonic orders of which M Harding wras a member will be rep resented by 150 Knights Templar ar.d representatives of the Grand lodge and there also will be small groups from other fraternal organizations. As the funeral cortege moves from the White House 10,000 Washington school children will lay down a car pet of flowers for the cassion bring ing the casket and a children’s chorus, recruited from the city’s playgrounds, will sing the favorit hymns of Mr. Harding. Pennsylvania avenue will be roped off from th< (Concluded on page four) COOLIDGE SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT His Father Administers Oath of Office At The Coolidge Homestead Plymouth, Vt., Aug. 3.—Facing his father and with his wife at his side, Calvin Colidge was sworn in as the thirtieth President of the United States at 2’43 this morning, stand ard time, in the parlor of the Cool’dge homestead, directly across the road from thh house in which he was born. ri he President’s father, John ( ah in Coolidge, 78 years old, like his son of stalwart New England stock, ad ministered the oath of office. It was the Lrst time in the history of the Republic that n father installed bis son as the Chief Executive of the nai < n. The ceremony took place in a t>m;' cal New England parlor or sitting •t n , a comfortably furnished, liva ble loem in the father’s farm house at .°1„outh Notch, in the "southern part of the Green Mountains, nearly 2,C ;0 feet above the level of sou The faint light of an old-fashio.'ed kerosene lamp, with a fluted top chim ney and etched sides, was su’T ciem to throw the fnces of the President ane his father into bold relief, for rest of the small group that witness ed the simple ceremony were in a halt light, almost a shadow’. Back of the President was a large framed por trait of himself, which occupies the position of honor in his father's home. 'The President’s father sturdy and active despite his years, stood at the south side of a small centre table that held the lamp, the family bible and a-number of other books. ’I he President stood at. the other si