The Preacher and His T-Model Fords By LARRY W. MULL Rev. Thadeus F. Deitz, 78, a na tive of Jackson county, is no doubt one of Western Carolina's oldest, best-known and beloved ministers, and perhaps the only man in Jack son county who ^n boast of never having dt^en any tyjie of car ex cept a Model-T Ford. "In fact," he says, "I wouldn't have any kind of car but^a Model-T." The one ^owir-irTpicture, a 1925 model, is .^.^e fourth one owned by Rev. Mr. Deitz. He has been driving them since they were first invented. The story connected with Rev. Deitz and his antique Ford reads as fantastically as a fairy tale. He has perhaps preached more ser mons, attended more funerals, e. people, and pulled more "stalled" cars from mud holes' than any preacher in this part of the State. His maternal ancestors were English, his mother being Mira Buchanan. His paternal an cestors were German. His grand father, with three or four brothers, came from Germany to Pennsyl vania. One branch of the family trekked south with a wave of pio neer settlers and took up a home in Western North Carolina. Rev> Deitz, since his retirement as pastor of Scotts Creek Baptist church in 1942 where he served for more than 20 years, is supply pastor to Baptist churches through, out Western North Carolina. He began his career at the ago of fif teen, being elected at that time as superintendent of his Sunday School. He had few advantages of education, 18 months schooling be ing about all he had. He studied home arithmetic, did not finish Reed and Kellog's Grammar, and was in the third reader when he had to quit school. Rev. Deitz, one of the most popular ministers of this section, and an entertaining speaker, is self-educated, by con stant reading and studying during his spare hours. At the age of 18 he married the former Miss Theresa Cowan of Jackson county. In these days of hasty marriage and quick divorce, it is most refreshing to hear Rev. Deitz tell the love story of his life. -He said: remember-the first day I ever saw her?a little thing six years old, in a little white dress. I loved her that day and I've loved her ever since. We went to school together, we professed religion the same day at the same churclj^ we were baptized the same day by the same preacher, and joined the same church on the same day and," with a laugh?"we were married the same day." About the time of his marriage Rev. Deitz began to preach?to "exercise in public," as he ex pressed it. He also continued his studies alone at home, buying what books he could and taking advan tage of every opportunity to im prove himself, studying the ser mons of famous ministers and their works. On ore occasion, before the first Model-T was invented, after his first effort to preach in his home church, Savannah Creek Baptist, Rev. Deitz went by train for a visit to Boone Valley, a region on the outskirts of_the_Great Smoky Mountains National Park and on Hazel Creek, leaving his wife and small baby at home. He went by train to ^ishnell, then walked to Wife Preservers Nothing will so quickly cause coffee to taste bitter as a pot that is not abso lutely clean. Fill the pot with soapy water immediately alter usinjr, arvi let stand until you wash the dishes. Wash among the first or '.he Jishns arvi oc casionally ?upj 'he uai*> wag ing by boiling wiu. ?aui. When Your Back Hurts And Your Strength and Energy Is Below Par It may be caused by disorder of kid* n??y function that permits poisonous wast# to accumulate. For truly many people feet tired, weak and miserable when the kidneys fail to remove excess acids and other waate matter from the biood. You may suffer nsgging backache, rheumatic pains, headaches, dizziness, Setting up nights, leg pains, swelling, o me times frequent ana scanty urina tion with smsrting and burning la an other sign thst somsthlng is wrong with the kidneys or bladder. There should be no doubt that prompt treatment is wiaer than neglect. Uee Doan'* Pill*. It is better to rely on s medicine that has won eountrywfde ap Eroval than on something law favorably nown. Doan'n havs been tried and test ed many years. Are at all drug stores. Cet Doon t today. OANlPlLLS Boone Valley, a distance of possi-: bly 25 miles as the road now runs.. At that time "Uncle" Josh Cal houn, of pioneer fame, and Benton Cook were holding a series of re vival meetings. Some one told them that Mr. Deitz was there and that he "exercised in public," so the young man was called upon to preach. He demurred, feeling his inadequacy in the presence of such able men who were so much older than he, but finally he consented. He talked to the people on "The Prodigal Son," and then called for penitents. Four or five answered his entreaty. He preached again the next night and five more came, to the altar. The building in which he spoke was a log school house, 18 by 20 feet?the Boone Valley School and Church. A full page photograph of this little church was published in Horace Kephart's "Our Southern Highlanders." From this meeting Rev. Deitz walked to his home near Sylva, ap proximately 60 miles. Leaving Boone Valley he walked through the Gap to the head of Forney's Creek, through the mountains to Bushnell, up the railroad tracks to Alarka Creek, through the moun tains to Greens Creek and on to Savannah. In those days there were no easily-trod roads, no fine high ways, and no^ cars of any kind. There were only rough trails and "dancing" log bridges. On arriving at his home he ate supper and went on two more miles to his church where he conducted prayer-meet ing and walked back home. This amount of travel required about a day and a half. Thus began the career of this man of God, a born orator of unusual capacity; em phatically a moiintain man, pos j sessing the characteristics of the best specimen of typical moun taineers, and the ability to make a name for himself in spite of meagre advantages. Rev. M r. Deitz is yet a brilliant mtin at the age of 78, well versed in the Bible, thoroughly grounded in English, fluent in speaking, and equipped with a copious vocabulary upon which he draws with astonishing ease. When the first Model-T Ford went on display, Rev. Deitz bought a touring car?without a starter. When the starter was invented, he traded for his third Model-T, a sedan, but misfortune overtook him one night after he had re turned from a meeting in Bryson City. About midnight a neighbor knocked on the door of the Deitz home s.nd said his family had de tected a heavy cloud of smoke coming from their garage. Mem bers o? the family gathered buck ets and tried to extinguish the roaring^ames. Having to carry water several yards, the fire of undetermined origin had gained too much headway to get under control, and the Model-T Ford burned, leaving Rev. Deitz in the same handicap he experienced when he first began to "exercise in public." That was in the year of 1924. Rev. Deitz, who was ordained to full sanctions of the Gospel ministry in July, 1891, has pas tored churches at East Fork, Dills boro, Zion Hill, Savannah, Scotts Creek, Hamburg, Love Dale, and Acre Hill, all in Jackson county; Shady Grove, Bethel and Little Brasstown in Clay; Mountain Grove, Wataga; Liberty and Oak Grove in Macon; nine years at the Andrews Baptist church at An drews; Cherokee county, Brass town; Macedonia church in Union county, Ga.; and Knoxville, Ten nessee, where he was asked to re turn. Because of the love gener osity of Rev. Deitz's friends and neighbors, especially members of the churches he pastored, they went t'o work in securing donations and purchased the 1925 model Ford he drives today. Even though it is an antique prize, it still looks like new and is in good condition. The man who owned the car. prior to Rev. Deitz lived in Andrews. At first he refused to sell because he wanted to keep the Ford for his son, but after hearing about Rev. Deitz's misfortune, agreed to sell and the Ford was brought to Jack son county where it has been a familiar antique in Sylva and Jackson county in looks but not in service. When asked if the Model-T used much gas Rev. Deitz said: "Not on your lire! In fact I think I can average more miles Cn the gallon of gas than you can with your 1946 model. Rev. and Mrs. Deitz celebrated their 61st -wedding anniversary earlier this year. "A ride ,in the Model-T makes the occasion hap pier," he said. "I am happier to day than when we were young together," he continued, "because we have each other, and the two of us still have our Model-T Ford." Home Demonstration Club At Qualla Elects Officers For '47 At February Meet - Officers for 1947 were elected at the February meeting of the Qual la Home Demonstration club which was held at the home of Mrs. Crawford Shelton, hostess to the group. Those elected to serve were Mrs. Golman Kinsland,"president; Mrs. Crawford Shelton, vice-presi dent; and Mrs. Emerson Cathey, secretary. All project leaders will remain the same as last year. Hiss Helen Sossamon, home demonstration agent for Jackson county, was present at the meeting and gave a demonstration on roll making. Mrs. Shelton served delicious re Special Stamps MSP.E AR6 thi ee of the four special stamps to be issued in Swaziland, the Bechuanland Protecmrate and Basutoland to mark the forthcom ing visit of Britain's ft yal Family to South Afrira The denominations, colors and designs wtll Le the same for all territories (International) MUSICAL PROGRAMS FEATURE OF CHAPEL PROGRAM AT SCHOOL Rev. and Mrs. Mark Osborne, Jr., of Cullowhee, gave two de lightful chapel programs for mem ! bers of the Sylva High school, Fri day, at 1 o'clock and again at 2 o'clock for students of the elemen tary school. Others included on the program were Mrs. Paul El lis, Miss Ruth Hooper of Western Carolina Teachers College, and Miss Alice Weaver, director of Sylva glee club. A chorus, composed of Mr. and Mrs. Osborne, Mrs. Ellis, Miss Hooper, and Miss Weaver, present ed "Just Been Wondering," and "Who Knows?" Miss Hooper and Mr. Osborne gave two duets with violin and clarinet, "Angel's Serenade," and "Evening Star," after which Mr. Osborne gave several unaccom panied clarinet solos, to show the types of music aeeompKshed- -by that instrument. Mr. and Mrs. Osborne gave three vocal duets, "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life," "Wanting You," and "M> Hero." Mrs. Grover Wilkes was accom panist for the programs. freshments to the eight members present. LAST RITES ARE HELD AT 2 P. M. SUNDAY FOR MRS SARA A. MURRAY Funeral services far Mrs. Sara A. Murray, 82, who died suddenly at her home in Addie, Friday, Feb. 21, were held Sunday after noon at 2 o'clock at the Buff Creek Baptist church. The Rev. Robert Parris officiated at the ritei and burial followed in thq church cem etery. 4 Mrs.t Murray had been a mem ber of ;he Buff Creek church for a number ot years. She is survived b^ two sons, D. A. and W. A. Murray of Addie, nine grandchildren, and four great ^grandchildren. Pallbearers were Bobbie Terrell, Jack McClure, Roy MeClu*#, Km neth Terrell, CLarenee McClure, and Charles Snyder. Members of the Voung Woman's Sdnday school class served as flower bearers. Surplus United States potato will move to foreign markets through private processors and ex porters under a new USD-A subsidy program. r B EXT V S U- E ?>v WSEM^K And the last word in smart styles can be found in BELK'S DEPART MENT STORE. We are proud of our new spring ready-to-wear and * it's time to begin thinking about a new wardrobe. Come in today and let us show you our merchandise. Courteous service afnd reason able prices. Swing Into Spring dresses . . . that lift your spirits. Fashioned in crepe, rayon, jersey, bemberg sheers, cotton and eye let embroidery. A style for every occasion, delightfully tailored or softly made. $5.40 to $19.95 * coats... that will serve your every need. 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