Warlondsl
Miss Mamie Bailey C TT
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ME
VOL. 28.
SELMA, N. THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1945.
NUMBER 2.
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Boai d of Education Ms
On Teaching
Will Permit Selma High School
For Whites To Try It Out As
An Experiment During Term
of 1945-46 On Certain Condi
tions Which Are Herewith Set
Forth.
The Johnston County Board of Edu
. cation met on Friday, January 5, 1945
with all members present as follows:
" W. H. Call, Chairman; J. W. Wood-
ard, P. B. Chamblee, Dr. J. H. Stanley
- and Conrad H. Parker.
The minutes of the meeting of
December 8, 1944, were read and ap
- proved.
The matter of teaching the Bible in
the public schools of Johnston County
.which was raised by a petition pre
sented on October 20, 1944, by the
Rev. Geo. W. Blount, the Rev. Wade
Baker and the Rev. Howard Newman,
pastors of the Methodist, Baptist's nd
Presbyterian churches of Selma, has
been given most careful attention by
each member of the Board of Educa
tion. Each member of this Board of
Education is a member of a Christian
church and believes wholeheartedly in
the Christian Bible and as individual
members are ready and willing to put
-' .' forth every possible effort in the
several churches of which they are
r members to forward the teaching of
the Bible by the churches. No member
of the Board questions the good in
tention of any of the petitioners who
renuest that the Bible be taught in
the public high schools as an elective
subject. However", there is serious
doubt in the minds of the members of
the Board as to' whether this is not a
joinder of the church and state .which
, ja contrary .to the fundamental .prin
' ' ; riple;of the 'H'. American Rovferamen
" ' Likewise,-the Board of Education is
conscious of the fact that there' are
. many individuals in the County who
feel very strongly that it is wrong to
teach the Bible in the public schools,
and likewise, there are many individ
uals in the County who feel that it
should be done in an attempt to im
prove the moral conditions in the
County, and since the public schools
must serve all the people of the Coun
ty, and since the Constitution of the
United States and the Constitution of
North Carolina both guarantee to he
humblest individual citizen an un
alienable right to worship Almighty
God according to the dictates of his
own conscience with no interference
from any human authority in any
case whatever, it becomes the duty of
the Board of Education to guard very
carefully such authority even thoutrh
.' it affects citizens who are so humble
and inarticulate as not even to make
their wishes and desires heard.
For these reasons the Board ap
proaches its decision in the matter
Vth caution and maintains jts policy
. . of keeping church and state senarate
in the schools of Johnston . County.
However, out of deference to the good
V intentions of the petitioners from the
Selma School District, who are joined
by the local Selma School Board in
.- their request, the following exception
to the policies for the County as a
: whole is hereby made:
It is hereby ordered by the Board
' of Education of Johnston County that
the Selma School District for Jhe
white race be permitted to experi-
ment with the teaching of the Bible,
v ai an elective subject in the high!
school grades during the school term
. of 1945-46 under the following rules
' : and regulations: and further that
' pending the outcome of this experi
ment no other district of Johnston
' County bs perm'tted to teach the
. - Uible in its schools. .
RULES AND REGULATIONS
...
; 1. That the teacher of Bible shall
hold a North Carolina High School
Teacher's certificate, one of the sub
jects covered by such certificate shall
be Bible.
2. That such teacher, as all regular
ly employed governmental teachers,
shall tw nominated. elected and ap-
, proved as now, or may hereafter be,
provided by law; that is, such teacher
shall be nominated by the principal,
; -elected by the local school board and
f. - approved by the County Board of Ed
... ucation. .
3. That such teacher, as all regular
ly employed governmental teachers,
shall be subject to the same rules,
regulations and discipline as may be
promulgated by the principal, the
, local school board and tho Board of
V Education of Johnston County.
4. That the money to pay said
. teacher, and the money to pay the
cost of maintenance of plant items, as
the same shall be determined by the
Statn Department of Education, shall
. "be deposited in the County Treasury
for the benefit of said teacher not
later than 80 days after the close of
Bible In School
school for tho preceding year. Said
fundi for the payment of such teach
er of Bible, and the cost of this
course, shall be disbursed, when the
BsmA all all IwnniA dna ftnlu nn nnlor
drawn on the County Treasurer and
signed by the Chairman and Secretary
of the Board of Education.
6. That notice of the intention to
install an elective course in the Bible
must be given to the principal of the
Selma school, the Chairman of the
local school board and to the Board of
RHiiCAMnn nn nr hefnrfl SO davs After
the close of school for the preceding
yea?, at the same time money for the
same is deposited with tho County
Treasure?, in order that nrober mo-
vision may be made in the viaily sche
dule for said course; and such teach
er employed to teach the Bible shall
bi a teacher in addition to the regu
larly State allotted teachers for said
school.
fl. That at no time shall anv money
for tho benefit of this course be col
lected in the school house or through
thi school children.
7. That tho contract for said teach
er shall not be a continuing contract
as is now, or may hereafter be pre
scribed bv law Drovided for regularly
employed governmental teachers, but
shall bo for the period only tor wiucn
money has been deposited as above
specified, and in no evert shall the
Selma School District, or the County
of Johnston, or the State of North
Carolina ever be liable to such teach-
nf Rihln in a m-eater sum than has
been deposited for such purpose; and
these roles and regulations shall be
deemed to be written into every such
contract: mado fo such teacher of
Bible. : , '.--'V....-.
havo all the privileges as belong to
regularly employed ' governmental
teacheri except as limited by these
rulei and regulationn and shall be
come an integral part of the faculty
of the Selma H;gh School and shall
bi subject to the performance of such
extra-curricular activities as may be
her fair share of these duties,
Thrt Rnard of Education of John
ston County reserves its right to "pre
scribe the curriculum wfticn snau ne
followed by said teacher whenever in
its judgment such 'action may become
f 6 CfiSS
IP. That students taking such
course in Bible shall furnish their
own textbooks and the cost of the
same shall not be, included in the ren
tal fee now collected of all high
school students.
11. That all courses in Bible must
bi elective and that credit toward
graduation may be given only after
tho 15 basic units now required by
standard colleges for entrance have
k A hit such. That is to say
IICC'I ,ll..vi T - -
that of the 16 units required for grad
uation, only one may be in Bible.
Motion to adjourn was adopted.
New Board of Kiwanis
Directors Hold Meeting
There was a meeting of the new
board of Kiwanis directors held at
the home of Dr. R. M. Blackman on
Tuesday -night of this week at 6:30.
In the absence of Wilbur D. Perkins,
the new secretary, who is convalesc
ing from injuries received in a high
way accident a few days ago, Matt R.
Wall, former secretary-treasurer of
the club, served in his stead,
A three-course chicken dinner was
served by Mrs. Blackman, who was
assisted in serving by Mrs. B. C. Du
Bose. '
President M. L. Standi presided at
the business session and enumerated
some of the duties of the new boad.
Secretary Wall gave a financial report
of the club , showing the amount of
funds turned over to the new board,
as well as the financial activities of
the club for 1944. His report showed
that the club had a good year and a
neat balance is still in reserve for the
new board.
Several matters of interest to the
club - were discussed, nd the new
board sfarts off with high hopes of
making 1945 one of the best Kiwanis
years in its -history.
The meeting adjourned with all
present declaring Dr. and Mrs. Black
man charming host and hostess.
Those present were M. L. Standi,
M. R. Wall, John Jeffreys Roy Smith,
Dr. R. M. Blackman, Norvell Smith
and B. C. DuBose.
Steer clear of "Land Mines," say
Extension authorities. High priced
land is loaded, with dynamite.
More than 10 million acres of forest
land burned in Florida last year.
Selma Youth
Shoots Self
John Archie (Jay) Sellers, 20, died
in Johnston County Hospital Monday
night at 11 o'clock from self-inflicted
gunshot wounds Monday afternoort at
4 o'clock. Sellers, an employee of the
State Highway and Public Works
Commission, shot himself through .the
lett side oi ms neaa using a .zz
rifle. The shooting occurred at the
residence of Mrsv Lossie Eason with
whom the young man had been mak
ing his home for some time.. On the
night preceding the tragedy he told
friends that he contemplated commit
ting suicide. He tried to get in the
armed services but was rejected on
account of physical disability : No
cause has been assigned for the rash
act. Funeral, services were conducted
from Yelvington's Grove Free; Will
Baptist church Wednesday afternoon
at 3 o'clock, by the Rev. Wiley T.
Ferrell. Burial took place in the
church cemetery. The deceased was a
son of the: late Mr. and Mrs. John
Sellers Surviving are his step-mother
Mrs. Lizzie Wheeler, of Selma, four
brothers, Oscar Sellers, of Smithfield,
Route 2j Thurrnpnd Sellers, Selma;
Luby Sellers, ill' the Pacific' area;
Clarence : Sellers, somewhere in
France; one sister, Mrs. William Ed
wards, of Snrfthfield; two half-brothers,
Joe Sellers and Charles , Sel
lers, of Selma: three half-sisters
Edna Virginia, Ila Blanche and Sadie
Sellers, of1 Selma. The body remained
at the Overby Funeral Home J in
Sniithfield until the hour of the
funeral. :;.:'v".i
Cadets of Civil Air
Jy-
Cadets of the Civil Air Patrol stooi
their first written monthly examina
tions last week. Subjects under -test
were first-aid, MC&D, communica
tions (radio, telegraph, telephone,
blinkers and teletype), airplane in
struments and ID. Papers turned in
were generally very good, indicating
that progress is being made. :
On Monday afternoon the comman
der spoke to a group of students in
the local school on activities of the
organization. Five applications for
enlistment were received at the regu
lar meeting that evening, In connec
tion with enlistment the question of
girls enrolling has recently cotne to
the front The Flight has several
girls within its ranks and they have
been found to be excellent Cadets;
being good students and good soldiers
generally. We would like to empha
size the fact that girls are not only
eligible they are particularly wel
come. Wish we had quite a few more
like those now among orir members.
An Army laison plane is scheduled
to be stationed in Selma for a few
days, beginning about 21st of January
and members of the Patrol will each
make a flight in this plane.
A number of the younger boys and
girls were noted as visitors at Mon
day night's drill and they are invited
to return. Some out of town visitors
are expected also for Thursday's ses
sion. Visitors are always welcome.
Why not drop in for a few moments
and observe the Patrol at work it
will prove of interest.
The Cadets elected their own offi
cers Monday night. The Cadet Com
mander is William F. Black, while
each of the two sections will be led
by Section Commanders Charles T.
McVickerS and Robert L. Denning.
Pay us a visit and watch these stu
dent officers direct a session of infan
try drill. They're pretty snappy at it,
too. And they are all learning some
thing that is calculated to help them
to be better citizens and to pull to
gether. Cadet Cpl. Kathleen Starling
presided over the election which was
participated in only by th? Cadets.
Senior members did not, vote and
neither did they offer any nomina
tions from the floor; the headquar
ters staff left the room during the
election. And you can bet that the
Cadets conducted their election in a
business-like and orderly manner, too.
Too Much Sno w
For Talmage Corbett
Talmage Corbett writes to Editor
M. L. Stancil under date of January
8, 1945. from Shelby, Ohio, as follows:
"I am now receiving the paper and
sure do enjoy it. We are having some
very cold weather. Jt was 5 degrees
below zero last night, and we have
about 12 inches of snow; and the wmd
blew so hard that snow has drifted,
blocking all roads out of here. I am
wishing I was back in N. C. until
Spring. Give my regards to everyone."
1 Polwtl TaIta lVr'ihe former Louie
Four Oaks Man
Fatally Burned
Roy Holmes. 46. Perishes in
Blaze At Parents' Home Near
Four Oaks.
Smithfield. Roy Holmes, 46, of
Four Oaks, Route 1, was burned to
death .Saturday night at the home of
his parents, Mr. and . Mrs. John
Holmes in Ingrams Township.
He came in around 12:30 and went
to his room to retire. Shortly after
wards his parents, who were in the
front part of the house, heard the
howling of the dog; which was in the
room with their son. Upon investiga
tion they found the room m flames.
The old couple were there alone and
before help arrived the house was
practically burned down.
The remains of the son were found
in one corner of the room and those
of the dog under the frame of the bed.
They think that the son suffered a
heart' attack and fell over a lighted
kerosene lamp, scattering the flames
that set the room afire.
Funeral rites were conducted Tues
day at 3:00 p. m. at Overby's Funeral
Home in Smithfield by the Rev. J. W.
Davis, pastor of Four Oaks Baptist
Church, and, interment took place in
the Dicey Cemetery near Four Oaks.
Siitwiinnt bm hia nnronU'1 hia wife
Johnson; one son
Oaks. Route 1:
MaielleTt ftlalTriel
Mary Lour and Rebecca Holmes of
Four Oaks, Route 2, Marie Holmes of
Baltimore, Md., Mrs. Hubert H. Moon
and Ruby Holmes of Gadsden, Ala.;
one brother, Buster Holmes of Four
Oaks, Route 1 ; one niece and one
nephew. 1
Rudolph A. Howell Is
Awarded Loving Cup
Kiwanis in regular session last
Thursday -evening heard President
M. Li Stancil review the work of the
past year and, at the same time, set
forth the objectives for 1945.
As has been its annual custom for
a number of years, the membership
also balloted to determine whq should
receive the silver cup for having been
adjudged the outstanding citizen in
our community for the year 1944.
This honor went to Kiwanian Rudolph
Howell, who was presented the cup
by David Ball who held the cup for
1944 as the result of his accomplish
ments in 1943. Awarded annually, the
cup bears the names of a long line of
citizens who served the community
well..
Organization of a chamber of com
merce for the town of Selma was also
discussed quite fully, and a number
of Kiwanians voiced their views on
this question.
Death of Infant
Margaret Evelyn Deans, the one-year-old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Lawrence E. Deans, died in a Balti
more hospital early Wednesday morn
ing, January 10, of pneumonia. She
was a grandaughter of Mr. and Mrs.
E. V. Deans of Selma.
The- remains will be brought to
Selma for burial.
S.Sgt. James E. Phillips
Arrives In England
Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Phillips of
Selma, Route 1, have received news
that their son, S. Sgt. James E.
Phillips, has arrived safely some
where in England. S. Sgt. Phillips
received his training at Fort Bragg.
Fort Meade, Md. and was stationed
at Camp McCoy, Wis. before going
overseas.
Cpl. Rudolph Phillips
Returns To Camp
Cpl. Rudolph -Phillips has returned
to camp after having spent the
Christmas holidays at home with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Phillips.
He is now stationed at Camp Hood,
Texas, after serving 22 months in the
South Pacific.
Lieut Joe D. Richardson, Jr., who
has been stationed in Texas for some
time, arrived last week to spend
several days with his mother, Mrs
Pearl B. Richardson.
t
President Chamber Of
Commerce
C - .
V
WILLIAM I. GODWIN
Bible In Schools.
Committee To Meet
The committee for the The Bible in
the Schools of Selma, sponsored by
the churches of Selma, will meet at
the earliest advisable time to perfect
necessary plans of procedure, now
that approval of the local and county
boards of Education has been obtain
ed for the teaching of Bible in the
Selma school. Member of the commit
tee will be notified when such meet
ing will be held.
GEO. W. BLOUNT, Chairman.
Seen and Heard Alonf
THE MAINDRAG
SSBy H. H. L. SSS
The writer of this column regrets
to learn that GEORGE W. LANE,
son of MR. and MRS. M. B. LANE,
is reported missing in action
GEORGE is one of the town's most
popular young men for more than
ten years he was the local carrier for
The News and Observer, and every
morning during that time, rain" or
shine, he brought us our paper be
fore breakfast we join his many
friends here in hoping that he will re
turn one of those days safe and
sound JOHNNIE COLONES is back
on the Maindrag to the delight of his
many friends JOHNNIE spent more
than a year in the South Pacific and
saw action in the Marshall Islands,
Saipan and Tinian Island!) that was
a fine thing the citizens of this town
did on last Monday night when they
organized a Chamber of Commerce,
something Selma has been needing
IZ L '"l&f!0,
of the organization one of the town's
outstanding citizens, a former Mayor
and now Solicitor of the County Re
corder's Court, WILLIAM I. GOD
WIN BILL will make a very efficient
officer the writer, as the editor said
in last week's paper, was indeed sur
prised when he returned after spend
ing some time with home folk in
Western North Carolina and Virginia,
to find such a change in the Sun office
ALTON, son of the editor, rolled
up his sleeves as soon as he got home
and went to work re-arranging the
entire office, and together, with the
painters, did a swell job he left Sun
day for Fort Benning, Ga., for fur
ther orders ALTON spent more than
a year in Greenland on one occasion
he wrote us something like this:
"When you hear the choir sing 'From
Greenland's Icy Mountains' think of
me" we trust Uncle Sam will not
send him back to that country well,
today is the birthday anniversary of
one of our most popular citizens,
DAVID S. BALL, general manager of
the Whitley Cotton Mills of Clayton
PRESIDENT STANCIL of the local
Kiwanis Club did not know today was
DAVID'S birthday when he appointed
him program chairman of the Ki
wanis meeting tonight
James W. Butler of Goldsboro
Addresses Meeting On How
Organization Works Presi
dent and Board of Directors
Are Elected Enthusiastic
Meeting. -
At a representative meeting of the
citizens of Selma, held at the
Woman's club building on; Monday
night of this week, which was at
tended by about 40 .people, ' plans
were set in motion and a Chamber of
Commerce was organized with 43
members.-'.' it-"'''-1-
A committee from the Selma Ki
wanis club, headed by Otho Davis,
was appointed by the club about two
weeks ago at the suggestion of Ru
dolph Howell, past president of the
club to make, a survey of the town
and have a meeting called for the
purpose of organizing a Chamber of
Commerce in Selma, This committee
did a good job in getting the word
around. On this committee were. Ru
dolph Howell, L. O. Davis,: Raleigh'
Griffin, J. N, Wiggs, M: L. Stancil, ,
Dr. R. M. Blackman, C. E. Kornegay
and W. T. Woodard, Sr. ,
L. O. Davis opened "the meeting
Monday night with a few explanatory
remarks and then turned the meeting
over to Rudolph Howell who presided "
during the organization -procedure.
Mr. Howell had been given the joo
of securing an appropriate speaker
for the occasion, and- announced that
he had secured Mr! J. W.v Butler' of .
the-GxldsboroCamber)f JCommerce,
who ffl arman l state-wine authority '
on Civic and Business Men's clubs1, to
address the meeting, but would ar '
rive a little late. While waiting for
the speaker a nominating committee
was appointed to nominate officers
for the new Chamber of Commerce.
Upon the arrival of Mr. Butler he
was introduced by Mr. Howell.
Mr. Butler outlined the workings of
chambers of commerce in brief, and
then the meeting was .thrown open
for questioning the speaker about cer
tain phases of operation which ho
answered very satisfactorily to all
present, after which Mr. Howell an
nounced that he was ready for the
report of the nominating committee
which then made its report.
Following the reading of the com
mittee's report, several names were
presented from the floor, and then a
written ballot was taken for Presi
dent. The names of Joe A: Creech
and William I. Godwin were before
the house for president, and Mr. God
win was the winner.
Six men were elected to constitute
the board of directors, with three for
one year and three for two years.
One-year men are W. T. Woodard,
Sr., Joe A. Creech and Floyd C.
Price, Jr. Two year members are Carl
Worley, Raleigh Griffin and L. O.
Davis.
It will be the duty of the board of
directors to elect a secretary and
treasurer, but until this is done, L. O.
Davis was delegated to take charge
of al funds and records and hold them
intact for the proper officers when"
they take hold.
The meeting was well attended
and everyone seemed highly enthu
siastic for the new chamber of com
merce. Directors Of Chamber
Of Commerce To Meet
There will be a meeting of the
Board of Directors of the Selma
Chamber of Commerce at the Mayor's
office Friday night, January 12, at
7:30 o'clock.
flighway Worker
Killed
Gussie Maple, 35-year-old Negro,
of Sumpter, S. C, was instantly
killed Tuesday afternoon at 2:30
seven miles north of Selma . Maple,
who was working for Brown Paving
company, of Charlotte, who are pot
ting tar surface on highway 801 be-,
tween Selma and Kenly, was shovel
ing sand when his sweater was caught
in some shafting, winding him up
and beating him to death. Coroner E.
N. Booker, of Selma, who investigated
the accident said the Negro's feet
were entirely beaten off.