PERSON COUNTY TIMES
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/HISS ASSOCIATiaip ,
A PAPER FOR ALL THE PEOPLE
I V. S. MERRITT, EDITOR M. C. CLAYTON, Manager
THOMAS J. SHAW, JR., City Editor
•Wished Every Thursday and Sunday. Entered As Second
Matter At The Postoffice At Roxboro, N. C., Under
111 Act Os March 3rd., 1879.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 7. 1940
Good Publicity Out of Necessity? . .
A brief newsnote from Berlin announces that by
order of Adolf Hitler, “the colossal bronze doors of the
Reich’s Chancellery are to join the collection of metal
which Germany is gathering for war purposes ’.
Second paragraph says that the doors are to be
replaced with wooden ones and that it has been decid
ed that some candelabra in the “gorgeous” new Chan
cellery wing can be dispensed with, all for the purpose of
giving “a good example” to the nation. Additional details
picture the Fuehrer as personally going through the
numerous rooms and halls to reach a decision as to whicn
metal objects may be sacrificed to Mars.
The bronze doors, regarded as one of the sights ot
Berlin” have opened to “such internationally famous
statesmen as Benito Mussolini, United States Under
secretary of State, Sumner Welles and Regent Admiral
Nicholas Horthy of Hungary”.
These, then, are the facts reported from but
in reading them we are reminded of an editorial note
ia italic type on the same page:
“News from warring countries is subject to censor
ship. It may sometimes be misleading. It is the right and
duty of every American citizen to do his own thinking,
hold to his own beliefs, and not permit himself or his
country to be a victim of emotionalism or propaganda.’
Without any additional pointing of a moral, it seems
to us that the words just quoted are sufficent comment
ary on the “bronze doors” story. It may or may not be
true that Germany desperately needs metal for cannons
and ammunition, but the incident in question has to be
classified as a only fair or average propaganda.
o—o —o —o
The View From The Rear
On a week-day the vacant lot in the rear of the
court house is filled with cars, but on Sunday the plot
is naked, showing the full expanse of gray-brown earth.
It has been said that at some time in the near future the
flat portion of the area may be paved and marked off
for proper parking space. This will be a practical utili
zation of the property and one commended previously in
this column.
But whenever this is done something should be
done with the banks edging the lot. The prospect of hav
ing a completely white concrete expanse back of the
court house is no more pleasing than the earth-colored
expanse. We do not' know whose job it will be to see that
there is an edging of grass and shrubbery added to the
scene, but when the time comes for improvements to
get under way such plantings should be undertaken.
The view from the rear of the court house would be
much more attractive if the entire tract could- be con
verted into a green park, but practicality demands an
automobile parking lot, and bowing to the practical we
compromise by suggesting that at least the elevated ed
ges and the corners of the lot should have landscape at
tention.
o—o— 0 0
The Loss of Two Men
Within the week Roxboro has lost by death and by
removal for business reasons two well-known citizens,
men who were quiet in their ways but who nevertheless
contributed to the city in which they lived.
“Zeb” Morton, who died Thursday, was not the type
of man who would have expected that he would ever be
the subject of an editorial. During his lifetime in Person
county and Roxboro he was harrassed by ill health to
a degree beyond that experienced by the average n»n,
and perhaps because of this physical frailty he was not
inclined to push himself into the public affairs of his
day and was not known intimately to many of the citi
zens here. But each day he did his work here, whether
it was at the theatre, or more lately at the Hotel Rox
boro.
He did it pleasantly and with a certain efficiency
beyond actual requirements. Many other men in his
place would have retired within a shell more complete
ly than he did and it must be said that he will be missed
by those who knew him best.
In the Rev. Thomas I}. Hamilton, former pastor of
the Presbyterian church here, who is this morning en
tering upon his work at the Kinston First church, quiet
ness was exemplified in a somewhat different manner.
He entered into all the activities a minister is supposed
to participate in, but did it with a modesty frequently
Jacking in present day ecclesiastical circles.
, It may seem strange that newspaper comment
should be made on this aspect of Mr. Hamilton’s minis
try here but in a news office where all kinds of preach
ers are known, many of them for what they want said
about themselves rather than for what they preach, it
is refreshing to have the pleasure of coming in contact
with men like Mr. Hamilton. He, too, will be missed by
Roxboro and Person people, although they may find an
especial satisfaction in knowing that the minister whom
tjhay have appreciated will have in his new pastorate
pew and larger opportunities for the exercise of those
commendable talents of which they know him to be
PERSON COUNTY
Next First Lady? She May Be Here
Potential first ladies of the land are these wives of leading Repub
lican presidential candidates pictured as they attended the National
Women’s Press club stunt party in Washington, D..C. Left to right are
Mrs. Thomas Dewey, wife of the New York county district attorney;
Mrs. Arthur Vandenberg. wife of the senator from Michigan, and Mrs.
Robert A. Taft, wife of the senator from Ohio.
The Promised Cabinet Shake-Up . .
Durham Morning Hearald
The British cabinet shake-up frequently mentioned
these past few weeks has materialized and, for a change,
it appears to follow the lines of the forecast.
Winston Churchill, first lord of the admiralty,
henceforth is to preside over the servee ministries—ad
miralty, air, war, and supply—Sir Samuel Hoare is to
take over as air minister in place of Sir Kingsley Wood,
the target of intermittent criticism—and Sir Kingsley
is to replace Sir Samuel as lord privy council head.
Prime Minister Chamberlain, of course, remains
as the No. 1 man, with Churchill a more powerful No.
2 man.
Apparently the intended purpose is to satisfy those
who want to “get on with the war” hy putting more
of the control levers in Churchill’s hands and at the
same time strive for more effective co-ordination of air
and sea forces.
Churchill, thus far at least, represents the more
belligerent attitude of the government and as head of
sea forces, he probably shares the opinion others have
expressed that the sort of opposition his magisty’s navy
faces requires the closet co-ordination of air and sea
commands.
Anyhow, the cabinet reshuffle has materialized and
though it may not satisfy those who demand a real re
organization of the ministry, normal British tolerance
suggests that for a while, at least, there’ll be less cri
ticism on the political front.
o_o 0 0
Emphasis Upon Democracy
Greensboro Daily News
Expatiating upon the liquor question over in the
politically arid Cleveland county environs last week,
Gubernatorial Candidate Paul Grady championed a
statewide referendum on prohibition. Specifically Mr.
Grady asserted that “the democratic rights of the peo
ple have been flagrantly violated” in North Carolina’s
handling of this issue.
And to that assertion the Daily News, without get
ting into the prohibition argument itself, would frankly
say, with an interrogational inflection, we dunno.
Mind you, Mr. Grady was talking about democracy,
as well as about prohibition; but it was undoubtedly
from the prohibition angle that he hoped to garner vot
es, certainly in that part of the state which he was ad
dressing himself. But it is from the angle of democracy
that we raise our question. Democracy, in its ultimate
application, means going back to the people, a govern
ment of the people. And there we encounter what may
be a more or less academic question having to do with
the more, or most, acceptable unit for democracy, in its
self-expression and self-government. Is democracy best
served or exemplified through the federal government,
through the state government or througn local govern
ment? How democratic is it for the state to vote prohi
bition, say, and force it upon the score or more counties
which do not wish it and in which the majority have so
expressed themselves and would quite conceivably so
express themselves again? Is a statewide law or local
option the more democratic method of expression and of
operation ?
We’re simply raising the question with none of the
cocksureness which Mr. Grady manifests and with our
emphasis admittedly shifted from prohibition to demo
cracy. Os this we are certain: Any—and everything that
a candidate advances for vote-getting purposes will not
ipso facto become the formula for which Demos has been
searching all these years.
SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
From
The Adult Student
Announcing the doom of Israel
in a dirge-like couplet Amos
plunges into s recital of the signs
of national decay that may well
cause us to pause in our day. It
is peculiarly significant that al
though his announcement of
doom is for the whole nation, his
accusations of guilt are aimed at
things of which individual men
and women are guilty.
The suppression of truth and
freedom of speech bkees the
mouth of every advocate of the
weak, and wa are not surprised
that Amos listed as a mark
jof decay in Israel that men
trampled upon the weak, and
levied extortionate taxes. These
words of Amos cannot rightly be
used as a proof text against all
taxes, hut it can clearly be ap
plied to our modem tendency
both as individuals and as social
groups to take advantage of the
weak, unorganized, or inarticu
late groups, letting them suffer
injustices and unfair burdens.
We are coming to see that for
Christians business is a matter of
love and service, and that it can,
for them, no longer be merely a
competitive economic warefare.
Another ugly mark of decay
which Amos singled out was the
perversion of government and
courts so that they oppressed the
innocent, denied justice to the
poor, and fattened on bribery.
Perhaps the subtlest temptation
we face is that of accepting the
unearned and unjust Advantages
which are so often within reach
of otherwise honest people—the
temptation to sponge off the
goverrnment, to use personal
position, wealth, or prestige to
escape the consequences of law I
violation. Let us applaud and fol-|
low the example of that promin
ent government official who, a
few months ago, insisted on pay
ing a fine for a parking violation,
even though the police upon
learning of his high official sta
tus, sought to dismiss the charge
wthout fine. The integrity of the
nation can be no greater than the
personal integrity of its citizens.
In verse 13, Amos singles out
another mark of decey, that of
letting our silence help evil. In
the face of all the signs of decay
in Israel, “he who is prudent will
be silent at such a time,
will be an evil time.” In this
sarcastic line Amos puts his fing
er upon a deep sore of society.
We certainly need prudence and
wisdom, but if prudence leads us
into a do-nothing policy, then
prudence betrays us into the
hands of the enerfty. Are we afra
id to talk directly with, or write
to our government officials about
matters in which our support as
Christians is needed? We say it
would be presumptuous or im
prudent. Or we say, “I wouldn’t
know as a mayor or congress
man.” Likewise, many of us av
oid trying to help individuals in
their struggle with personal sin.
These words from an old Metho
dist Discipline hit us pretty hard:
“We let them go quietly to hell,
lest we offend them.” Then let’s
risk making some social blunders
in order to fulfil our patrotic and
Christian duty!
The Eternal Insecurity of Evil
Amos proclaimed that ill-gotten
houses and vineyards would not
be enjoyed by their new owners.
The internal weakening of Israel
by the very things from which
Amos sought to turn the Israel
ites, contributed to the destruct
ion of Israel at the hands of As
syria in the year 722 B. C., less
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than forty years after his speech.
Edwin Markham’s great poem,
“The Man with the Hoe,” gives
forceful, modem application to
this truth.
Not all suffering is caused by
sin, but we can see throughout
history the insecurity and suffer
ing that it does cause. As surely
as nature abhors a vafcuum, so
nature’s economic laws make in
secure a top-heavy social orderi
in which the economic needs of!
any great group of people are
ignored, or in which any great
part of the population, rich or
poor, neglects the fundamental
obligations of honesty, hard work
and consideration for others.
The Price Os Life
But Amos’ message is not en
tirely a negative one. He follows
his discouraging analysis with a
flashing contrast, showing the
price of life, and the conditions
under which God will truly abide
with Israel. “Seek good, and not,
evil, that ye may live,” and again
“Hate the evil, and love the good,
and establish judgement in the
gate," says Amos, and perhaps
God will save at least a remanant
of his people. Notice how Amos
mixes things which an individual
person can do along with
which society as a whole must do.
Each of us can abhor and oppose j
evil, and lean love and seek the
good in our own private lives.
We do not have to wait for the
government and courts to be re
formed. But personal goodness
oannot widely thrive when thw
arted by organized corruption in
government, so we must work to
gether to establish jjustioe—“ini
the gate,” that is, in the courts
and government.
When Worship Is Sin
God through his prophets said
some shocking things! “I hate, I
despise your feast days!” is one
cf those judgments that ought to
make us search our own festivals.
What would God say about the
way we observe Christmas,
Thanksgiving, and Easter, our,
three great festivals? Has mean
ing and reality faded away lev
ing only the rigid crusts of habit
ual observances that are empty?
Many people are prone to point M
finger at the liturgical Churches
which make great use of formal
ritual as being spiritually “dead,"
but perhaps we should ask our
selves haw much of our own re
gular participation In Sunday
service is really meaningful?
What does it mean to repeat the
Apostle’s Creed? What definite
religious meaning and value do
we obtain from taking Communi
on? Is there real religious food
in each part of the church-school
session?
If we admit lack of vital reli
gious meaning in any of these
activities of religion, then we
need to take to ourselves the ter
rble words of Amos speaking for
God!—“I hate, I despise your
feast days,” unless and until they
are filled with sincere religious
meaning by lives of justice and
righteousness.
o
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