If It's Wrong For Russia to Overthrow Our Government, Why Is It Right For Us To Overthrow Russia's Government? February, 1920

From the editorial page of The Fool-Killer, A Monthly Mustard-Plaster for the Blood-Boils of Society, Church and State, published monthly, James Larkin Pearson, Editor, Boomer, N.C., February 1, 1920.

Since it is certainly wrong for Russia to try to overthrow our government, how come it is so right and proper for us to try to overthrow Russia’s government? Don’t all speak at once.

'Phonograph Pastors' Will Give Us Canned Religion, Says Minister, February, 1920

From The Fool=Killer, Boomer, N.C., February 1, 1920. Yes, the title of this religious newspaper has an equal sign in its title, but it doesn’t use an equal sign in the text of articles.

Canned Religion

A Protestant conference held recently in Boston initiated the idea of “phonograph pastors.” The idea comes, not as a labor-saving device, but as a measure of economy. Pulpits lack pastors because pastors are not paid enough and leave the calling of the ministry for more remunerative employment. The phonograph asks no salary, repeats the best and most approved sermons of famous preachers, and can be shut off whenever a sermon taxes the endurance of the congregation. Moreover, “canned sermons” can be syndicated, so that all churches can received the same message on the same day. –The Christian Herald

Christopher Betsey!

Just turn your head to one side and let that run in. Let it soak plum in till it greases the mainspring of your think-box.

Canned sermons!

Canned religion!

Canned faith!

Canned hope!

Canned love!

Canned prayers!

Canned obedience!

Canned humility!

Canned happiness!

Canned—oh, shucks in August! The whole bloomin’ capoodle seems to be already canned in the devil’s kitchen, and then fermented and got wiggletails on it.

All over the world the Churches of Babylon are having jeeminy-fits over the shortage of preachers. The young men are just not hankering after the preaching job any more.

And so the poor old meek and biddable phonograph is to be diked out in a frock coat and standing collar and have a pair of $8 spectacles straddled across its nose and sent out to preaching.

It isn’t intended as a labor-saving device, you see, but as a matter of economy. The phonograph preacher will not have to pay house rent and support a wife and family and smoke 15-cent cigars, and therefore it can work cheap.

Great idea, to be sure!

And it is an idea that can be elaborated and enlarged upon as necessity arises. From the phonograph in the pulpit, the next logical step will be the phonograph in the pew. The dear brethren and sisterin’ of the Amen Corner can get them a supply of small phonographs and put on records filled with “Amen!” and “Praise the Lord!” and “That’s right, Brother!” and so on. And they can leave those phonographs in the pews while the sermon is going on, and they themselves can get out on a back street and serve the devil till the cows come home.

The canned audience can be times so as to say “Amen!” just at the proper place during the canned sermon, and some good old canned sister could bust out and shout a few rounds every little bit, and it would be just the jimdandiest sort of a service all around.

A stranger passing by that church would think an old-time revival was in progress, and he would never know the difference till he peeped inside.

And then at the Judgment Day God can take the phonograph all to heaven and let the devil have the people.

North Baden Church News, February, 1920

From The Badin Bulletin, February, 1920

Church News

By L.A. Royster

On the second Sunday, there was organized in the First Baptist Church by the Welfare Worker a B.Y.P.U. at which meeting the following officers were elected: Prof. E.G. Harris, president; Mr. Isom Reaves, vice-president; Miss Winnie Lynn, secretary; Mrs. Long, treasurer; and also there were appointed on the membership committee Mr. Lee Ellis, Mrs. Uras McRae, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. E.G. Harris, and Miss Ruby Lee Bell. There were appointed on the program committee Mr. Robinson and Mr. T. Allen.

The excellent program which was arranged for the following Sunday was somewhat delayed on account of smallpox which broke out during the intervening week, but nevertheless the B.Y.P.U. is expecting to grow, and do a great service to the church.

The A.M.E. Zion church is now working on the drive for the $1,000 Rally, which is to be had in the month of March. Rev. L.A. McDonald, the pastor, assures the congregation that if they raise $800 he will raise the other $200. We hope everybody will lend us a helping hand.

Rev. W.M. Gaylord of Livingston College filled the pulpit of Rev. Long, First Baptist Church, on the second Sunday. Rev. Gaylord is now completing his theological course in Livingstone Theological Seminary.

Rev. T.J. Houston presiding elder of the Concord district, visited the city in the month of January, and asked Rev. McDonald for the hearty support of the church in his great undertaking.

Rev. McDuffy of Livingstone College, visited our city, and expressed himself as being quite impressed with the wonderful opportunities which is affords.

Community Leaders in North Badin, February, 1920

From The Badin Bulletin, February, 1920

North Badin Directory

Gurney E. Nelson, Welfare Worker

Prof. E.G. Harris, Principal Colored School

Dr. W.D. Price, Chairman Health Department

Miss L.E. Marable, Community Nurse

Prof. J.E. Armstrong, Leader of Brass Band

Mrs. Clarice J. Michaels, Director of Music School

W.H. Pierson, Chairman Word Committee No. 1

W.H. Gaither, Chairman Ward Committee No. 2

T.H. Brooks, Chairman Ward Committee No. 3

T.W. Samson, Chairman Ward Committee No. 4

Religious

Ministerial Union, Rev. L.A. McDonald, Chairman

Rev. C.B. Thompkins, Pastor A.M.E. Church

Rev. L.A. McDonald, Pastor A.M.E.Z. Church

Rev. P.F. Long, Pastor First Baptist Church

Rev. Mack Moore, Pastor Second Baptist Church

Rev. D. Mosely, Pastor Holiness Church

Fraternal

Mrs. Anna J. James, Worthy Counsel Ct. Calanthe

Edward Covington, Ex. Ruler, I.B.P.O.E.W.

L.A. Donaldson, Noble Grand, G.U.O.O.F.

D.E. Bell, Worshipful Master, F.A.A.M.

J.C. Gadson, Hon’l. Ruler S. Circle

John Graham, C. Commander, K.P.

Robert Crump, Manager Baseball Team

Commercial

Badin Stock Company—Prof. E.G. Harris, President; Dr. W.D. Price, Secretary-Treasurer

Miss Lucy Wallace, Instructor in voice, piano, and elocution

Mr. W.C. Harris—Editor North Badin Edition of “The Badin Tribune”

Robert Robinson, Chief Fire Department

North Badin Community Began New Year With Emancipation Exercises, 1920

From The Badin Bulletin, February, 1920

Emancipation Exercises

The emancipation exercises were held in the community hall of North Badin on the first day of the new year 1920.

There has never before been a crowd so large at the Community Hall to an exercise of this sort—every chair was occupied, and the occasion when off very smoothly.

Many letters and telegrams were sent to different men of the race to deliver the emancipation address, but none of them were available. Nevertheless, the exercise did not lack the spirit of the occasion. There were several appropriate songs led by Mrs. Gaither, followed by the voices form the audience.

Miss Addie Tyson read the closing words of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Mr. Cummings, one of our very good friends from the white side, and the one who did all that was in his power to make the occasion an interesting one, gave the Emancipation Address, after which he presented the winners with the prizes which were won during the November Bazaar.

Mr. Cummings gave much praise to the variety of work accomplished during the year 1919, and great encouragement for a larger variety and a better year’s work during 1920.

Were You Born in February? You Share Birth Month With Three Great Leaders--George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Booker T. Washington, February 1920

From The Badin Bulletin, February, 1920

Were You Born in February?

Were you born this month, is a question usually asked in February. This is the month in which the father of our country, George Washington, was born; this is the month in which the great emancipator, Abraham Lincoln, was born; but we, the race folk, must not forget that this is the month in which our great leader, Booker T. Washington, was born.

We should remember his three great teachings: Buy a home, own property, and become a true citizen.

Local News From North Badin, February, 1920

From The Badin Bulletin, February, 1920

Eclipse Lodge, No. 230, Elks

Little Frankie Bancroft, after drinking a bottle of Dixie Flip, thought he would go out riding, but the goat he was on had already been in action with G.E. Nelson on his back, and therefore he threw little Frankie before he got to the end of his journey.

Munsey Abernethy was also initiated in Eclipse Lodge, No. 230, on their first meeting night of the new year.

This year we are driving for a membership of sober young men that will surpass all years in our history of Baden.

The lodge had an installation of officers during the month of January.

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The Baseball Team

Last year proved very successful to our baseball team; everyone was interested, and already we some of our old players back who left town soon after the baseball season was over.

We see Bro’ Rabbit is back full of baseball, and it is not too early for the members of the team to come together and make plans by which we may be the best team in the State.

Mr. C.J. Michaels, one of the best athletes in the state, is still in town, and is expected to be with us and take an active part in the management of the team.

--Bob Crump

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Cleanest House in North Badin

A few weeks ago, bills were placed on your porches, and posters were displayed in every portion of our city, telling us of the big contest which is now under way.

We are hoping that every family in North Badin is working daily for one of these prizes.

The judges are on the lookout, and have found quite a bit of competition; but it is not too late for anyone to get into the race who has not already started.

The people of North Badin feel disposed to thank The P.J. Huneycutt & Sons Furniture Company for the great interest they show in us by donating these prizes, which will be so useful in our homes.

This contest will mark the beginning of our contests for the year 1920, and if we are all in this contest, our homes and yards and gardens will be ready in the spring for the contests which will be held by the Company during the summer.

Let us urge you to get your homes, your yards, your flower gardens, and your vegetable garden ready for the summer contests.

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Locals

Mr. R. Beverly of Wadesboro, N.C., has just sent his private secretary to Badin, to represent him in a meeting of the Badin Stock Company. Mr. Beverly is a successful colored farmer, having recently purchased for cash as $75,000 farm and livestock to the value of $11,000. During the year of 1919, Mr. Beverly made 375 bales of long staple cotton.

Watch for the North Carolina Clef Club, which is expected to be in Badin soon, under the direction of the ward committee. The Clef Club has with it this year Dr. James Clarence Waddy, North Carolina’s finest bass singer.

Mrs. E.A. Armstrong is now teaching the school classes which were taught by Mrs. Hinton before Christmas. Mrs. Hinton is still at her home in High Point, N.C., with her sick mother.

There are already two teachers here from Greensboro, so Look Out Badin, Don’t you cry; The faculty will bid Greensboro Bye and Bye.

Miss Annie Hughes of Greensboro, N.C., was a visitor of Mrs. C.J. Michaels last week. It was thought that Miss Hughes had come to Badin to teach in the graded school.

Several persons from the North Badin Music Club are practicing, prior to a recital which will be given soon under the direction of Mrs. Michael.