News From Statesville, May 2, 1922

Statesville

An old time singing will be held at Hiddenite on the second Sunday in May. The singing will begin at 10 o’clock and the program will be continued into the afternoon. All old time singers are requested to bring their Christian Harmony song books and participate in the music of the day.

C.V. Henkel, president of the Green Park Hotel Company, Blowing Rock, announces that improvements are costing approximately $50,000 are under way at Green Park. The new improvements include a modern lighting plant, and ice plant, permanent water system and an annex which will give this noted hostelry a total of 125 rooms. All improvements will e ready for the opening of the summer season.

The remains of Karl Sherrill Jr., aged five months, son of Mr. and Mrs. Karl Sherrill, were buried Saturday in Oakwood, funeral services being conducted by Dr. C.E. Raynal, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, from the home at 11 o’clock. The death of the little child was sudden and unexpected, as he had been considered only slightly indisposed for a few days. The little boy is the only grand child of Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Sherrill. Mr. Sherrill is one of the leading flour manufacturers of North Carolina.

From The Charlotte News, May 2, 1922

Welfare Links Church and State, Says Lucius Ranson, May 2, 1922

Ministers Fail to Support Work. . . Welfare Superintendent Ranson Rebukes Preachers for Their Attitude

The Charlotte Ministerial Association has been more indifferent to the work of the welfare organization of the county than any other organization, declared Lucius Ranson, county superintendent of public welfare, speaking at the Villa Heights A.R.P. church Sunday night.

Mr. Ranson was speaking on “The Making of a Man” and was showing how, although the welfare program had come from the Christian church and had been made possible through the efforts of Christian people, the local Ministerial Association had given the least support.

It is the one organization which he has not been permitted to address on the welfare program, he said. Mr. Ranson said that many of the ministers of the city have given admirable assistance but his remarks about non-support were concerning the organization.

The text of Mr. Ranson’s discourse was from Luke 2:52, “And the child grew in stature, wisdom and in the favor of God and man.” At the outset Mr. Ranson said that the home is the foundation of civilization. The real home, he said is ruled by a queen, the mother, and he paid a tribute to womanhood and motherhood. The boy Christ had a four-fold development. He increased in stature, his physical body was developed. He increased in wisdom, he was educated. He grew in favor with men, he had a splendid social development. And he received the favor of God, and had religious development.

The welfare superintendent then declared that is the duty of parents to develop their children along the same four-fold plan. First comes a strong body, the child’s physical needs must be met and the health protected. He spoke of the agencies for a strong body such as athletics, play, playgrounds, Y.M.C.A., gymnasium, supervised activities, gardening and chores.

Next comes the trained mind. The mother is the natural teacher. The Jewish mother first trained the child and mothers are not doing their duty if they are not training their children. Care must be taken in the selection of teachers in schools and colleges and care must be exercised in the choosing of the books for the children to read.

He made a plea for teaching of the Bible in the public schools and said that the ministers of the city should be members of the schools’ faculty to teach the children, who should be given credit for the work in the Bible.

The child should be given a true understanding of the social relationships. The sacredness of the home and family should be early taught. He said that divorces have caused millions of children to become homeless, and he urged that fathers and mothers do all in their power to stop child marriages. When children become neglected, dependent and delinquent, the juvenile court of the welfare department steps in and functions.

Above all the child should be taught that religion is the moving force in all relationships, political, social, economical and educational, he declared.

The welfare organization is the missing link between the church and State. The church, with its spirit of service has evolved the welfare idea but is without the practical means of executing the program. Then it is that the welfare organization with its funds from the State, operates as the link between State and church.

From The Charlotte News, May 2, 1922

Rev. Thomas Irwin On Trial After He Was Kidnapped and Left in Ditch, May 2, 1922

Minister Found Bound in Ditch. . . His Funeral Sermon Over Body of Hamon Caused Split in His Church

Lawton, Okla., May 1—Plans for the church trial May 9 of Rev. Thomas Irwin, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, here, proceeded today in the absence of any action to determine who kidnapped the Rev. Mr. Irwin Saturday night, hit him on the head, chloroformed him and threw him in a ditch 12 miles from the city.

The Rev. Mr. Irwin was found by passing motorists after he had laid in the ditch 3 ½ hours. Today he repeated that he could identify none of the three men who attacked him.

Both factions in the congregation which has been split for more than a year, when the pastor preached the funeral sermon of Jake L. Hamon after Hamon was slain by Clara Smith Hamon, were discussing the incident today, but out of the discussion nothing concrete for the investigation has come thus far. This was one of the things which brought about the movement for his removal as pastor.

The Rev. Mr. Irwin later married a couple in a public bathing pool and exhibited motion pictures in his church, things which split the congregation anew. Recently the Rev. Mr. Irwin announced that certain persons were trying to intimidate him and force him to leave town, and sometime ago, he said he was approached by three men as he was leaving the church one Sunday night and at the point of guns warned to go to another city.

According to his story of (the?) Saturday night incident, he was on his way to the home of a member of his congregation at about 8 o’clock when three men stopped him and knocked him unconscious with a blow on the head. When he awoke he said he was in a moving automobile, tied hand and foot, a gag in his mouth and one of the men sitting upon him. He declared he heard one of the trio urge the others to “do away with him now,” while another suggested that they give “him one more chance to get out of town before they killed.”

Soon afterward, he stated, he was thrown from the motor car into a ditch at the side of the road and although he succeeded in removing the gag sufficiently to halt several passing motorists, none would stop and render him aid when they recognized him.

Finally five tourists picked him up and took him to the residence of Senator John E. Thomas, nearby, where first aid was administered. He had recovered entirely today.

From The Charlotte News, May 2, 1922

Happy May Day

Graduating Class of 1922, Oxford College, N.C.

Bachelor of Arts

Gladys Tapp Jones

Rosa Jane Knott

Elizabeth Lake Middleton

Laura Estelle Mitchell

Gladys Lee Stroud

Irene Aurora Whitfield

Bachelor of Science

Margaret Jack Barrett

George Ella Turner

Bachelor of Music

Piano: Ruth Mary Gaylor

Voice: Mary Franklin Barbour

Graduates of School of Home Economics

Gladys Hester Hobgood

Neade Winifred Hobgood

Rosa Jane Knott

Amy Rue Perry

Sallie Mae Reaves

Annie Lee Strickland

Agnes Williamson

Irene Aurora Whitfield

Class motto: “Rowing, Not Drifting.”

Class colors: Old rose and silver.

Class flower: Killarney rose.

Class Officers

Gladys Tapp Jones, president

Ruth Mary Gaylor, vice-president

Laura Estelle Mitchell, secretary

George Ella Turner, treasurer

From Senior Bulletin, Oxford College, Oxford N.C., May, 1922

Class History of 1922, Oxford College, Oxford, N.C.

Class History of 1922

Just before the sunshine of peace gave joy to the world, after the gloomy days of war, the class of 1922 began its career. We were a “green” and timid group of candidates for knowledge, but our uneasiness was soon dispelled by the unusual kindness of the Sophomores and the upper classmen. Several receptions and entertainments were given us to help drive away the “blues.” Thus, in a short time we became fully adjusted to the college environment. But, alas, the dreadful disease known as “Flu” made its first appearance, and our President found it necessary to suspend school for a few weeks. However, we came back more determined than ever to travel onward companionably in the field of knowledge. One bright morning soon after our return, our hearts throbbed with joy, for the bells were ringing in a glorious era of peace. Indeed, this bright outlook was not illusive, for our entire year was as pleasant and profitable as its auspicious beginning seemed to prophesy.

Returning for our Sophomore year, we found our class much enlarged. No one would ever have believed that this jolly, carefree group of Sophomores was really the Freshman Class of the year before. This was probably the happiest year of our college life.

We organized our Junior Class in the fall of 1920 with 25 members, Gladys Tapp Jones being elected our president. Many were the pleasures and disappointments of this year, the most memorable of the latter being over our long-anticipated trip to Wake Forest.

We truly followed our motto, “Rowing not drifting,” for we met high waves on every hand, and we faced them like hardy sailors. We worked while we worked, and entered with zest into pleasure. We had the honor of being invited to a delightful reception given by Miss Esther Kinney, sponsor of the 1921 class of Wake Forest.

At commencement we took upon ourselves the responsibility of making the daisy chain for the Seniors, hoping that the Juniors would so honor us in 1922.

Last fall we returned to assume the dignity of Seniors. Gladys Tapp Jones was again elected to guide our destiny through the coming year, and Mrs. Anne M. Woodall was chosen as our advisory member. We found that our class had dwindled to 17. This number rowed the boat faithfully until Christmas. One of our number then decided that she had enough “knowledge” and wished to impart some of it to a future better half. During the year several members of our class held responsible offices. Rosa Jane Knott and Elizabeth Middleton were the very competent presidents of the Student Government and the Y.W.C.A., respectively. Estelle Mitchell was Editor-in-chief of “The Phoenix.” Irene Whitfield was president of the Calliopean Literary Society, and Mary Barbour of the Uranian Literary Society. We were again disappointed over our trip to Wake Forest.

Under the efficient direction of our advisory member, the class presented most successfully on April 27, the play, “Merchant of Venice.” Indeed, it was so thoroughly appreciated, that we have been requested by many to repeat it. We expect to present it again on Saturday night, May 20.

The Domestic Science Seniors, directed by Miss Boggs, entertained our class and a number of friends at a charming reception on April 29. The artistically decorated parlor and tea table, together with the delicious refreshments, bore testimony to the skill of our Home Economics members.

We have had two most enjoyable recitals given by two of our talented members, Mary Barbour and Ruth Mary Gaylor. These vocal and instrumental recitals, respectively, were rendered with great skill and reflect great honor on their instructors. We feel that many of our successes and accomplishments during our Junior and Senior years have been due to our much-loved honorary member, Mrs. Woodall.

The class has decided to present to its dear Alma Mater, as a token of the high esteem and love we bear for her, an expensive radio-outfit, to be installed in the college auditorium.

And now as we go forth from thy protecting arms, oh beloved Alma Mater, may our love for thee ever guide our feet in the paths of right. May we ever cherish thy memory and hold thy name dear; in all our dealings be sincere. Happy have been the days spent here, and a mingled feeling of joy and sadness will be ours, when with diplomas in our hands, we say, in the words of Shakespeare, “We are the Jasons, we have won the fleece.”

From Senior Bulletin, Oxford College, Oxford N.C., May, 1922

Senior Bulletin, Oxford College, May 1922