The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-02-14

VanDyke, the well-known specials
and city alderman from the Eight
ward, was an ardent supporter o
Joseph NJ. Brown for governor, ant
because John S. Cameron, the we'll
known insurance man, was working
zealously to bring the strayed anc
wandering into the chuTch's fold
there came about in Atlanta a short
while ago remarkable conversion
which has made a great change in
Dr. VanDykes life, much to his own
qualification.
DR.. VanDyke went to church in
order to get Mr.. Cameron to vote for
Governor Brown, became interested,
and then impressed, and was finally
won over to the ranks of those who
serve in the Masters vineyard. 1t
was the changing of vote that won
a soul.
How this all came about makes a
most interesting story of the combi-
nation of politics and religion, which
DR.. VanDyke is not ayerse to having
made public, because he believes it
may be the means of bringing others
to a more serious thought of eternity
and immortality and lead them to
turn from the worldly ways and live
that better life, and hope of which is
eternal happiness.
An Earnest Campaigner.
Dr. VanDyke has always been
warm friend of Governor Brown and
was one Of his most earnest support
ers in the campaigns in which he was
a candidate for governor. In politics
he was always an ardent worker for
every man and measure he espoused
To have him as a friend was to pos
sess a tireless, indefatigable worker.
In the last gubernatorial campaign
he championed the cause of Governor
Brown with all the ardor of his fer
Yid nature.
He felt that there could be many
votes won for Governor Brown that
had hitherto been for Mr.. Smith, and
in his campaigning he went into the
Hoke Smith ranks and, it is said,
succeeded in turning many votes.
Among those to whom he made ap-
peals in behalf of Governor Brown
was John S. Cameron. Mr. Cameron
had been for Hoke Smith in all for
mer campaigns for governor, and as
choice among all the other candi-
dates was Hon. ]. Pope Brown.
While the campaign between Jos.
M. Brown, Pope Brown and Richard
B. Russell was still on, and while
DR.. VanDyke was doing all he could
to get Mr.. Cameron to vote for Coy
ernor Brown, there was being held in
Atlanta a series of revival meetings
af ha hyv h1
noted Indian evangelist, Rev. Frank
Wright. Mr.. Cameron, who is a
member of North Avenue Presbyte-
rian church, urged DR.. VanDyke on
several occasions to go to the noon
day meetings, which were being held
especially for business men, but the
invitations were most emphatically
declined. The Indian evangelist was
holding his regular meetings at the
North Avenue Presbyterian church
and Mr.. Cameron became more per-
sistent in his efforts to get DR.. Van
Dyke to attend, and the doctor show
ed a more resolute determination not
to do so. AS the doctor afterwards
expressed it to some of his friends
he had so much of the worldly to
take care of that there was no part
IL Alo tlLS 1OI l6llSIOu, churches ana
preachers.
On one occasion, when Mr.. Cam
eron was trying to induce DR.. Van
Dyke to attend the Indian preacher s
services, the doctor said to Mr.. Cam
erOn:
Look here, old man, here you are
rying to get me out to church and
yet you wont let me persuade you
to vote for good man like Joe
Brown"
The Compact Was Made.
Mr.. Cameron paused a few mo-
ments in thought and then said as if
an inspiration had suddenly come to
him-an inspiration which was to
bring about wonderful thing in the
life of the man he was addressing
I'll tell you what I'll do, Arthur
/ will vote for Joe Brown if you will
go to hear Mr.. Wright three times
Il will do most anything to get a
vote for Joe Brown" replied Dr.
VanDyke, land 1 will go to church
three times to hear your Indian
preacher If you agree to cast your
vote for Joseph M. Brown for gov.
ernor Of Georgia"
The compact was made on a Sat
urdsy, and DR.. VanDyke was to &C
to the North Avenue Presbyterian
church on Sunday, Monday and Tues
day evenings.
He went Sunday night and was
careful to let Mr.. Cameron know h
was there-that was all he went fol
the first time. He remained through
the services and became much pleas
ed with the fine music and interested