Atlanta Georgian., 1913-03-07
Former Atlanta Minister viii
Keep Out of Local Church
Fights.

DIR. Len G. Broughton. beloved citizen
Of Atlanta, head OF the. great March BIZ
BILE conference, whose sessions open
tonight, lecturer and reformist, arrived
In Atlanta today,
Dr. Rrongllton brought seitb him no
eagerness for war upon local questions
He said he came only with the message
Of the Master OF Men.
AS guest OF the great organization
which he founded, Or. Broughton de-
clared he owes to it his time, his best
thought, his truest efforts. To that end
he asserted in his expressive diction
that he would not butt in" on local
affairs.
Much more important. he declared. is
his appearance as a messenger bearing
the word OF God. than his presence as a
brand thrower upon the already smol-
dering charter war. vice crusade. Gre
natory embrogiio or council wrangle.
Fine" was DR.. Broughtons one ex-
plosive word expressing his gladness at
being back in Atlanta--his return to
the city of his first love. 81 sit here in
this beautiful sunshine. breathing in
this invigorating air. I feel refreshed,
renewed. You know. | have not seen
the sun for quite.a dreary while. Lon
don is all but sunless.
~ feel better than ever before In my
later life. ! left here with the doctors
ultimatum- six months. then the grave
ringing in my ears. Very few people
knew Just how serious were the orders
Ilhada received stss
"I'myself felt that my life was about
done. My future was so dark.
Refusal Foolish.
"The London opportunity came to me
in such a way that, It's refusal would
have been foolish 1t offered me the
things that I did not have while here.
Better still, it provided me with ain out
look on life. q changed condition Of af-
fairs that my doctors had told me was
imperativeI 4 took the opportunity eX-
tended to me
You can see what it has done fog
me. am fifteen pounds heavier. My
nerves are what they should be. / am
well man. Had l the same energy a
year or so ago that have now l never
would have left Atlanta.
"I reached London all but an exile. |
even left off reading American news
papers. l know nothing of Atlanta nor
its people. l lost all track of the citys
progress To be sure l heard from her
many sons from time to time but my
letters were few-they did not deal with
local problems.
$50 you can readily see what my re-
turn means. ! reach Atlanta frank
agnostic I take the agnostic attitude
because frankly do not know how
things stand hero.
"CAief Beavers? Yes, 1 nave just
heard of his cleanup orders 1 can not
express myself on such questions.
Really ] have not even touched upon
them in tine mose indirect way. 7 can
say hoyeve., that the chiefs work is
good. Anything the chief might do IN
reformatoly work is good. He has the
support of all good citizens. hope"
Here the lean, gray-haired man of
God paused to relight his cigar He
smiled about the little group gathered
In his apartment at the Piedmont and
continued:
Homesick at Times.
''Homesick? Yes. very. at times. NV
heart has often turned toward Atlanta
while l have been abroad. 1t has al
ways brought tears TO my eyes. FL
have often thought of the clty-what il
had meant to me--what my work had
meant to nle--what my future might
laVe been had I stayed. Then | tnanl,
continusd on Pac. Three.