The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-04
FIN. WOMEN
AND THINGS

cation.
1 went down Saturday afternoon and
found the train filled with returning
Selmians who had been away to Sum-
mer resorts at the sea. coast or in the
mountains. Among the number was
my old friend Joe wilkins and his fam
lily. Joe lived here in the late eigh-
ties and early nineties.
go
l got to have a long talk with Tru-
man McGill. the governor of the Sth
Rotary district who had been up to Ro-
ference with the other governors and
the higher ups. He was loaded with
Rotary information, and is laying
predicate to do some good work during
his term of office.
l was met at the depot by Mr.. and
Mrs. j. F. Hooper Mr.. Hooper is one
of the leading laymen among the Selma
Presbyterians and Mrs. Hooper did
most effective service during the war
under theytate council of defense. This
charming couple is known not only in
their home town for their good work
but throughout all Alabama.
l was driven to the Arcadia where
never stopped at a hotel where as
much care was taken to see that | got
down to Sunday morning breakfast.
About seven thirty the porter raped
on the door and said, "last call for
breakfast" At quarter to eight
ton. AS the town clock struck the
hour of eight, little negro bell boy
warned me it was time to get up
l got excited from the time l arose
until retired for an airship from Mont
gomery was over to give the Selmians
chance to ride at dollar a minute
up about as fast as he could make a
flight and land again. In the afternoon
tried to take nap but just as I would
begin to doze I would hear the whirr
of the engine above me and of course
had to get up to take a peek. 1 had
but failed to find the aviator on Mon
day morning.
I arrived in Montgomery to be told
on my way from the depot to the Ex-
change of the tragic death of Lieuten-
ant Johnson the afternoon before
Immediately went around to see my
friend Harper johnson who piloted me
in my first air voyage from Birming-
ham to Montgomery as the dead lieu
tenant was flying in one of the ships
of the Curtiss-J ohnson companies.
planes. In fact was told it was the
one in which I had ridden, and had
been scrapped in consequence of the
wreck.
The death Of Lieutenant Johnson sad
dened me as 1 had found him an en-
thusiastic sbirdman. Having seen ser
vice abroad in which he risked his life
dailysit seemed strange that he should
have gone to his death on a lovely
afternoon when making a pleasure trip
and flying low overssRhat is considered
to be an unusually good landing field
1t only goes to show that as yet fly
ing is rather a dangerous pastime
went around to see him laid out for
burial and my heart went out to his
loved ones.
Lieutenant johnson was great fav-
orite in Montgomery. l ran across Cap
tain Peterson who is at the head Of the
Aviation Repair depot and he was
deeply grieved over the accident and
told me that he had informed the family
that if it was their wish he would fur.
nish military escort. The funeral
was largely attended as the whole city
appeared to be moved by the catastrophe
which snuffed out the life of one of its
beloved young heroes. was glad to
learn that the passenger riding with
Lieutenant Johnson was not seripusly
hurt as first reported and was resting
we'll. u a5:e
But back to Selma. / preached at
the morning service at the First Pres
byterian church, in the afternoon L
spoke before the B. Y. p U. at the First
Baptist church, and at night had the
pleasure of preaching at the Union
services held on the lawn Of the Epis-
copal church. This open air meeting
in which the central churches unite
has grown in the three years of it's
observance to be feature of the reli-
gious life of the community.
We Americans have never learned the
blessing and comfort of out door
preaching as have our English cousins.
Here in the south we ought to get the
habit. I am aware that it has been
attempted here and that during the
summer the First Presbyterian church
Just in the rear Of the Age-Herald and
the Christian church on it's side have
been coming together in their even
ing service on the lawn of the former.
I think it might prove helpful to have
such open air preaching in the various
parts of the city.
Selma is city of handsome churches.
and it is a church going town. have
been visiting it for number of years
and am always struck with the fact
that it's religious life is to the fore
front. If you are anybody in the social
or financial world you are expected to
be actively identified with the com
munity'S wnrchip in Qua NOV ..,a&A..