Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-30
LAW OBSERVANCE
CAMPAIGN PLANNED

Tho white Baptist churches OF
Georgia are uniting in campaign
Of law observance and enforcement
for the month of September. The
social service commission OF the
Georgia Baptist convention mas
worked out a suggested program of
special effort in this movement and
las asked every pastor in the state
- cooperate in this important move
ment.
The commission is composed of
Or. Aquila Chanlee, Of Hawkins.
VILE; DR.. John C. Harrison. Of Ma
con, Judge George lIil,yer, of At
lanta; Rev Lewis A. Henderson, of
T.awrencevi1le, and Rev. w. O.
Young, Of Shellman. These we'll
known leaders in Baptist affairs in
Georgia have he1 dseveral meetings
in Atlanta and have worked out a
tentative program.
During the past week the commit
tee sent to every pastor in the state
and to lay leaders the plan of the
campaign for giving support to the
public officials and in intoxicating in
the youth of the state respect for
law
Governor Thomas w. Hardwick,
DR.. M. Il. Britain, state superintend-
ent OF schools, and Major James A.
Fort. state commander Of the Amer
lean Legion have indicated their
will give the committee statements
of comm endation to be used during
the month.
The statement, sent to every white
Baptist church in the state last week
by the committee, follows:
1. The convention of Georgia Baptists
felt the necessity for it and authorized it.
The social service commission is not a
new organiza ton, but has been one Of the
standing committees of the convention for
several years. This committee is simply
asked to enlarge its activities.
z. To prevent human suffering. The re-
ligion- of Christ is religion Of mercy.
If we are to carry relief to the distressed,
much more are we to prevent distresses.
Lawlessness produces more suffering than
all the diseases apart from those produced
by dissipa ton.
| 8. Seventy-five per cent of the criminals
of our day are said to be under twenty-one
years Of age. These boys could have been
taught to obey the laws if the proper par
ties Mad done what God appointed them
to do. We must bestir ourselves to stop
this large number Of lads from going to
ruin,
! 4. Lawless elements are trying to make
void the prohibition laws, the laws against
stealing automobiles, the laws against red
light districts, the laws against Sabbath
dissertation and many other good laws of
our land. These laws were enacted by a
legal, orderly process of a democratic peo-
pie. A good citizen will observe the law
whether he likes it not. These violators
of our laws must be made to obey or else
BE- punished Mdansl:, ,,,non,, o. ,.,.
forces unless "John Barleycorn' is first
| lieutenant. mob cannot be described I'M
less you delineate several drinking men in
1t. Stop the manufacture and sale of whis-
Ky and you stop lynchings.
| g. The race problem is growing more
| acute every day. But the race problem is
the problem of enforcing the laws, espe-
eially the prohibition laws. Keep the
bad white man sober and the bad negro
sober and they will live together in peace
q. experience has shown that when a
riot breaks out tba in ia community the
der is restored. Why not keep the lid on
and prevent the riot? This campaign is to
arouse the public to the point where
"authorities' will fear to wink at crime
| in hiding.
| s. Our white people can be depended upon
in great emergencies if they are enlight-
ened. This campaign is to arouse the pub
| lie to the point where authorities" will
fear to wink at crime in hiding.
8. Our white people can be depended upon
in great emergencies if they are enlight-
ened. This campaign proposes to call the
|
Of the conditions as they are and then it
will be easy for our courts to function and
for the officers of the law to be a terror
| to the evil-doer.
o. We ask that every home, every school,
| every church, every friendly organization
throughout the state aid in this cam
paign to prevent crime. We ask that you
help close the dens of iniQuity by pre-
venting their getting any more boys to
| ruin.
This is a patriotic service. Georgia stands
| before her sister states accused of wicked
Indifference to these vital questions. We
can easily put Georgia first in law observ-
ance. This will aid every good institution,
make happiness for muItitudes Of homes
where grief and anguish will otherwise
come, and prove that we love our fellow
i man better than we love to crafty our
unholy love of ease or pleasure.
TO- Christians can not claim that they
| have done all our Savior has commanded
until they have taught every creature to
obey God and God commands us all to
obey the powers that be (the laws and the
! law cxerutives). We must have this cam
| paign, then, for Christ's sake.