Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-30
PASTOR FROM
PULPIT URGES
GOLF CLUB HERE.
Rev. |. B. Lawrence
Raps Lack Of Inter
est Generally

The need of a first class golf
course in Americus, where the boys
and girls might play, where the
Young women of the community
might meet for healthy recreations
instead of setting at the bridge ta-
Bile, where the professional men
might obtain the refreshing outdoor
exercise 50 necessary to health,
strength and good work, and where
the older persons might find pleas
ing and inyigorating pastime, was
voiced from the pulpit of Calvary
Episcopal church by the rector, Rev.
J. B. Lawrence, in the course of his
sermon Sunday morning.
His sermon took the form of con-
structive criticism of Americus and
her people, and he spoke plainly con-
cerning some of the shortcomings of
the community. In matters of ath-
letics and recreation, particularly the
game of golf which has become a
great factor in the community
health, happiness and vigor in most
cities the size of Americus. and
larger. he said that Americus was far
behind the other South Georgia cit
les, although surprising them in
many other respects. In his talk he
TOUCHED briefly upon vice conditions
here as they have been recently re-
vealed and blamed the church people
for these conditions, because they had
not gone heartily enough into tn
religion. he said. He spoke from the
text, Whatsoever ye do, do it heart
ity,"
1--WE of the South are all too shy
of criticism" he began. This,
think, is because we are descended
from the cavaliers and are a sure-
rior people in ancestry and ideals.
We. resent, naturally, the implication
that we are open to criticism. How
ever, this is mistake, and the sooner
we realize this fact, listen to the
right kind of criticism and set about
rectifying our faults the better off
will we be.
Criticizing Americus.
"With this thought in mind, l am
now going to venture some criti-
cisms of this dear city of ours which
we all love so well. And in starting
this criticism I want you to bear in
mind the text, Whatsoever We do,
do it heartily I think that criticism
of our citv may be applied to almost
everv walk of life, and l am going
to mention few of them"
Here the rector called attention to
laxness in proper speaking, cltlng
many examples of common errors IN
grammar and stating that it is as well
to have correct habits of speech as
other correct habits.
"There is another criticism ! want
to make" he said as he continued.
During the last 25 years N Amerl-
Gus no less than 6, or 8 banking es-
tablishments have gone under. That
means that while Won have had
banks. YOU haven't had them heartily
Won haven't given them proper SUD
port and you haven't given them the
proper support and made their inter
ests YOUR interests to the extent thai
what did happen repeatedly coulC
not have happened repeatedly.
m. c. A. Went Under.
"Apain once we had a Y. NJ. c. A
here, but we didn't go into it heartily
We erected a beautiful building ant
there it stands today, with the name:
of men before me now on the cor
nerstone. We have this institution
of good which should have mean
much to the young men of the com
munity. but we didn't put our heart
into it and use it, but played with it
not in the sense meant in connection
with an institution of this kind, ant
~ hos o0Oa under
eve clergymen and we churcf
people are all too apt to play witt
religion and not put our hearts reall!
into it. But right here L want tt
congratulate she congregation OF
this church for the success of the
church picnic held yesterday fol
+bev nut their hearts into it anc
made it the kind of a success i
should have been. But as & rule we
do not exercise our religion with 8
zest that shows our hearts are in 1t
"We have an example Of the re
suits of this right before our doors
within the last two weeks a fou
murder has occurred in our commun-
itv. 1t was a sad, sad thing
niarlv sad for the man i'll the case
hotb in his life and his death. But
friends, what did you do to better
the conditions of the life of that man
and others like him? | knew him per
sonally; | knew where his store was
hut | and the others of you did moth
ING to make him better and better
the conditions surrounding him.
"I am now criticizing myself ano
Continued On Page Two.)