The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-12-12
POPULAR ELECTION
OF JUDGES SCORED
GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVEN-
TON CONSIDERED A NUM-
Der OF PUBLIC MATTERS.

A lively and prolonged discussion
was provoked in the Georgia Baptist
convention Thursday when the report
OF the social service commission was
read by the Rev. l.. A. Henderson,
of Columbus.
The paragraph that provoked the
discussion, and which was unsuccess-
fully sought to be amended, is as toi-
lows:
1T might be observed in passing
however, that this menace to justice
will obtain just 50 long as court Oh
6cials are subjected to the temptation
OF becoming petty politicians. The
system OF electing judges and sohci--
tors by popular vote is wrong and
ought to be changed"
The Rev. Josiah Crudup, OF Dalton,
led the fight to have this report
amended by dropping this clause. 9th
er speakers on this question were the
Rev. L. A. Henderson, the Rev. Wade
II. Parks, OF Gainesville, and DIR. l..
G.. Hardman, OF Commerce Mr.. Crud-
up declared he was still willing to
trust the people to elect their own
officials.
MIR. Henderson stated that his faith
err introduced in the Georgia leglsla-
ture the bill providing Tor the election
of Judges by the people, but that he
had never agreed with his father IN
this matter.
DR.. Hardman, who was the author
OF the old Georgia prohibition law,
addressed his remarks to that part OF
the report dealing with the ProhiDi-
ton law and its enforcement. lie de-
clared that the man who does not lend
his influence and efforts to law en-
forcement is taking sides with law
breakers. He further said that he, per
sonally, did not favor PROHIBITION, but
abolition OF the liquor traffic. lie de-
clared that the prohibition law should
be enforced without regard to class
or color or station in lite.
The vote on amending the report
of the social service commission was
close 81 voting for the amendment
and 90 against.
Touches Live Issues.
This report was quite lengthy and
deals in no uncertain manner with
MANY live issues OF the day as will
be seen by noting the following eX-
tracts from the report itself:
Our social outlook is anything but
promising. Marriage is hardly any
longer regarded as a divine nsutu-
ton. Divorce courts are now sanction
ed and patronized not only by men
of the world but by members OF the
church. There is still open rebellion
against constituted authority and the
laws of the land and OF God
Under the head of law emf, rcenent
this report has the following to say:
The guns OF the enemies OF con
stituted authority seem now, as al
ways, 1eveled at the prohibition law.
When it is enforced the radating cen
ter Of all lawlessness is disturbed. An
archy finds here its most trusted COM
panon, for all lawlessness is anarchy.
The first business OF the church Is to
support the law"
The following is said with refer
ence to mob violence:
THE perpetuity OF free institutions
is conditioned upon obedience to law
and proper respect Tor constituted au-
thOritv The most barbarOus, heathen-
ish and un-Christian form OF laWless-
ness with which we have to deal IS
lynching or mob violence 1t is can
Ger in our body polite, and a disgrace
to our Christian civilization. How any
man can muster up enough audaclty
to claim Christianity and join mob
and assist or even approve the muir
derously taking away OF human life,
no matter on what pretense or rea-
son. is incomprehensible and prepOs-
terousl
Dutv of Church.
The Christian church, surely our
own. must sound the death knell to
anarchy in all its forms; but more es-
peCially when band of men arrOgate
to themselves the right to become
government court, Jury, witnesses and
thus proceed to commit murder. 1t is
diabolcal 1t is hellish. 1t puts gov
ernments society, the church at the
mercy of the hob goblins of the I'M
derworld. We must admit of no ex-
ceptions There are none. When we
admit Of an exception we have planted
the seed which will, on slight provo
cation, ripen into a mob"
The convention held its annual SEES
sion in Atlanta last week
It was the one hundred and first
session. the first meeting been held at
Powelton, June u, 1922. The largest
religious body in the state, with a
membership OF over 100000, the con-
vention is composed of 1000 churches
cxpending nearly $4000000 annually
for domestic ard foreign purposes.
DENGUE FEVER IN DAWSON.