Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-10-18
JACOBS ABANDONS
PLANS To REMOVE
OCLETHORPE' BODY
University Head Declares
Part of Mission Accom-
pIished in Discovery of
Resting Place of Founder

ciated Press. i'm Difference to Eng
lish sentiment, DR.. Thornwen ia
cobs has decided to withdraw the
request Of Oglethorpe university
that Inc body of General James E.
Oglethorpe, founder of Georgia, be
transferred tc the proposed shrine
on the campus of the university in
Atlanta.
DR.. Jacobs, in announcing his
decision. asked that this statement
be transmitted to America:
1.-THE purpose of our request was
two-fold:
First, that the grave of our
founder, the exact location of which
had actually been forgotten in Eng
land. might be made center of in
struction for our youth in the great
principles upon which General Ogie-
thorpe founded our community. thus
serving as holy SANCTUARY OF Geor-
gia patriotism.
1.-THE second purpose was our de-
sire to make him and his sacred
memory an eternal tie of good will
between England and America.
ct is this last purpose that seems
at present impossible of realization.
AS to the first, it is already parity
accomplished. We now know where
oelethorpe is buried definitely, and
by the gracious courtesies OF the
English people Oglethorpe unlVer-
sitv will endeavor to see that MS
grave is forever remembered"
ALSO if the little church at Gran
ham will permit us to do So we
shall endeavor in the future to sho"
II and its rector what the love OF
millions of Georgians means for their
kindly sentiment and unanimous ap-
proyal. They will never be forgotten
in Georgia.
ST take this opportunity of thank
ing the English friends of our 2lan'
including many members OF the
Oglethorpe family, and Of assuring
them that an enterprise lndorseu
for the Georgians capital city by
its mayor, for the state by its gov
ernor and transmitted through the
state department. in Washington
could have had only one actuatlnS
notlye--that of the deepest love ana
affectfon for r1es ofgotten founder
of Georgia to whom after a lapse OF
two centuries England has raised no
monument"
DR.. Jacobs expressed the intention
of returning to the United States I'M
mediately.
1t is learned that DR.. Jacobs was
advised by the Rev. Leslie Wright,
rector of Grammar church, to aban-
don his plan in view Of the grow
ing opposition to the removal of the
body. Dr.. Jacobs also undoubtedly
was influenced by the strong opposI-
ton of the English newspapers and
the action of descendant of Ogle-
thorpe in appealing to the king to
protect the ashes of his ancestor.
Further, it was feared that if the
project were prosecuted to the end
it might embarrass the state Ge-
partment at Washington.
The vault containing the bodies of
General Oglethorpe and his wife will
be resealed Immediately and the floor
of the church replaced.
Referring to the protest made by
the Episcopal bishop of Georgia to
11e archbishop of Canterbury
against the removal of General
usiethorpe's body. the London
Times says today: This should
grove the end Of the project"
The Times, hitherto. has ex-
crossed, no opinion regarding the
transfer OF the generals body to
America, but in its editorial this
morning makes an emphatic protest
against such a step.
CITY COUNCIL ENDORSES
EFFORTS OF DIR. JACOBS
Endorsement of the efforts Of DR.
Thornwen Jacobs, president OF OgAe
thorpe university, to remove the re-
mains OF General Oglethorpe from
England to a shrine at the In3
veristy here, was unanimously
voted Monday afternoon by city
council. Alderman w. B. Harris
field introduced a resolution giving
DIR. Jacobs o vote of approval from
the Atlanta council.
EDGAR WATKINS PRAISES
DIR. JACOBS FOR ACTION
Edgar Watkins, well-known At
ianta attorney and president of the
board of trustee-founders of Ogle
thorpe university, on receiving
cable Tuesday from DR.. Thornwel
Jacobs that he had withdrawn his
request to be permitted to remove
the bodies of General Oglethorpe anC
his wife to the university campus, is
HI oh h n
pressed great respect for DR.. Jacobs
reverence in withdrawing the re
quest rather than be the cause of
controversy over the removal.
Mr.. Watkins statement follows:
"Dr. Jacobs cables this morning
that he has withdrawn the reQueS
OF Oglethorpe university to be per
mitted to remove the bodies of Gen
eral OgIethorpe and his wife to thu
university campus.
This action was made necessary
by the fact that an unseemly con
troversy had arisen and DR.. Jacobs
reverence for the memory of the
great founder OF our state is Sucf
that he preferred to withdraw the
application rather than be the occa
sion of such a controversy.
"a great purpose would have beer
served could the body of Oglethorpt
have been placed on Georgia soil ant
on the campus of Il university bear
ing his name. Closer sympathy be
tween America and England would
have been promoted, and shrine
ut which patriotic Georgians would
have reVerently paid tribute would
have been established.
1.-THE great idea was conceived by
DR.. Jacobs more than a year ago
and he has quietly and reverentl1
pursued il. That he has withdraw
the application but proves his great
ness and his reverence for the grea
dead. All honor to DR.. Jacobs FOL
he magnificent vision and also FOL
foregoing it rather than to be the
innocent occasion of controvers!