Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-02-06
MASSEY PAYS ORAL
TRIBUTE TO NATIONS
BEL Owed CHEF TAIN
Calls Wilson incompatible
Leader Of Forces During
Recent World War
WAS CHILD OF DESTINY
Interprets Attitude Of Berlin AS
'Unintended Tribute to Cen
Jus of MasterfUl Man

Americas and sumter county
citizens paid solemn tribute to the
memory of Woodrow Wilson, form
or president of the nited States, in
the holding Of appropriate exerz
cises in the Rylander Theater here
this afternoon. Every class ana
creed was Represented among those
assembled there to give expression
to the nations grief at the passing
of the man who has been SO frequent
ly called the greatest friend of hui
manity the world has ever known, :
and never before in the history Of
this community has been more gem
eral expressions Of regret occasion,
ed by the death Of any statesman
Seated upon the stage were mini
sters representing every organized
congregation here, with the exercise
in charge Of John D. Mathis Post,
American Legion, at the suggestion
OF Mayor J.. Elmore Poole, who
Tuesday issued his proclamation
calling upon all patriotic citizens to
assemble together and participate in
the memorial exercises. The prin-
.cipal speaker at the exercises was
Rev. Milo H. Massey, pastor Of
Central Baptist churer, who paid
tribute to the geniug and states
manshipg of President Wilson, re-
viewing his achievements during the
momentous period that will forever
associate his name with those Of the
immortals in history. During his
discourse, Mr.. Massey spoke as fol-
lows:
"Only a little while ago. an
audience composed largely of per-
sons who are present now, met in
this hall to pay solemn recognition
to The death of our late chief execu-
tive, Mr.. Harding, and noble and
worthy tribute was paid to his men,
DRY by his PERSONAL friend, Hon.
Charles R. Crisp member of con-
gress from our own district.
we are called together here,
today, to give expression to our
deep sense Of the loss to America
and to the world in the death
Of Hon. Woodrow Wilson, ex-presi-
dent Of the United States, who, on
last Sunday morning at 11:15, at
his home in Washington, D. c..
breathed his last. 1t is a signifi-
cant fact that, as, at this season.
the houses of congress are in SEES
sion in Washington amid the clash
and turmoil Of debate and disputa-
ton in our legislative halls, a
temporary truce was called in Or
der to note, with solemnity, the
departure Of this notable and
majestic figure from the drama Of
earth's conflicts upon his vast and
silent joruneys to Eternity. We here,
today, could. not, for the time, be
better occupied We have an op-
portunity, as we are called upon to
do, to pay our tribute of affection
and respect to our -former presi-
dent, the Incompatible leader of
our forces in the late World War.
AT the same time there is brought
to the understanding and vision of
each and all Of us The insecurity
and uncertainty of life and the
fact that there, is no escape for
mortal man, be he great or small
king or peasant, from the inexor-
able law Of death.
ut would be presumption on our
part to attempt to offer an ade-
quate and final appraisement Of
Mr.. Wilson'S worth to the world. III
testimony of the universal sense Of
the loss sustained. every embassy
and legation in Washington, ex-
cept the German embassy, has held
its flag at half-mast since official
notification on Sunday of Mr.. viii
sons death. The failure OF the
Berlin government to make any Of
fetal display of mourning is an
unintended &ribute to his master
full resistance Of their imperialistic
designs.
As we mark the course of this
great man from the beginning to the