The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1926-06-11
MEEKINS TAKES
UP The CUDCEL
FOR EVOLUTION
Views With Much Alarm The
Fundamentalist Movement
to Shackle Education in
North Carolina

Standing before an audience
composed Of the students, fac
ulty and guests of Wake Forest
College, the seat Of Baptist
education in North Narolina,
Federal Judge Isaac NJ. Meek
ins of Elizabeth City startled
his hearers the other night by
declaring that he viewed with
alarm and aStonishment the ef-
fort being made in North Caro-
Iira to-day to stifle Legitimate
research and shackle the edu-
cational institutions OF the
State.
Judge Meckins' speech was bold
assault upon the Fundamentalists
| of the State. delivered at the glory
seat of Baptist Fundamentalism in
North Carolina. The State papers
had their reporters on hand: they
heard him with open mouths; but
they didn't print what he said.
The occasion was the unveiling
of portrait of DR. William Louis
Potcat. President Of Wake Forest
College and for years the storm
center of a bitter denominatiOnal
fight because of DR.. POteat's adher-
pncp TO the theory of evolution.
Judge Meekins, who made the un-
yelling speech. took advantage OF
the occasion not only to praise DIR.
Poteat but to pay his respects TO
the sinister movement OF lnt0lef-
anrr i'm thp State and TO declare his
stand for scientific research and
educational freedom against the
cohorts of Holy War. Judge Meek
ins said in part:
POteat The CRUSADER.
During the q years he has been
President of Wake Forest College
the fame of the College has spread
abroad. and even In foreign lands it
is recognized as a source or reil'
gion. pure and undefiled. He has
lent To II. and to the denomination,
n dignity and poise IInexcelled by
any educational institution within,
or without. the boundaries OF this
great Commonwealth. At all times,
and at some times under the most
dist tressing circumstances, he has
maihtainc,l himself with dignified
Significance and shown the spirit
OF the Crusader in his love fof this
institution and orr great Baptist
denomination, and his devotion to
Truth. &C. .-t .t .tyr
His critics have not been many
but they have been loud. Single
handed. and alone. he is more than
n match for any number of combi-
nations between theological Black
Georges and Intellectual BlyfilS.
Perhaps his critics do not know
that his mother called him Louie,
his daughter calls him daddy, and
his students call him ID. Billy. You
inst cannot beat a combination like
that. care not how fundamental
you may be.
Towards his critics William Louis
Poieat maintains an attitude OF
sympathy and compassion. lie dc.
plorrs their methods but he loves
them. old LudOvicluS Wives has the
story of a clown who killed his ass
hccatsc he thought ihe animal had
drunk ND the moon and thar the
world could i'll afford to spare that
valuable luminary. The ass had
not drunk up the moon but only
the reflection of the moon in his
POOR water pail. from which he was
drinking with purpose most harm
less / shall not initiate the clown
who was well-intentioned but un-
wise. | shall not he too hard on
faithful servants who have brought
us 50 far.
Ignorance is Dangerous
The ignorant man is, by the We
fact of his ignorance, dangero
pcrson. But when he tries TO
vent excuses for his ignorance a
demands that all who differ fro
him show cause why they shou
lie allowed to live, prOclaimins h.
owal ideas are the ideas Of God al
that he cannot possibly be mistaken
he becomes q holy terror. People
who resent the fact that they were
born in a world Of mammals should
not get angry at the suggestion.
They might as well fight against the
habits Of parallel lines or the re-
suits of the tables of multiplication,
or try to dash back Niagara with
dew drop.
"Hendrick Van Loon says that
early in the year AZ of our own era
something happened. A small YES
sci left Phoenicia for the city OF
Perga. the starting point for the
: overland route to Europe. Among
the passengers were two men IUc
overbrlrdened with luggage. Hh.ir
rames were Paul and Ba. uatls.
,(r,,t;p,o.t NJ nao6 -