The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-04
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
FAMILY REUNIONS

The people Of this section in which we are living
are keeping I'D the good, od-fashOned custom OF
having family reunions.
The South it seems. more than any other section
of the country has kept its stock higher level
of pure American citizens. North Carolina was
among the first states to become settled after the
discovery of the continent by Columbus Certain
sections of it settled by families who hav"
stayed together and raised progeny i'll whom pa
trotc ideals have been nStilled. The regular fam
ily reunions are Of the factors that help I"
keep the American ideals alive in the hearts of the
natives
There is a great deal Of good which can come of
the annual get-togetherS. 1t endears home life
which has been called the bulwark of Amerlcanlsm.
1t creates pride in ancestry and the family name
1t instllS respect for the elders by causing reeog
milton of the heads Of the families. BY holding the
families together in this way, the young people are
taught to appreciate the family which means
great deal in governing their conduct They
would hesitate TO bring disgrace upon name when
they hid learned to respect
Some of the families who are holding on to the
custom of having regular reunions have business
like organizations to perpetuate the family trees.
They make Il study of the history of the several
branches and keep records Of all births deaths and
marriages in the connection
The genuine American young people are drawn
together by attending these family gatherings,
MANY romanceS are created i'm this manner. 1t
helps to keep out the foreign element, and to keep
the stock purely American.
The family reunions in this section should have
a good moral effect upon the younger generations
who attend them. The original settlers came here
to escape religious persecution. In other words
they came to retain their right to worship God III
their own way. This religious spirit has remained
in their hearts from generation to another ever
since The family reunions help to keep the desire
fervent.
Loyalty to family and church and country which
is cultivated by the family reunions should have a
tendnecy also to discourage narrow mmdednesS,
sefshness and bgotry. While the families are be-
ing taught love for their own rights to worship as
they desire. they also should be taught tolerance
for other people who belong to other denomna-
tons That is the Golden Rule and true American
ISM BY this standard alone can we maintain Lib
erty and Freedom.
Love for one another is encouraged by the happy
gatherings under the family name. Feuds are dis
cOuraged between clans that are connected by lam
lily ties.
When these family reunions are held 1t Is
strengthening thought that either the community,
church. or the original family homestead is the
center upon which they gather.
When families stick together in wholesome at
lection such Us is demonstrated by the annual at
fairs that are customary here, there is very little
chance of any of its members names being found
upon the rosters of our penal institutions.
We think it would be we'll for more families 20
become interested in organizing family historical
societies and having regular gatherings to keep
alive the pride for family names IN the hearts OF
the coming generations who to be drifting
away from the idea that ancestry counts for some
thing in their own lives-MariOn Progress.