HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1967-02-23, Page 4A welcome approach
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SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
Member: C.W,N.A., O.W.N.A., C.C.N.R. and ABC
Publishers: J. M. Southcott, R. M. Southcott
Editor: Bill Batten
Advertising Manager: Howie Wright
Phone 235-1331
THE CANADIAN COUNCIL OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS
ONE OF A SERIES
OF CENTENNIAL REPORTS
Sparkin' school
in Zion area
Under the leadership of Dr. R. W.
Read, the management committee at
SHDHS have taken steps to overcome
one of the major criticisms tossed at
the local high school board; that of not
attempting to keep abreast of the edu-
cation process which they are attempt-
ing to administer.
The fact that boards in the past
have failed to keep abreast of changes
in education is not difficult to under-
stand because it is almost an impos-
sible task in view of the multitude of
changes and advances being made. The
degree of specialization now being in-
stituted probably makes it difficult for
even the hierarchy in the department
of education to keep informed of what
each segment is doing.
However, this does not serve as
ample excuse for any school board
members abdicating their responsibility
of at least making an attempt to be-
come knowledgeable of what was tak-
ing place in their areas of responsibil-
ity, and we commend Dr. Read and his
committee for taking steps to meet this
challenge.
Their method of doing it is also
worthy of support, in that they met
with the heads of the various depart-
ments at the local school to hear first
hand what each of those departments
is accomplishing—or attempting to ac-
complish.
The fact that Dr. Read reports the
board came in for "some bouquets and
some brickbats" from the department
heads, also suggests they took some
time to discuss topics relating to the
board's past and present administration
of education.
These talks represent a refreshing
change in attitude of the board, who
over the years have been more con-
cerned with the manner in which the
floors were to be swept, additions to
be built, drapes to be hung and other
such interests that, while important
and necessary, were only a small por-
tion of the business on which boards
should deliberate.
Boards in the past have received
poor ratings over their relationship
with the teachers, and informal and
periodic meetings of this type recently
held, should help overcome this weak-
ness, Teachers, and especially depart-
ment heads, should not be placed in
the position of being nonentities that
appeared real only at salary negotiation
time or when requests for supplies or
other business bore their names.
There's no doubt that many of the
members of the teaching staff have val-
uable contributions to be made to the
education of area students, and while
this is done through their work and
their staff meetings, no doubt board
members could benefit from their opin-
ions as well.
Dr. Read explained to board mem-
bers that the meetings of his commit-
tee have provided benefits for all in-
volved and were a "real education" for
the committee.
His suggestion that such meetings
between all board committees and the
teachers be held half yearly deserves
consideration on the basis of the value
that can be derived for the betterment
of education and communications be-
tween the groups.
them staying all night. At 5 am
Old Dobbin was returned but
almost too fatigued to make the
trip home.
When there was no service at
their own church, young folk
frequently drove to Woodham to
attend worship Sunday evening.
Sunday School libraries
brought entertainment through
reading. Books were exchanged
from time to time. Mrs, Kyle
showed us one book which was
inscribed "The Eldad Sabbath
School, 1870". Later it had been
passed on to "ZionS.S. Usborne''.
Their Sunday School tea and
picnic held in June of each year,
in the bush, was looked forward
to with much anticipation, and was
a real gala day.
Perhaps the really "big event"
of the year was Exeter Fair,
when young and old, came, not
only to view the exhibits but to
meet and have a visit with rela-
tives and friends, whom they
had not seen for many months.
The introduction of the tele-
phone in rural areas became a
great asset. In 1905, Winchelsea
Store (then owned by the late J. G.
Jones) and William (Jones) Brock,
who lived three miles south had
phones installed. Later, all
homes between Winchelsea and
Whalen had them, and for a time,
all were on one party line.
The coming of the car and
hydro made a great change in
rural living. The Kyles had their
first car in 1917.
What I have written I believe
gives us a true picture of the
development of rural C anad a,
everywhere.
May we always honor and
revere the men and women who
did so much in building this
great country of ours. Still requires PR job The same in every religion
LETTERS TTA EDITOR Any area residents not re-assured
by the words of the Hon. C. S. Mac-
Naughton regarding the disposition of
CFB Centralia have to be considered
hopeless pessimists.
While success can not be assured
through hopeful words or exploratory
actions, "Charlie" is obviously giving
this important matter his full attention,
although his mammoth task of bringing
down last week's budget would have
provided ample reason for otherwise.
However favorable the statement
from Mr. MacNaughton, it no way sug-
gests that area officials and residents
should sit back complacent in the know-
ledge that things appear to be in good
hands.
Dear Editor:
I would like to thank you, on
behalf of our James Street
United Church CGIT for show-
ing us through The Times-
Advocate.
It was very interesting and
we all enjoyed it very much.
Yours sincerely,
Gail Shipman.
By R. E. POOLEY
Centennial Committee, Chairman
In the south-east part of Us-
borne, you will find many de-
scendants of pioneer families —
still farming the same land which
their great great-grandfathers
farmed.
I have known some of these
families for five generations.
In 1912 when I first came to
visit my uncle, Jack Batten, I
found that I had dropped in on a
community of Devonshire people
with such family names as: An-
drews, Batten, Brock, Cornish,
Delbridge, Earl, Gorvett, Hern,
Horn, Heywood, Johns, Jaques,
Miners, Skinner, Taylor and oth-
ers.
Many descendants of these still
live in the area — some in Exeter.
When I first planned to write
a little about the people around
Zion, I had in mind a short
interview with Mr. Ephriam Hern
of Zion, and his sister, Louisa,
Mrs. H. Kyle of Exeter whose
great-grandfather Thomas Hern,
came from Devonshire in 1852.
Unfortunately, Mr. Hern is not
at this time well enough to be
interviewed so, we have just a few
of Mrs. Kyle's reminiscences.
There was no organized sports
or entertainment for young people
in the 1880s. However, they had
good times.
No one waited for an invitation
to visit their neighbours, but just
"dropped in" any evening for
games and lunch. Their mothers
did the same during the day.
Then there was the weekly
meeting of the "Epworth League"
when frequently their Church
would be three-quarters full of
young folks.
Some of the older people of
the community frowned on this
mid-week meeting and called it
"nothin' but a sparkin' school";
but in reality, it filled a need
in the lives of young adults at
this time, when most activities
centred around their church.
The Epworth League held an
annual convention. On one of
these occasions Louisa and her
boy friend (who later became
her husband) drove to Hensall
and put the horse in the Hotel
stables.
When ready for home they found
their horse had been given to
some one else to go — they knew
not where. This necessitated
If parties are showing an interest
in Centralia, it would indicate they are
conducting exploratory visits to this
area to seek information pertaining to
services and labor supplies available,
as well as the type of citizen with
whom they would be associating if they
did move here.
This opens public relations possi-
bilities for all officials and individuals.
Such a small thing as a welcome smile
to a stranger on the street may pay
bigger dividends than what we could
imagine.
Our hard-working MPP has given
us ample reason to be reassured —
let's display it.
A project for everyone
If you happen to be one of
those persons who insists on
sitting on your seat belt rather
than wearing it, the following in-
formation may be of some inter-
est.
In several recent traffic ac-
cident liability suits in the U,S. A. ,
the chance to recover damages
has been lost, or at least dimin-
ished, because the victim had a
seat belt available but did not
use it.
The Ontario Safety League
reports that one judge said: "Ac-
cording to the law, new cars sold
must have seat belts. It must
follow that the legislature intend-
ed that those belts be used".
If this becomes an established
factor in assessing liability
claims, many drivers and pass-
engers who refuse to wear seat
belts to protect their lives, may
buckle up to protect their pocket
books.
Readers may recall that in the
past few months we've mentioned
Everyone should have a personal
project with which to celebrate the
100th birthday of our country.
It is fine to decide to paint the
fence, plant new flowers and mow the
lawn more regularly. Such manifesta-
tions of personal pride help to make
a more attractive community. Better-
looking communities make a lovelier
Canada and reflect the advances in ma-
terial wellbeing that have taken place
in this most blessed among nations.
When a country has reached its
100th birthday it is still young, but the
century should have resulted in spirit-
ual as well as material growth. The
hard days of the pioneer have passed.
There should be more time for things
of the heart and the mind as the need
for concern about the physical neces-
sities for existence lessens.
Canada, as a nation, is paying at-
tention to such things. Each year our
people through their elected govern-
ments are showing an increasing deter-
mination to ensure the comfort of our
elderly, to guarantee treatment for the
sick and the best of educations for our
young. There is help for those who fall
upon hard times. Canada is sending
more of its bounty abroad to far-away
peoples who need help to build a better
future as well as requiring food to
avert immediate privation.
All these things are good, for they
indicate a growing awareness of the
basic. brotherhood of man, But in such
matters governments reflect only the
qualities of their own peoples, Further
shamefully meager achievement
in this regard.
One of the most interesting
pieces of information supplied
by the Canadian Council of Chris-
tian and Jews is a reprint of
statements contained in the
world's eight major religions.
These religions have two and
one-half billion followers, repre-
senting three-quarters of the
world's population.
These are as follows:
Brahmanism — "This is the
sum of duty; do naught unto others
which would cause pain if done
unto you,"
Buddhism— "Hurt not others
in ways that you yourself would
find hurtful."
Judaism— "What is hateful to
you, do not to your fellow man.
That is the entire law, all the
rest is commentary."
Confucianism—"There is one
maxim of loving kindness: do
not unto others what you would
not have them do unto you."
Taoism--"Regard your neigh-
bor's gain as your own gain,
and your neighbor's loss as your
own loss."
Zoroastrianism — "That na-
ture alone is good which refrains
from doing unto another whatso-
ever is not good for itself."
Christianity—"All things
whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so
to them; for this is the law and
the prophets."
Islam — "No one of you is a
believer until he desires for his
brother that which he desires
for himself."
While the beliefs of most peo-
ple suggest that brotherhood
should be in practice each day,
the state of world events proves
otherwise, pointing out very em-
phatically the need for a week to
draw attention to a re-dedication
of our responsibility of giving
to others the rights and respect
we want for ourselves.
Who needs Brotherhood Week?
We do!
the topic of fluoridation in the
hope of stirring up some interest
in having Exeter's water supply
treated with this decay-fighting
additive.
To date, we've received en-
couragement from only two or
three people — one of them being
a local dentist.
This response does not indicate
very strong support for such a
venture here, although most
medical and dental associations
strongly recommend the use of
fluoridation.
Our interest was sparked last
summer when Dr. R. M. Aldis,
Huron's former Medical Health
Officer, advised that "Exeter
very definitely needs fluorida-
tion".
He predicted it would reduce
tooth decay by as much as two-
thirds at a cost of only 15 to
20 cents per capita per year.
Other sources have noted that
the average cost of having one
cavity filled would fluoridate
water in a community water sup-
ply for an individual for about 50
years.
In view of the benefits predict-
ed by Dr. Aldis, it is difficult
to understand why parents in this
community appear so disinter-
ested in such a project. Surely
some must be concerned.
If so, we'd certainly welcome
some letters to the editor in an
effort to get a campaign rolling
to provide this valuable pro-
tection to local youngsters.
The Canadian Council of Chris-
tians and Jews, who sponsor
Brotherhood Week, will be the
first to admit that seven days of
glad-handing, back-slapping and
sloganeering fail to meet our
human relations needs.
However, they point out that
the period from February 19 to
26 is set aside as Brotherhood
Week to serve as a time of self-
evaluation, community audit and
resolution to practice brother-
hood throughout the year.
Such reflection is vital, for
if we are ever to look back on
the past with pride, then we must
first face up to a present of
MERM.F.MERINESISHATA, :
progress must originate with the indi-
vidual.
Therefore, it would be a most ap-
propriate birthday gift for Canada if
every citizen in this country were to
resolve to do something to promote the
spirit of brotherhood. And Brotherhood
Week is a significant time to make
such a resolve.
Ah yes, our government is acting
to place curbs on hate literature and
punish those who stir up animosity
against peoples of different races,
creeds and colors. But, in the main,
this is negative. Suppressing hate is
one thing; the fostering of a warm, out-
going feeling of brotherhood for every
human being regardless of his origin
is a much more rewarding and, per-
haps, a much more difficult undertak-
ing.
Let every Canadian decide that in
this Centennial of our wonderful coun-
try he is going to be worthy of its heri-
tage and its promise that he will do
this by consciously striving to over-
come his prejudices and cast around
for some way to befriend others — and
this Centennial birthday will be the
most glorious that Canada has ever
had.
Old times
50 YEARS AGO
Now that Uncle Sam talks war
with Germany please tell us
where those young men will go
who crossed the border to evade
enlisting.
Mr. and Mrs. Milne Rannie,
who have led the service of praise
for a number of years in Carmel
Presbyterian church, the former
as leader of the choir and the
latter as organist, have resigned.
Messrs Wilbur Hunter and A.
E. Andrew each shipped a car-
load of settlers' effects to the
West on Monday. The men expect
to leave Thursday.
Mr. Thomas Harvey was at
Crediton Sunday morning con-
ducting the services in the Meth-
odist church.
As a good Canadian, can you de-
cline to undertake this project?
(The preceding Brotherhood Week
editorial was prepared by Marsh Yar-
row, Port Arthur News Chronicle, for
the Canadian Council of Christians and
Jews.)
SIMINSTAMMODSOMENAMINMINtb
25 YEARS AGO
Dr. and Mrs. I. G, Smillie
left for Toronto where they will
spend some time before going
to the West where the doctor has
secured a good position.
An electric "V" for victory
in red has been erected in the
centre of Exeter's Main Street
and shows up prominently at
night.
The women of the Uniformed
Men's Committee of the War
Time Board are this week pack-
ing parcels to be sent to the
boys overseas. This is being
done four times a year.
W. H. Oestricher of Stephen
was appointed president of the
Perth-Huron Shorthorn Club at
the annual meeting in Clinton.
of the time it smelled dusty,
waxy, and cigar-smokey and just
plain old. But on court days it
stank: hangover s, puke, fear,
shame, curiosity and the law.
But that was only one part of
the old town hall, Across from
the council chamber was the
auditorium. And what memories
that brings back. Concerts, plays,
recital s, dances and political
meetings. It even had a balcony
where elderly ladies could watch
the Sailors Farewell Dance in
comparative safety.
Our children made their pub-
lic debuts there. I'll never for-
get the night Kim, age three,
dressed in a bunny costume,
spotted me in the audience, burst
out of the dance line, and hurled
herself into my arms.
Or the night Hugh, about nine,
won the grand prize in the music
festival, even though two of the
notes on the piano did not sound.
Or the night I was an unwit-
ting sucker in an elaborate prac-
tical joke, at a concert. I was to
pretend I was playing a trumpet
solo, while a real trumpeter '
played the piece off-stage. He
double-crossed me. Warned the
audience what was going to hap-
pen, and when I went into my
routine, no sound. Felt a fool.
Or the nights the old girl and
I stumbled through our lines with
the local little-theatre group. Or
the great New Year's Eve dances
when the whole town was out,
flying. Got a sock in the eye at
one of them when I Auld-Lang-
Syned a pretty young matron in
the usual fashion. Not from her.
From my wife.
Town halls, those great, ugly,
draughty chapters in our histo-
ry, are burning down, falling
down or being torn down. They
are being replaced by modern,
efficient "municipal offices,"
which have about as much tra-
dition, humanity and warmth as
a filing cabinet.
00,1,01AINI tvitm
Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ont.
Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dep't, Ottawa,
and for Payment of Postage in Cash
Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1966, 4,427
15 YEARS AGO
A $900,000 building program
for RCAF Centralia was an-
nounced Wednesday to include
a central heating plant, new
ground instruction school and
road surfacing.
A new bingo blower was used
for the first time at the Exeter
Legion bingo Friday night at-
tended by over 200. Proceeds
are for South Huron Hospital.
ReV. James Anthony, retired
Minister and writer for London
free PreSS and Eiteter Tithes-
Advocate died at his home, in
Exeter Saturday.
H. X. Eilber, Crediton, re-
signed as secretary of flay Town-
Ship Farmers' Mutual Fire In-
- Please turn to page 5
"Would you mind repeating
my question? I ye forgotten:
what I asked,"
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $5.00 Per 'Year; USA $7.00
-WSW roma
It was quite a blow to me to
read recently that the Marton
Town Hall had been destroyed
by fire. Admittedly, the catas-
trophe didn't rank with Hirosh-
ima, or the San Francisco earth-
quake, or even Hurricane Hazel,
but it hit me pretty hard.
It was rather like reading of
the sudden death of an old girl
friend. You knew she had gone
to fat and drink. But you could
remember when, at her best,
she was the heart of your life.
A lot of personal memories
came crowding back when I read
about it. That ugly old building
with the shaky bell tower on top
was one of the hubs of my ex-
istence for more than a decade
at a special time in my life.
It was when I was young and
my family was young and I was
learning the newspaper business.
I didn't have a mistress. I didn't
hang around the pubs. I didn't
take part in all-night poker ses-
sions. I just went to the town
hall. I spent more nights in its
council chamber, crouched over
the rickety press table, than I
did with my family.
On more than one occasion,
my spouse, a tender young wife
and mother, displayed psychon-
eurotic tendencies toward the old
town hall. At least twice she
suggested I move a cot into the
council chambers, and not bother
darkening her bedroom door.
I'll bet I attended more than
a thousand meetings in that town
hall. It was the only non-denom-
inational meeting-place in town,
and it was there that great causes
were launched and collapsed; that
political careers were begun and
ended; that human triumphs and
tragedies were recorded. And
I was in on all of it.
It was a regular breeding-
ground for lost causes and last-
ditch battles. We fought such
behemoths as the CNR and the
government; we lost. We bat-
tied to salvage moribund indus-
tries with heavy transfusions of
local cash; and some of us are
still anemic.
But a lot of good, positive
work was done there, too. The
commercial fishermen, the far-
mers, the resort owners and the
merchants met there, fought with
each other, but -emerged, united
in each case, to fight for their
existence, and the betterment of
the area.
Another function of the council
Chamber was that of court-room.
This was one that I didn't Mind
seeing go up in smoke. It's the
only time the council chamber
smelled bad-on court day. Most