Southeast
Essays by speakers from the Southeast region of the United States.
Florida
Andrews, Mae E.
Editor and broadcaster Mae E. Andrews describes how her faith in God sustained her during the death of her sister from cancer.
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Dreier, Thomas
Author and lecturer Thomas Dreier describes how his belief in a loving God too big to be contained by labels helps support his beliefs in religious tolerance and in the importance of demonstrating God’s existence through a life of loving service.
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Frank, Pat, 1907-1964
Author and journalist Pat Frank describes his experiences as a war correspondent with Edward R. Murrow during World War II; explains how his interactions with Germans, Japanese, and Italians give him hope that people share a fundamental humanity; and notes that the chance to watch history unfold is a great opportunity and responsibility, despite the uncertainty of the era.
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Jordan, Lloyd
Aircraft pilot Lloyd Jordan explains why he believes man is imperishable and describes the importance of children to peace and happiness in the future.
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Spidell, Rosalie
Rosalie Spidell, secretary in the Florida Public Schools, describes her “creed of un-important people”: her beliefs in unseen realities and the afterlife, her conviction that virtue isn’t dead, her certainty in a religion she has practiced since childhood, and her description of simple pleasures and joys that have enriched her everyday life.
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Georgia
Gotesky, Rubin, 1906-
Rubin Gotesky, Polish-born Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Georgia, relates an experience of feeling part of yet aloof from the universe, and describes his belief that though isolation is an essential part of the self, his actions do matter and can help to change the world.
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White, Goodrich C. (Goodrich Cook), b. 1889
Goodrich White, President of Emory University, describes the death of his son, and the immense grief of his wife, and his subsequent struggle with doubt and ultimate belief in God and life after death.
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Kentucky
Bingham, Barry, 1906-1988
Radio, television and newspaper owner Barry Bingham explains the effect that war had on his upbringing and how contemplation while in the Pacific Islands led him to the awareness that he must work to the best of his ability to earn and deserve God’s Friendship, as must all people.
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Bottigheimer, Katherine Hoenig, 1906-2001
Homemaker Katherine Bottigheimer remembers an encounter with her elderly cousin Theresa and the consequent philosophy she unconsciously developed as a result: the value of hard work for the betterment of others.
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Dawson, Osceola Aleese
Osceola Dawson, an African American teacher and civic leader, describes her beliefs in the fatherhood of God, the brotherhood and equality of humanity, the Bible as the “infallible guide to conduct,” and the home as “the foundation of society.”
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Gaither, Gant, 1884-1968
Surgeon Gant Gaither describes his belief in his responsibility to serve God and others, his love for the underdog, and his responsibility to always do his best.
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Guard, Samuel R., 1889-1966
Samuel Guard, editor of Breeder’s Gazette, tells the story of a young boy becoming an excellent farmer through dedication and faith in himself, a capability that Samuel Guard says lies within everyone.
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McAlpin, Harry S.
Harry McAlpin, a journalist and lawyer, describes his belief in the importance of justice and equality, and the challenges of living that creed as an African American in America.
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Parrish, Charles Henry, 1899-1989
African American sociologist Charles Parrish, Professor of Sociology at the University of Louisville, remembers his childhood and how his parents shaped his present belief that it is always good to help people and look for the goodness in people.
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Rosenblum, Sidney
Businessman Sidney Rosenblum describes growing up in the only Jewish family in a small town in Tennessee; yet despite differences in religion, his family still found much in common with their community, and he believes in equality and the importance of serving others.
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Schacter, Harry W.
Businessman Harry Schacter describes his belief in fighting for social justice: though one individual might not make a difference, he still has a right to choose the side upon which he fights.
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Schlesinger, Edmond R.
Austrian-born social worker and college professor Edmond Schlesinger describes how World War II damaged his young belief in the essential kindness of humanity, but that he still remains confident that “man can become better.”
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Louisiana
Mickle, Joe J.
Joe Mickle, President of Centenary College, describes his enthusiasm for life and his gratitude for the sacrifices of previous generations, and states his belief that gratitude is linked to action, i.e., that an individual who is grateful lives to please God.
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Wilkes, Frank M.
Businessman Frank Wilkes remembers his mother and the beliefs she imparted to him, such as the dignity of work, the omnipotence of God and the need to follow God’s commandments and leave the consequences to Him.
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North Carolina
Daniels, Jonathan, 1902-1981
Editor and author Johnathan Daniels relates a story from his religious upbringing about the remarkable testimonials told in his religious community and explains that equality of all men before God is what drew him to the Episcopalian Church.
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Jones, David Dallas
David Jones, President of Bennett College, describes his belief in the value of hard work and harmonious relationships in the home, and his belief that there is a providence who provides.
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Jones, Susie Williams, 1892-1984
Homemaker Susie Jones, Registrar of Bennett College, believes spiritual fulfillment comes from attending to the mundane chores of daily life and describes her belief in the fundamental goodness of people and her desire to be one with God.
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South Carolina
Coker, Elizabeth Boatwright
Elizabeth Coker describes how an accident left her face disfigured, and how the process of exerting extra effort in order to overcome her self-consciousness developed in her a love for people, a respect for tolerance, and a joy in laughter.
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Gerschefski, Edwin, 1909-1992
Composer, pianist, and educator Edwin Gerschefski describes how he realized that both his beliefs and compositional style were really the products of other people’s thoughts, and he recounts how he came to discover and listen to his own voice.
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Tennessee
Brown, Ina Corinne
Ina Brown, Professor of Social Anthropology at Scarritt College, summarizes her four basic beliefs; to preserve one’s personal integrity, to refrain from judging others, to persevere in the face of adversity, and to fulfill one’s obligation to work towards a peaceful society.
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Meeman, Edward J. (Edward John), 1889-1966
Edward Meeman, editor of the Memphis Press Scimitar, describes his transition from doubt to belief and how his faith has given him peace and happiness.
Johnson, Charles Spurgeon
Charles Johnson, the President of Fisk University, describes how his great-grandfather’s experience with slavery, his father’s experience as a Baptist minister, and his own college experience in social services have helped to shape his belief that “no man can be justly judged until you’ve looked at the world through his eyes.”
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Sams, Edith E.
Social worker Edith Sams describes how a childhood encounter with a handicapped individual inspired her to enter social work as a career, and states her belief that the efforts of individuals can make an impact on the world.
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Virginia
Andrews, T. Coleman (Thomas Coleman), 1899-1983
Accountant T. Coleman Andrews describes his belief that life is given by God and comes with a “sacred trust” to act with integrity and responsibility, and that we must remember the divinity of life in order to avert catastrophe.
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Boushall, Thomas C.
Businessman and banker Thomas Boushall describes how, despite diagnoses to the contrary, he survived both mastoiditis and tuberculosis, and developed the belief that his life was a gift to be used to serve God and others.
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Hall, G. Leslie
Leslie Hall explains his secret to staying vibrant: living in the present and not worrying.
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Lerew, Gillie A., 1882-1977
Gillie Lerew, mathematician and Academic Dean of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, explains that a deeper understanding of science has given her a deeper sense of faith, a faith based in Christianity and a confidence in the human spirit.
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Locker, W. C.
Teacher and publisher W. C. Locker describes his beliefs in God’s omnipotence, in his own responsibility to live according to God’s plan for his life, and in the role that work plays to make the inner qualities of love visible to others.
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Taylor, Henry P.
Businessman Henry Taylor explains his belief that everything operates based on the principals of certain laws, whether they be natural, physical, social, or religious, and failure to adhere to these laws inevitably results in dysfunction and chaos; and the supreme law would be the law of God.
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West Virginia
Austin, Lou, 1891-1976
Resort owner Lou Austin describes his belief that persons are meant to be in partnership with God, and how it took 40 years of fruitless struggle for him to learn this.
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Everett, John Rutherford, 1918-1992
John R. Everett, President of Hollins College, describes his understanding of the value of dignity and feels that “human dignity” is the birthright of every person and that it is through education that this dignity can be preserved despite the tendency to lose sight of it as one traverses through life.
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Higginbotham, George R.
George Higginbotham, President of Consolidation Coal Company, describes his “principle of kindness” (a resolve to avoid hurting others), his “principle of self-analysis” (a process of self-reflection which determines personal faults and ways in which to overcome them), and his “principle of tolerance” (a belief that because God is compassionate and forgiving, he should be as well).
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Stewart, Irvin, 1899-1990
Irvin Stewart, President of West Virginia University, describes how he believes life resembles a newsreel of a football game: like the camera lens, our perspective is limited to a narrow section of the whole field, even though we are still playing a role in the greater cooperative enterprise.
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