Temperance Report, 1918

From the Minutes of the Carrollton Baptist Association, 1918, in the report of the Temperance Committee:

"Usually our reports on Temperance are confined to strong drink, but the Bible teaches temperance in all things. We are glad to report much improvement in prohibition, thanks to our sheriff for his dilligence. We are intemperate in drinking, eating, talking, the use of coffee and tobacco. We should bridle our tongues. Paul says, 'Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things,' and that temperance is 'the fruit of the Spirit.'"

"We recommend to the churches of the Carrollton Association that they urge their members to abstain from intemperance in soft drinks, tobacco and in speech."

The Good Ol' Days?

A recent search for information on corporal punishment at Mercer sent us to the Steward's Book from the 1830s. It revealed that there were numerous infractions committed by the students, who were all male at that time. Punishments included whipping and expulsion from the school.

Some early rules:

• "Students [are] to account for lost tools, broken glass, and all abuse of rooms."
• "If any leave school without permission, [he] shall not return without whipping at the discretion of the teachers."

Inappropriate activities recorded in the book:

• "frequent disorder at table"
• "rude conduct in time of prayer"
• "pushing other boys, clapping his hands, and making noise on Sabbath"
• "playing drafts in study hours" (Drafts, properly spelled "draughts," is the game we know as checkers.)
• "pillaging an orchard"
• "cursing," which involved the use of such words as "dast" and "confound"
• "trespassing in potato patch"

My, how the times have changed!

Welcome to the Mercer University Archives!

The staff of Special Collections at Mercer University is excited to present our new blog. We'll be featuring highlights from university history and Georgia Baptist life. Join us on our journey through time!