Still Thinking About 1878
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Michael Maxey
Oct 16, 2011, 1:18:52 AM10/16/11
to John Rundle High School
Joy is sending messages in Chinese so I'm going to post something. I
read a book recently on the early Christian church and one of the
factors cited for the phenomenal growth in Christianity during the
first three centuries after Jesus began his ministry was the social
impact of Christian values. Bad times allowed others to see the
benefits that came from the Christian faith and times were never so
bad as when plagues arrived. It's interesting to think of how good
things come from bad times. Anyway, I wrote a summary of the book,
"The Rise of Christianity" see http://sleepless-in-baghdad.blogspot.com/2011/08/rise-of-christianity.html.
Reading about the impact of epidemics, I wanted to learn more about
our own plague -- the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. I read a number
of books and summarized them at
http://sleepless-in-baghdad.blogspot.com/2011/10/lessons-learned-1878-yellow-fever.html.
I came away with a better understanding of the scope of the disease
and its impact on our country's health care: the event provided an
impetus for the establishment of stronger federal medical
interventions. I also thought about my own experiences. The yellow
fever vaccine was developed only 14 years before I was born. It was a
medical miracle to be able to go to yellow fever endemic places and be
protected. I still remember the yellow fever vaccine that was
administered to me at the Grenada County Health Clinic prior to my
departure to Brazil as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I still have the shot
card little did I know the history that had made that shot card a
reality and had provided me protection from a monster as I headed out
into the world.
I also got a chance to better understand the heroes -- black and white
-- that stepped forward during the plague. Three pastors were killed
by yellow fever -- they had stayed or returned to Grenada to be with
their congregations. The story of Rev. Hiram Haddick, the 33 year old
pastor at First Baptist Church in Grenada, was one of those who died.
He was away from Grenada when the fever broke out but chose to return
at its height -- he literally walked into a living hell to be with his
flock. A majority of Grenada's whites left the town. More blacks
stayed and helped. The literature mentions a Bob Reed of Water Valley
who was immune to the fever from a previous infection and was able to
help people in Water Valley. In Holly Springs, a black house maid,
Minerva (former slave) stayed with two white children and cared with
them after their parents died. In one passage, J.H. Campbell of the
Grenada City Council mentioned the formation of a "Grenada African-
America Guard" to do night patrols to protect the citizens from
thieves.
I still believe someone could write a great screen play about what
happened in Grenada in the summer of 1878. It would be a horror story
but also one of heroism and courage and resilience.
Michael Maxey
JRHS1970
read a book recently on the early Christian church and one of the
factors cited for the phenomenal growth in Christianity during the
first three centuries after Jesus began his ministry was the social
impact of Christian values. Bad times allowed others to see the
benefits that came from the Christian faith and times were never so
bad as when plagues arrived. It's interesting to think of how good
things come from bad times. Anyway, I wrote a summary of the book,
"The Rise of Christianity" see http://sleepless-in-baghdad.blogspot.com/2011/08/rise-of-christianity.html.
Reading about the impact of epidemics, I wanted to learn more about
our own plague -- the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. I read a number
of books and summarized them at
http://sleepless-in-baghdad.blogspot.com/2011/10/lessons-learned-1878-yellow-fever.html.
I came away with a better understanding of the scope of the disease
and its impact on our country's health care: the event provided an
impetus for the establishment of stronger federal medical
interventions. I also thought about my own experiences. The yellow
fever vaccine was developed only 14 years before I was born. It was a
medical miracle to be able to go to yellow fever endemic places and be
protected. I still remember the yellow fever vaccine that was
administered to me at the Grenada County Health Clinic prior to my
departure to Brazil as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I still have the shot
card little did I know the history that had made that shot card a
reality and had provided me protection from a monster as I headed out
into the world.
I also got a chance to better understand the heroes -- black and white
-- that stepped forward during the plague. Three pastors were killed
by yellow fever -- they had stayed or returned to Grenada to be with
their congregations. The story of Rev. Hiram Haddick, the 33 year old
pastor at First Baptist Church in Grenada, was one of those who died.
He was away from Grenada when the fever broke out but chose to return
at its height -- he literally walked into a living hell to be with his
flock. A majority of Grenada's whites left the town. More blacks
stayed and helped. The literature mentions a Bob Reed of Water Valley
who was immune to the fever from a previous infection and was able to
help people in Water Valley. In Holly Springs, a black house maid,
Minerva (former slave) stayed with two white children and cared with
them after their parents died. In one passage, J.H. Campbell of the
Grenada City Council mentioned the formation of a "Grenada African-
America Guard" to do night patrols to protect the citizens from
thieves.
I still believe someone could write a great screen play about what
happened in Grenada in the summer of 1878. It would be a horror story
but also one of heroism and courage and resilience.
Michael Maxey
JRHS1970
Joy
Oct 17, 2011, 8:07:35 AM10/17/11
to John Rundle High School
Mike, I love for you to read and summarize for the JRHS Google Group.
You are a very interesting person to say the least.
You would be an excellent speaker for the Yalobusha Historical
Society.
I am, now, the recording sectretary for the society. (A job that no
one wants.)
But, I am enjoying the work.
I am treating this new "job" like I first did when I began the GSS
Group, and you asked me to become a manager on the JRHS,
Sometimes, I wonder how you survived me, but you remained faithful and
loyal.
I call you "friend" and I do not take the word, friend" lightly.
By the way, when you summarize this makes me knowledgeable, and I can
add to the conversation, so to speak.
I did finish reading RISING TIDE.
This is a revealing book about the flood of 1927 if some of you have
not read this book.
I am going to post this topic on the Yalobusha County Historical
Society Group.
The group is actually Yalobusha Historical Society.
However, on legal documents the board states the name of the Group as
Yalobusha County Historical Society.
Speakers are "booked" a year in advance.
Put this on back burner and think about it.
Take care, be safe, and I guess you are still in Israel.
By, the way I am not doing a membership drive for the YCHS Group, but
it is out there for everyone to read without becoming a member, You
are my only member as I want you there as my "security blanket" so to
speak, hum?
Your friend,
Joy
On Oct 16, 12:18 am, Michael Maxey <maxeycof...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Joy is sending messages in Chinese so I'm going to post something. I
> read a book recently on the early Christian church and one of the
> factors cited for the phenomenal growth in Christianity during the
> first three centuries after Jesus began his ministry was the social
> impact of Christian values. Bad times allowed others to see the
> benefits that came from the Christian faith and times were never so
> bad as when plagues arrived. It's interesting to think of how good
> things come from bad times. Anyway, I wrote a summary of the book,
> "The Rise of Christianity" seehttp://sleepless-in-baghdad.blogspot.com/2011/08/rise-of-christianity....
You are a very interesting person to say the least.
You would be an excellent speaker for the Yalobusha Historical
Society.
I am, now, the recording sectretary for the society. (A job that no
one wants.)
But, I am enjoying the work.
I am treating this new "job" like I first did when I began the GSS
Group, and you asked me to become a manager on the JRHS,
Sometimes, I wonder how you survived me, but you remained faithful and
loyal.
I call you "friend" and I do not take the word, friend" lightly.
By the way, when you summarize this makes me knowledgeable, and I can
add to the conversation, so to speak.
I did finish reading RISING TIDE.
This is a revealing book about the flood of 1927 if some of you have
not read this book.
I am going to post this topic on the Yalobusha County Historical
Society Group.
The group is actually Yalobusha Historical Society.
However, on legal documents the board states the name of the Group as
Yalobusha County Historical Society.
Speakers are "booked" a year in advance.
Put this on back burner and think about it.
Take care, be safe, and I guess you are still in Israel.
By, the way I am not doing a membership drive for the YCHS Group, but
it is out there for everyone to read without becoming a member, You
are my only member as I want you there as my "security blanket" so to
speak, hum?
Your friend,
Joy
On Oct 16, 12:18 am, Michael Maxey <maxeycof...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Joy is sending messages in Chinese so I'm going to post something. I
> read a book recently on the early Christian church and one of the
> factors cited for the phenomenal growth in Christianity during the
> first three centuries after Jesus began his ministry was the social
> impact of Christian values. Bad times allowed others to see the
> benefits that came from the Christian faith and times were never so
> bad as when plagues arrived. It's interesting to think of how good
> things come from bad times. Anyway, I wrote a summary of the book,
>
> Reading about the impact of epidemics, I wanted to learn more about
> our own plague -- the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. I read a number
> of books and summarized them athttp://sleepless-in-baghdad.blogspot.com/2011/10/lessons-learned-1878....
> Reading about the impact of epidemics, I wanted to learn more about
> our own plague -- the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. I read a number
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