The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-06-27
CHRISTIAN STATE S. s. CON-
vENTIoN.
Address Of Welcome BY Rev. =.
L. Powell at the Annual
Meeting. In Hopkinsvills.
June 2lst, 1882. -

cent Yorktown Cent? ttnnial, l pre-
sumo the most significant and i'm
pressive word upon which their eyes
rested was weicome Over arrhway
and door. way.Iin letters Of every va.
ricty and description, on floating flag
and upiif'ed banner, this simple yet
beautiful. and expressive word met
their vision. We. have not written
relcOme NJ the entrance Of our door
way, or over the sacred desk, but let
me assure you It Is written deeply
In our hearts. We do not address
YOU as q mere matter of form, or
because snch speech Is customary,
but for the reason that by this means
We may feebly convey to you our
rejoicing at your presence with US.
With joyous expectancy we have
looked forward to this Convention,
with eagerness We haye anticipated
your coming, and now that you have
assembled among us, our joy 10
marred by nsught save that our part.
Ing stands 80 rear our meeting, our
adieus so quickly follows our saluta.
tions. This is the only dark limo in
our. picture Of happiness We well
come yon for many reasons. We
are brethren. bought with tho same
price. having common father, q
common elder. brother, members OF
the same family, united to the same
head, joined together In the one body.
This leads US 10 hail you with heart
and voice, yea with open arms to
stand forth and meet you. at has
been said. whether by poetry or
science, 1t matters not, there Is a
certain point In the upper air in
which all sounds Of earth. the rattle
of wheels, the chino OF bclls, tho roll
Of drum. the laugh Of the child aud
the moan Of the beggar, meet aud
blend in perfect harmony" and so,
all conflicting aud clashing opinions.
all differences Of judgment and
taste meet and harmonize in the
grand truth that we are brethren.
From this truth arises unity of
feeling and q genuineness and depth
OF affection which draw us to one
another, aud reault in q cordial 70.
ccpnon wherever we NAV meet
Brother Ia the magical word that
opens hoarts and unbxrs the strongest
bolted door. II Is like sunshine aud
melts the most repcllant nature.
Freezing fornlality and cold conven.
tionalisms cannot resist Tia softening
aud permeaiing influence. 1t en-
larges and expands our souls, until
we feel related to universal man. II
widcns and decpens tho channel
through which our affection flows
to refresh and cheer. II levels all
distinctions and binds heart 10 hear,
aud soul TO soul with the golden
chain Of love. Besides growing oui
of the fact that we are brethren. the
identity Of our intereats eau ses us Ia
gladly grasp your hands and let sou
feel the warm pressure Of welcome
that is genuine. Loving the same
cause, earnestly longing for its sue
ccas, and praying for iis ultimate
triumph, we cannot hut be glad to
meet you, IN order that III devising
ways and means for the achievement
OF such ends, VIC may have that null
titude OF counsel in which there Ia
wisdom. Even though In many
things we be not agreed among our.
selves, yet tho oneness OF our work
unites us IN advancing the Messiah's I
cause aud Kingdom In the earth, and
Fastening the day when "victory'
will 10 the shout Of the hosts Of God.
IL community OF interest in bad
cause led the l'harisees to receive
their bitter.enemies---ths liero'lisns-
surely in such a cause as we have
espouscd. Il should give TO our wei.
come double earnestness and fer
vor. II has been observed that the
different classes OF society meet to-
gether vt only ono point--pecuniary
interest. This is the focus toward
which they all converge aud from
which they oil diverge. Here there
istho friendly salute. the look ol
recognition, and apparent warmth
Of heart and Joy In each others prea'
ence, but all Ia changed elsewhere. II
the world shakes hands over such a
pesishable thing assmoney, surely we
should have cordial and sincere fel-
lowship IN interests that are infinitely
more diynifod and Important. We
therefore, gladly greet you, in coin,
ing up TO the help Of the Lord against
the mighty, and thus identifying
yourselves "with those who In every
place call upon the name Of Jesus
Christ our Lord" Wo welcome you
too. remembering that past successful
werk is frequently an earnest Of fu'
ture victories. Having some knowl'
edge OF what was accomplished al
your last gathering, we receive you
with the hope IN our hearts thai
during this Convention your cfiorti
will 10 still more signally crowned
We trust that your former snccesl
may have been but the beginning o,
series of brilliant triumphs. tla
will 70 on increasing unto the periec
day, when all shall have been brought
to q knowledge Of the glorious gospe
OF the son Of God. We doubt NO
but that you come to US now al
bearers OF good news, which tht
wiae man tells us Ia refreshing al
celd water to thirsty soul. Ma,
our hearts be cheered BY hearing o
the prosperity of Zion and the en-
lsrgclfieht Of her borders. May thu
laborers who have gone forth Into
the harvest have 1t TO say that ihel
have gathered golden sheaves int
the garner. We welcome you thei
with high hopes, confidently expect
ing them to DO realized. We bid 80,
welcome, brethren, to the love o
our hearts the hospitality Of on,
homes aud the joys ofsocial conyerae
I believe that the memory Of thi
Convention will be one OF the treas
ured memories we are making alonI
the years, When you leave US
doubtless we can say truly:
Though few the days, tho happy evening
few.
SO warm tho heart, so rich with mind the
few
That our full souls forgot their wish to roar
Aud rested here, as IN dream at homo, y
There Ia another welcome richer
fuller, freer far than the greet
ings Of enrth--iho welcome 10 on
fathers home. have read that Il
tho mountains Of the Tyrol It Ia tn