Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-18

this organization just thirteen years ago !;
and to check and counteract these evil in
fiuenceS by teaching a proper regard for
personal appearance, byleading their hearts
to reverence The only true and living God,
by instilling into their minds the
re principles of human love, laudable
anbition and patriotism uncompromised,
has been the work of this -ciety from the
day of its inception down 10 the present
time This, l take it, has been the sole OBJ
iect of this convention, and the manner of
carrying out this object is equally is
worthy of commentator and applause.
On Virginia's fruitful svil. tneland that
gave birth to the illustrious Washington,
father of our country, the home of noble
| jefferson of Monroe, of Madison, of con-
| quersd. but heroic, Lee. the babe was born
that has since assumed gigantic proper
tions ant developed itself into the B. L.
NJ. C.
In 1873 the Colored Baptists of Virginia
sent Rev. Solomon Cosby to work among
| the heather Of Africa. After laboring in
| this land of darkness and of gloom for more
| than two long years he succum bed to the
effects of the climate, breathed his last and
| went home. trust, TO live and dwell with
| God. Poets, sages, historians of coming
time, sing his praises, record his worthy
| deeds and call him as You must, an honored
| martyr who died for his race. One year
after Re " was sent out Rev. W. W.
It's convention, travelled over many states
| fur The purpose of uniting the work CT the
several states, so that in union there might
| be strength. Suffice it to say, he succeeded,
and the B. S. c. of Virginia passed resolu-
| lions ordering the first meeting of the T.
| NJ. c. to convene III the city of Mont
! gomery, Ala. From time to time the con-
| vention met gathering strength rs it went
| along, so that in the year 1883 ii was able
| TO send into the foreign lands six willing
| men and women with eager hearts and
| ready hands to undertake the arduous task
| Of redeeming Africa, winning it over to the
side of God and right.
These workers we're L V. II. Presly and
| wife, H. Mckinney, ". W. Colby and wife
| and j. j. Coles. Man shall never know, for
| language cannot record, the extreme hard
ship endured by these faithful men and
women as they labored day by day and
| slept by night in the bosom Of this savage
| land.
| Rev. Presly, afflicted in body aud mind,
| his health shattered and frame racked with
| pain, lay in this suffering condition when
| the black-winged angel of death visited his
| home and took away his darling wife while
| the roses were yet fresh on her cheeks. y
| pure, sweet woman, the comfort and stay of
| his very life. truly hope and trust that in
| the dawning future God will inspire the
pen of a negro poet aud historian fully able
| TO carol the praises and encouch in most
tender terms the labors and trials C this
| dear man and his departed wife that they
| may be given the place in the record OF the
history of the past that they so richly de-
serve.
Despite the hardships and many misfor-
tunes the work has steadily gone on, but il
is 4 fact seriously 10 be deplored, not so sue
| cessful as formerly, for instead Of six mis-
sionaIieS as in former years, there are only
! -- now in the field, and they are in Il
suffering condition. Allow US to express
our sympathy and beg leave TO hope that
whatever the cause may be, wherever the
evil lies you will remedy it while i'll our
midst and go back to your homes rejoicing.
And now, my friends knowing as we do the
purpose for which You have assembled in
our midst sympathizing fully in all you
plan and DO, shown by our contributions III
former years, hoping for the complete sue
cess of the work you undertake, praying
that the object for which YOU strive may be
accomplished, we, the people of the Lone
Star state, citizens of Dallas, are proud of
the honor of welcoming into our state, our
city, our church, our homes and our hearts,
the members of the Baptist +. NJ. couvcn-
ton. Our house of worship, humble though
it be in its prctensions, we yield 10 you and
lea re at your disposal. And when the days
| work is over and your brain is weary with
its labOrS we invite yOu to walk
forth upon our quiet thOrOughfares amid
the tWilight'S falling shadows and enjoy
the tender. refreshing evening breeze. or BY
the silver light of the beautiful moon walk
forth and survey the aZure-cOlored heavens
and drink in the beauty of Southern star
lit sky; or ii wearied by the DIN and hum
of 4 busy and busting city visit the quieter
suburban regions, filed with rural homes
North park, Chestnut hill, Falkland addi-
ton and Oak Cliff.
And when the day has passed ana gone
st, IT. ,.li-
come, retire to rest, seek repose as the
gentle summer rocks your weary frame 10
sleep with his enchanting lullaby songs,
dream for the sake of policy that you are
in the midst of land is beautiful rs your
own and among Il people whose greatest
and only wish is that they may rightly
serve and comfort YOU; dream that God
viii watch over and protect the loved and
loving ones whom you have left behind:
dream that we are in full accord and hearty
sympathy with YOUR noble work and will
aid you in every way You can; dream that
God who looks down upon your efforts with
an approving smile viii be with YOU in all
you undertake and crown your labors with
success, and awake next morning with the
full assurance that for that day and all sue
Ceeding days YOU are heartily welcome
while in our midst
Rev. \. VI. Newman of Shreveport re
sponded to the address, and on motion of
heV. IL h. IOpD IL was ucclueQ Indl the
address be published in the minutes since
it contains such wholesome thoughts FOR the
mind.
Rev. E. B. Topp, Professor F. W. Gross
Rev. D. A. Scott We're elected TO report
proceedings to Associated Press and various
papers of the country: also the city papers.
The president then appointed the follow
ing committees:
On eurollment-Rev j. NJ. Carter, Louis
lana; Professor D. Abner. Jr., Texas: Rev
j. r. Bennett, Arkansas: Rev. W. A.
Brinkly, Tennessee; w. II. NJ. Stewart,
Esq, Kentucky; j. II. Nichols, Mississippi;
j. L. Barksdale, Virginia.
On inance-Rev. L. p. Smith, NIissis-
sippi: Rev. F. Hooks, Texas; Rev. s. NJ.
Fisher, Arkansas: Rev j. Thomas, Louis
lana: Rev. j. W. Carr. Indiana
The convention then took recess until 3
p. III.
One thousand delegates are in attend
ance. representing nearly every state in the
Union. The convention is made up of
some of the most intelligent negroes on
the continent.
Asks Damages.
J. J. O'Connor to-day brought suit
against Alderman J. j. Conroy for $4,000
damages for alleged defamation of charac-
ter. O'Connor claims that on certain &C.
raSiop Cpnrny made tho assertion that