Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-23
This, II. Henson Says, Is Mat To
Young Peoples Union ItanA
SECOND ANNUAL CONVENTION.
First Two Sessions Attended BY Hun
dreds Of Delegates and Others
HAS GROWN VERY RAPIDLY.
secrstary's Report Highly Gratifying
Earnest Words Of wsicoms--Mr. Pse'
terson's Psper--Personal Work.

The Baptist Young Peoples Union OF
Virginia, one OF the most important or
CARNATIONS for good In this State. opened
its second annual convention. at the First
church. corner OF Twelfth and Broad
streets. yesterday afternoon under most
suspicious circumstances.
The delegates TO the convention num-
Der about 800 enthusiastic young men and
women. banded together In the service OF
the Master. and OF those elected by the
local societies hardly n handful were abb
sent. The organization OF the body was
when the various delegations were as
sembled and assigned to fixed places on
the floor The pulpit was specially deco
rated for the occasion with growing
palms, and these. with the banners OF
the societies standing here and there In
the body of the church. formed scene
Of beauty and resplendence.
In the organ loft, just above the pulpit,
was an immense white banner. bearing
the following inscription in large print:
Our Objects-The Increased spirituality
of our Baptist young people; their stimu-
lation In Christian service; their edifica-
ton In scripture knowledge; their in
struction In Baptist doctrines and history;
and their enlistment in all missionary
activity through existing UNCONVENTIONAL
organizations
The two sessions yesterday-afternoon
and evening-were presided over by Rev.
DIR. w. W. Landrum and Mr.. John Gar
"a Dali ri ha union.
occupied seat on the rostrum to his
left In addition to these gentlemen, Mr..
A. w. Patterson and Mr.. James c. Har-
wood.
The session in the afternoon was merely
Of a preliminary nature. and the actual
business OF the convention was really not
gone into until at night
At 7l5 o'clock the delegates and menu
beers of the Gospel Chorus assembled in
the lecture-room of the church, and.
being gotten together were marched into
the main audience-room. The chorus,
about $50 In number. were assigned seats
Just In front, while Mr.. Walter c. Mer-
Ger, with seven OF his choicest singers,
occupied the organ loft and led the
sweet music. Professor Watson presided
at the organ. In rear OF the choir were
seated the delegates, who filled the entire
remaining portion Of the body OF the
church The galleries were filed with
outsiders
Opened With Words OF Welcome.
Promptly at o'clock Rev. Or. Lam
drum assembled the rostrum, on which
were seated Messrs. j. Garland Pollard,
James C. Harwood, and A. w. Patter-
| son, and said: 1.-The second annual meet
ing of the Baptist Young Peoples Union
of Virginia will now open. Ii is cardi-
nj ~
meetings shall all begin on time" With
this he announced that a flfteon-m minute
| praise service would be held, and gave
| out hymn No 4, PRAISE Him." which was
| sung very sweetly by the entire congre-
| CATION. Mr. HARDWOOD then read from
| the third and fourth chapters OF Pro-
| verbs. Rev. w. l.. Wright, pastor OF
Leigh-Street church. offered beautiful
| prayer. invoking Divine guidance for the
| convention and shower Of blessings
| on 1t. The growth OF interest I'm the work
| by the young people was tenderly touch
ed upon. Several hymns were sung. imme-
| diately after which 1t was announced
| that Rev. DIR. Cooper. who was to have
| delivered an address OF welcome. was un-
avoidably absent In attendance On the fine
| raj OF one of the members OF his church.
| and at the request OF DR.. Landrum the
| address was delivered by Hon. J. Taylor
| Ellyson and responded to by DR.. j. j.
| Hall, OF Norfolk.
WORDS OF WELCOME.
Mr.. Elyson said 81 do not think any
| one should need notice In order 10 well
come friends. and most assuredly you
are my friends. l don't know OF any
movement that has so profoundly inter-
ested me as has the Baptist Young Peo-
pies Union. A friend asked me as I
entered the church what thought OF 1t.
and l told him that ! looked upon this
just as did upon the Young Mems Chris
tlan Association twenty years ago, when
1t was In its Infancy. Through the agency
OF this Young Peoples Union we look for
great good In quickenng the zeal OF the
young people OF America, and through
them the evangeliZation OF the world, and
so we give you hearty welcome. as we
do all visitors to Richmond: but especially
do we welcome you, because you come In
the name Of the Master"
Jesus is Calling To-day" was then
sung. after which DR.. Cooper. who had
just entered. was informed OF what had
taken place, and. ascending the rostrum,
he further explained his absence apollo
gized therefor, and made most beautI-
full address OF welcome. replete with cor
things: For weeks past preparations
have been in progress In anticipation OF
this convention, and l can assure you
the joy OF this gathering on this auspi-
cious occasion fully compensates for the
work which was so cheerfully done" He
spoke few words Of welcome on behalf
OF the pastors OF the Baptist churches
of Richmond and Manchester. and made
excuses for the absence Of several OF
them.
GLAD TO SEE THEM.
DR.. Cooper assured the delegates that
most hearty welcome was theirs from
the ten Young Peoples societies In Rich
mond and Manchester. and asking TO be
excused from any personal illusions re.
iterated the words Of greeting already
spoken, and said I'VE are glad to well
come you TO this convention and In the
walls OF this historic old church because
we know so we'll that your membership
in the union Is a personal pledge Of your
loyalty to Christ. We welcome you also
for your frank decentralization. Some
people have an idea that denominational-
ism Is out OF the fashion. 1--WE have a
lineage OF which any man may be proud.
and that idea should not be permitted to
enter into our Church.
Let me. In closing. recall to your
iiiit0s the idrt tnht the bdptist IOuus
Peoples Union Is In It's fourth stage. The
meeting held In Chicago was for organi-
cation. that IN Indianapolis for education,
that in Detroit for Inspiration. and that
In Toronto for conservation. I rejoice
now that any danger that may confront
US may be promptly counteracted by the
presence and the leadership OF the Holy
Spirit. Let me say, then. We most hearth
ly welcome you TO your deliberations
within these walls, and express the hope
that the Spirit Of God may dwell among
you. and that your work may be conse-
Grated to God"
RESPONSE OF MR.. HALL
Rev. J. ]. Hall. Of Norfolk. spoke in re-
Spouse to the words of cordial greeting,
and, referring to them as double-linked
welcome forged tightly around his heart.
said that the delegates were more than
glad to be in Richmond. and that he
hoped sincerely much good would result
from the convention.
The union he referred TO as an infant.
and predicted for Il great things when the
man was full grown. After very appFo-
pirate anecdote. he warmly expressed
thanks for the welcome 10 heartily ex-
tended him and his companions, and
horod that the delevofaa ueo,sfd HSvfva