Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-06


Tenth and Eleventh avenues, South High
lands. Telephone $685.
The agitation now going on in the gem
eral conference of the Northern Meth
odist church over the admission of
women delegates is serious enough to at
tract the attention of the country at
large. The most distinguished repre-
sentatves of various states are now en-
gagged in vigorously defending the advisa-
bility OF. permitting women to take part
in the councils of the Methodist church,
and TO vote upon matters of concern
which may be brought before this large
body of Christians. Thus far the voting
is in the women's favor, but that by no
means indicates the final success of their
cause. Rev. George z. Mains of Brooklyn
is quoted as saying In the discussion;
This is enc of the graVest times in the
history of Methodsm. The question OF
women today In the world threatens the
very civlizatio We cannot afford to
make tn s change, except in the most
conssrVa tive manner. 1t has become
quite as much the fad of the hour to talk
of disturbing the civilization of today
with innova tons as 1t is to pirate OF COLI
servatism when we find ourselves behind
the times. There can be no CIVILIZATION
without advancement any more than
there can be a healehful, desirable con-
servatism without an intelligent activity,
regulated by judgment and discretion.
However this serious matter may be set
tied, of one thing we may be assured, ana
that Is. whatever privileges may be
granted women by the Methodist confer
ence they may be trusted to attend 10
their end of the line with credit to them
selves and satisfaction to their friends.
As women are now the great factors in
church building and in the payment of
church debts, it does seem but simple JUS
tice that they be permitted to cast a vote
occasionally in church government.
The Atlanta Constitution of Sunday had
this sketch of Rev. DR.. j. b. Hawthorne,
giving many details and much data con-
corning this distinguished Alabamian's
life that are not generally known:
"Dr. j. b. Hawthorne, who is soon TO
change his place of residence from this
city to Nashville, Tenn, IS a native of
the state of Alabama. His father, Rev.
Kiddar hawthorne, was man of strong
character, and besides being large
planter was an active minis of the gos-
pei, baptizing as many as 5000 converts
during only five years of his ministry.
The mother of DR.. Hawthorne was Mar
garet Baggett, who sp1ang from one of
the oldest and best families of South
Carolina.
ION his fathers side the family Of DR..
Hawthorne belongs to that hardy and
intellectual type known as the Scotch
Irish This type of energetic and pro-
gressive manhood has Influenced, to
large extent, the civilization and prog
ress of the entire world. The first mem
Der of the Hawthorne family came to
this country in 1850 and settled in the
state of North Carolina.
From the old family homestead in
North Carolina the father of DR.. Haw-
thorne emigrated in 1917 to the state of
Alabama. The country at that time was
in a very wild, unsettled condition, and
the pioneers of the state were subjected
to all the dangers and apprehension Incl
dent to frontier life in country occupied
by the Indians Here, under the COM
mand of General Jackson, in the famous
Seminole war, the elder Hawthorne rem
dered valuable service to the country
and distinguished himself as a man of
valor as well as an humble and conse-
era ted servant of God.
1.-THE early schooling of DR.. Hawthorne
was derived from the academies of Oak
T'ill and Camden, Ala. After this he en-
/ red Howard college, where he remained
for three years. At very early age it
was the intention of DR.. Hawthorne to
enter the ministry. His inclnations in
this direction, however, were overcome
by the advice of friends, who earnestly
entreated him to adopt the profession of
the law. He finally yielded to this per-
suasion and entered law Office in Mo-
bile, Ala for the purpose of perfecting
himself in his profession. 1t was des-
tined, however, that DR.. Hawthorne
should make but few speeches before the
jury, and that his eloquence as a bold,
determined advocate instead of blending
with the achievements of the forum,
should be associated with the grander
and more enduring laurels of the minis
try.
ut was while he was stopping in
Washington City, a short time after his
admission TO the bar, that DR.. Haw-
thorne was oVertaken by a divine call
to proclaim the gospel He lost no time
IN setting about his life's work. His first
step, as necessary to his prepare lions for
the ministry was to enter Howard col
lege IS a student of divinity.
After leaving this institution he was
called. in 1860 to the pastorate of the
Broad street Baptist church. When the
war broke out he enlisted as private in
the Confederate army with fifty men,
hers of his congregation. He was after
wards made chaplain of the Twenty
fourth Alabama regiment.
"On the field and in the hospitals a
very important work was performed by
DR. Hawthorne. He was enabled to con-
vert a large multitude of men by his
preaching of the gospel to the soldiers in
camp and those who gathered about
him in the difficult and trying days of
the warscould read in the promise of his
budding eloquence many of those mature
flights of oratory which have won for
him a reputation as one of the most elo-
quent preachers of the country.
after the war DIR. Hawthorne assum-
ed the general pastoral duties of the Bap-
fist church a Selma, Ala. From here he
went tos Baltimore, Md, and has since
occupied the leading pulpits of Louis
vile, New York. Montgomery and Rich
mond, Va. 1t was while he was pastor
of the Baptist church in Richmond that
DR.. Hawthorne was called to the First
Baptist church of this city.
HE came to Atlanta in 1884, and, with
the exception of brief intermission, has
continued to occupy that pulpit, much
to the pleasure of his large and impor-
tant congregation"
This afternoon at o'clock at the
Young Mems Hebrew association hall
there will be a rehearsal of Pretty Bob-
by Shafto," the attractive operetta being
prepared by Professor Mailer for the
benefit of Temple Emanuel. There will
also be rehearsals on Thursday and Fri
day afternoons at the same place and
hour.
The splendid art edition of the State