The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-05-08
BAPTIST CONVENTION


have proved an auxiliary indeed; it will
have done what nothing else has done;
it will have made us strong where we are
weakest-in active, intelligent lay-mem-
bers. And this is what we are doing,
which is the glorious part of it.
If we shall make the twentieth century
the century of Baptist achievement in
missions and education, as the nineteenth
has been the century of Baptist growth
and organization, we must begin now and
improve, train and dedicate the young
men and women whose best years will
begin with the new century. If We shall
make the influence of the eighteenth CEN
fury the power of the twentieth; if we
shall make the aspirations Of the nine
teenth century the reaEzations of the
twentieth; if we shall make the ideal of
the nineteenth the character of the
twentieth century, we must be up and do
ing now. We must take time and our
young people by the fOrelock. This IS
what this meeting is here for, and l
thank God for his assurance of its sue
cess. 1t is a great undertaking; it is
fraught with mighty possibilities, and
God is in it-failure is impossible.
As We are forerunners of the great
convention which will convene to-mor-
row. let us regard ourselves, as we are,
indeed, forerunners of still greater con-
vention of which We shall be parts in the
years to come. We are gathered with the
one aim Of making the achievements OF
our Southern Baptist convention. great as
have been, greater, far greater, in our
day and genera ton.
Brethren and friends, North Carolina
is with you, heart and SOUL She wei
comes you; she is at your command"
JOHN r. PULLEN'S ADDRESS.
Mr.. John T. Pullen, a layman, Of Raj
eigh, spoke ON personal conservation, first
reading the twelfthlchapter of Romans.
Il beseech you. brethrens by the pure
mercies of God, that you present your
bodies living sacrifice.
Among other things. he said: .x,-.-
II want to SPEAK Sf conservation. Ia.
our work we want 4lnan with clean
hands and warm heart Which Of the
saints can we take for an example? Not
Abraham, nor Moses, nor David, nor Job.
we seek higher ideal. After searching
all Scripture and other records, the only
ideal is our Lord Jesus Christ In order
that we may be ,consecrated, we must
follow our ideal. We can have no power
save that born on high, no strength save
that He gives US; indeed, we have moth
ing except it be given of God.
Our Lord had the spirit of God; we
can have the spirit, with all good gifts.
God has promised to give His Holy
Spirit And as one has well said of the
Holy Spirit, you must use Him or lose
Him. Men filled with the Spirit shake
the world. Even Pharaoh made a man
with the Spirit ruler of Egypt, and a
man with the spirit made Belshazzar's
knees cease to shake. Again, in order to
be consecrated we must do the will of the
Father in Heaven That is Christ's de-
Z sire and purpose. He came to fulfill that
which was written in the volume of the
book. When you are fulfilling the Scrip
lures, you are doing Gods WILL Do His
will and you shall be abundantly satisfied.
And you must be much in prayer. Fol-
low Jesus. He was frequently in prayer.
He was earnest. He had faith in prayer.
He was subject to the will of the Father
in prayer. David and Daniel prayed fire.
quently, but Jesus prayed always, in the
and all night. He prayed so earnestly
that He sweat, as it were. great drops of
blood. Again. follow Jesus in going
about doing good. Lastly, if we would
be consecrated we must follow Jesus in
studying the Scriptures. 1t was the de-
light of His heart. Hide the Scriptures
in your heart, they will light You through
the life and into the beyond"
THE WHITSITT CONTROVERSY
The WhitsittJ controversy, which has
excited so much interest among the Bap-
lists of the country, came up before the
convention to-day. Rev. DIR. Whitsitt,
president of the Southern Baptist Theo-
logical Seminary, at Louisville, KY,
wrote several editorials for the INDIE
pendent, in which he took the position
that prior to 1641 the rite of baptism
among the Baptists was performed by
sprinkling. This started controversy
which it was feared would result in a
heated debate during the sessions Of the
convention. Apparently, however, the
question has been peacefully settled by
the action of the convention to-day.