The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-14
WILL LIVE IN HISTORY
AS AMONG THE ABLEST EFF
FORTS IN 4 RELIGIOUS
GATHERING.
THE DAY or ORATORY STILL HERE
Nobody Who Heard Or. Huffman at Oxford
Believes that the Day of the
Orator Has Passed.

Orord, N. c., Dec. 13.-(Editoria
1.-The Baptist Conven
sion in session here contains many
strong and able men. 1t is not making
. comparison that is unjust to any OF
Ahem when / say that there is one mar
among who is the Saul of the denomina
Sion. who towers head and shoulders
shove them all.
From the days when, as boy, heard
htm preach to . small congregation
which has grown into a large congrega-
tom. chiefly through his influence,
have regarded Rev. ]. d. Hufham, ID.
D.. as one of the greatest preachers II
Has been my good fortune to hear.
6hnught | had put a correct estimate
mon him from these early recollections.
hsvt every time / hear him l am more
1rmly convinced that he deserves to be
peckoned with Wingate, Atkinson,
lsacy, Gloss and the dozen other truly
great divines who have lived in North
(hrOlina. In the convention here THIS
week he has been at his best, and on
Friday made two speeches of such iofty
patriotism and burning eloquenee as TO
entitle them to live in the annals of the
great speeches by our great men.
IF tho Raptist church elected bishops.
DIR. Hufham would be the bishop OF tnad
church in North Carolina. As that
church does not recognize that office,
II is proof of his commanding ability
that he has as much influence In his
church as any bishop exercises in any
church. He enjoys this power purely
because he has been for more than
generation '.the servant of all" and
has carried the heavy loads of his de-
n0mination. When he entered the MIN
Sstry, the Baptist church had large
membership, but direction in its llber-
atty was wanting and the educational
development was in it's infancy. he
las been bishop without the authority
Of office, in that he has done more than
any other man to bring every church
into relations with every other church,
60 that they could unite to plan and
execute large enterprises. He has
been a revivalist of the old school, and
his success in winning souls has been
more marked than any minister of his
church in Eastern North Carolina. He
has builded churches, and established
his denomination, and been strong
pillar under every enterprise of the
Baptist church.
We are told every now and then that
the day of oratory has passed, and we
need never expect again to see men
moved as in the days of Patrick Henry,
Thomas G. Lowe, and James c. Dobbin.
/ sometimes fall into the error of believ-
ing this pessimistic dogma. 1t can
never be true. There will be great
orators as long as men are moved by
noble impulses, and that means to the
end of time. They viii come to the
State and to the church when they are
needed. They will do their work and
leave behind them the influence of their
eloquent appeals to men to do noble
deeds.
doubt seriously if in all its history
we have had a preacher who was more
truly eloquent than DIR. Hufham. He
not only has pathos and tenderness,
he has every element Of the true orator,
and when mastered by strong inn
pulse he can speak words as eloquent
rs ever fell from mortal man.
This is high praise. l write after
nearing him twice, under the spell Of
his noble words, his patriotic utterances,
and his holy zeal. But i have long
held this opinion, and his speeches here
hut confirm this high estimate.
The care Of the old preachers, who
have given all their time to preaching the
Gospel, and laid up nothing for the rainy
day of old age, was a theme that called
forth the greatest speech OF the Con-
vention from DR.. Hufham.
Rev. w. G. Tyree. of Durham, Presi-
dent Of the Ministers Relief Board, read
this year for needy preachers, against
$685. for last year, an increase Of $275.
In a wise and sensible and elegant talk,
brr. Tyree told of the work done by Mr.
Caddell, who had presented the matter
10 the Associations. NTH. A. Reams
a prominent layman from Durham, s
member of the Board, followed, with an
appeal to the preachers to bring the mat
Ter before their congregations. 81 am
sad sometimes" he said, "when read
IN The Recorder that a strong church
has contributed 80 cents to this worthy
cause. I know something is lacking, fol
CUR people would give literally to the
cause, if properly presented to them"
Mr.. Tyree suggested n special Christ
mas collection for this fund.
Then Or. Huffman took the floor II
sneak. It would not be literally true II
say he "took the floor" for he never sit,
down. and always has the floor NEAR
that at this juncture DR.. Huftam wal
recognized by the chair. The church wa,