Semi=weekly graphic., 1898-11-19
Southwestern eIegraph& elephone
 Company.
EDUCATIONAL DAY
At the Colored Baptist eonvention-=An
 Interesting Discussion.

This was education day at the Ar kansas Baptist State Convention and the entire day was devoted to the Arkansas Baptist College. located at Little Rock. All the ministers and lay- men in the State arc considered stockholders in the institution and todaY's session was de- voted to the stockholders. Rev. ] II. noke, of Little Rock, who is the State missionary called the meeting to srder this morning nt 3 o'clock
 Rev. N. r, Edwards. of Grand Lake. con ducted tho devotional exercises by reading scripture lesson and making a prayer. All the ministers were present and took part in the exercises. After the opening exercises Dr, Hoke made a short address in which he discussed tho object of the meeting, Ho said that for many years m effort had been made to educate the young negro boys nn1 girls and he WAS sure that tho future Of the race was in the school room and the Arkan- sus Baptist College was filling the needs Of inc people inasmuchl IS 1t twas turning out young negro men and women to take their place in the busy world.
 Al the conclusion Of tue address, Rev J. R. Bennett, D. D., of Hot Springs called the roll and the dues Of the members were paid in. Robert Caver, Il memberof tho graduat- ing class of Che institution was introduced and mae an address. He said in part
 Allow me to exprese to you my heartfelt thanks for extending to me an opportunity to address, this the greatest body in all these United States. l say greatest, because in this convention my fathers are identified, because of It's relation to me. say greatest because among you arc mea who although ignorant of the fact, have done moro towards forming my determination, laying out my course, piloting the way so that might have clear view to the fact that the greatest and most profitable service Of lnortals s in tho circle Of religion and in the aroma ol educa- tion, than I myself have done by natUre Nay, morel I call this body greatest because its principles exactly suit my highest ideals of Christian service.
 We are aware of the fact that we Lave more idlefs in our generation than could by any means. have been in your earlier days. But we are strengthening to be more able to drag them along accepting freely that tho strong should bear the fn6rmties of the week, and where sin abounds grace does much more abound.'
 Why is it that our young folks find so much pleasure in holding up the lamp posts daily Why is it that they arc such aliens to education and such enemies to work? Why is 1t that they cannot see that even man should live by his own toil2 Why is 1t that so few of four race aspire to be man. lecturers, leaders of labor, and care no more for the work than to perform it, get one dol- lar q day for the 5ame-and get that forever2 Why is 1t that those young men who general | ly embrace the street corners are generally seen with their eyes glaring towards heaven. their arms dangling inadvertently and their fingers so loosened? VIII you tell mo why all that rioting and bIoodshed occurred in the Carolinas the other day, 1 think I can give reason or two. Because there Is such a lack of religious interest, and such m oyerabun- dance of literary sluggishness; not enough of pure Christian training, not enough of dear deliberatiye legislation, not enough of education" Near the close of his discourse the speaker made an urgent appeal for a contribution by the convention towards pay ing for piano which the students Of the Ar kansas Baptist college are buying. Accord ingly the convention will appropriate s25,00 for tho purpose.
 Several instructive and interesting speeches followed and the remainder of the morning session was spent in hearing re- ports.
 Rev. D. j. Crawford. Of Camden. addressed the convention this morning.