The leader., 1899-11-29
ORR TRIP To CANTON.

on the ZlSt. zznu anu ADTu iHSt. the
Baptist Young Peoples Union held
their first State Convention at Can
ton. Being anxious to know the Oh
jects and aims of this new movement
among our people, we boarded the train
and ran up ''for to see" We have long
felt a great need of something among
our young people in South Mississippi,
but had not been able to determine as
to the thing needed; but after hearing
| topics discussed such as The BY. p. L.
explained" The relation of the b. Y.
p. U. to the Church." How to enlist
the forces in young peoples work, -
The Christian culture course The
b. Y. p. U. in country churches" etc.
after hearing these and other similar
topics ably discussed by both young
and old, we put it down as a good move
ment in the right direction.
Dr. +. f. Chivers. of Chicago. who is
the able and efficient Secretary of the
B. Y. p. U. of America, delivered on
Wednesday night one of the most in
structive and Christly lectures on the
objects and aims of the movement to
which it has ever been our pleasure to
listen. With almost breathless silence
for one hour and twenty minutes an
overlooking audience listened to this
man of God from Chicago. One feat
ure of this organization is that there
are no restrictions in regard to becom-
ing member. Any one under one
of its workings the supremacy of the
churches is strictly guarded. Our ven
cradle and dearly beloved Bro \. \.
LomaX, of Batesville, and other silvery
haired ministers were present and took
active part in the meeting. And then,
there were present such staunch hoary
Canton, l.. \. Duncan, of Meridian, Capt.
J. p Brown, of Kosciusko. and others.
who graced the meeting which was of a
highly spiritual nature from start to
finish.
Canton has reputation for being IA
hard place for Christian work There
is said to be an element there which at
tempts to besmirch the reputation and
character of any minister who goes
there and makes war upon the liquor
/ traffic IA cause that lies SO near the
! pockets of some of her people We
| heard of one preacher who had served
there as pastor mot there now. how
ever who was impressed with the idea
| that IF He'll was ever to be enlarged,
/ the quickest way to do the thing would
| be to tack ON Canton" While there
may be. and no doubt is, a well organ
iZed evil force in Canton and through
out Madison county, we can say of a
truth, that no religious gathering was
ever greeted with a more hearty vel
come than that which the good people
of Canton extended to the b. y. p. l.
Being of vast proportions. on OuI
arrival. we had two homes assigned us
one to be used as a sleeping depart
ment, the other as an eating depart
ment. We slept at the hOspitable home
of Mrs. Matte Dennis, who is living
with her two widowed daughters IN
this Christly home. everything was
done to make our dreams pleasant
We took our meals at the Parker board
ing house. This house is kept by Misses
secrated Methodist women of God
whose father and mother have beer
called from earth to heaven and they
are left alone in the world. On breath
ing the atmosphere of this home. oul
mind ran back through the ages to the
home of the two sisters at Bethany
after the death of their dear brother
Lazarus. Notwithstanding the dark
cloud of sorrow that had 50 recently
gathered over that home, the broker
hearts of Mary and Martha were sool
cheered by the welcome footballs anC
familiar voice of the great Burder
Bearer who had come such long anC
wearisome journey to fill the vacancy
made by the death of their brother
"lie blessed them and he cheered them
And told them not to weep.
For in Him was the power
To raise him from his sleep"
Whatever may be said of Canton, oul
impression is that God has goodly
people in that city, who have never YET
bowed the knee to Baal," and oul
faith is that he will one day crown theil
efforts to rid their city of that blight
ing, whitening, -damning, God
despairing curse, the liquor traffic.
J. A. S.