Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-13

REV. DIR. j. WILLIAM JONES.
speakers, and one Of the most influential
leaders in the denomination. lie would
sometimes sweep the convention like "a
cyclone. and was noted for his b0ldness
in combating what he did not approve
or advocating what he believed to be
right. He could always be rolled on to
speak out in meeting what others
thought but hesitated TO say. and won
the soubriquet of "the Stonewall Jack
son OF southern Baptsts." Often after
his death some of our leaders would
upon occasion. long for his presence ans
his plain speech. and sigh Tor zone hour
OF our dead Dundee"
Rev Richard Fuller, d. D., of Balti-
more. was one of the great pulpit orators
and platform speakers Of his day. He
was not a parliamentarlan and knew
nothing about manipulating committees
or influencing the action of the conven-
ZION by personal canVdssing; but he al
ways attracted the crowd when he
preached, and swayed and thrilled the
convention by his platform speeches. In
the great contest between Graves and
Howell when the convention met I'm
Richmond I'm 1853. Howell was elected
president, but Immediately resigned, and
Dr. Fuller was elected i'm his stead. and
GAINED the excitement by saying:
~Brethren, l know little. and care less
about parliamentary law and ! do not
want any of you TO be rising TO points
Of order or questions OF personal privi-
legs' ] am going TO run this convention
ON New Testament rules Of order and
pR Gospel principles. and / shall expect
you. as good Baptists. TO quit your nom
sense and heartily cooperate with me.
We be brethren, and must act as SUCH
And he proved himself indeed. q verita-
BILE master of assemblies" or, at least,
of that assembly. He sometimes failed.
as nearly all OF the great orators have
done but when at his best he melted and
moved vast crowds az his viii. and fully
indicated his title TO be- ranked among
the great orators of the country and the
ccntuIics
recall just two occasions OF the many
on which he captured aud held the con-
Vention. At The meeting in Macon. Ga.
in 1877 he made a speech IN the interest Of
the Southern Baptist Thoo ogical Semi
nary. which combined. in beautiful pro
portions, keen Wit. broad hUm0r. tender
pathOs. and powerful argument was
one of the greatest speeches I ever heard
and so carried the crowd with him that
they made almost spontaneously one OF
the largest contributions ever made IN q
public meeting. At the meeting Of the
convention In Raleigh y. .. he made Il
great speech on home missions News
bad just come. and IL had been an
nounced 10 the convention, that DE-. ~
al. Poindexter had died in Virginia the
day before In the midst of his speech
Fuller was thrilling the congregation with
n 81. f,
scented as flying with the glorious gospel
10 The ends OF the earth, when be made
rs his climax this sentence: "Oh, angel,
fly faster! Fly faster! Souls are perish
ing whilst thou d0st !ingcri But II thou
art weary OF Thy 1igE: and cannot fly
Easter. then commit Thy message to Poin-
neXter's spirit lie viii carry IL on eager,
swift wing. Tor he knows. by sweet and
blessed experience. as thou canst never
know. the JOYS. the sladness. the happl-
ness Of rodeem.ng grace; and he could
publish u 20 the nations as thou couldst
never dOr'
II need scarcely be added that the of-
fect was electric, and tho congregation
was thrilled. and moved as ! have rarely
witnessed in any assembly,
Rev DR.. ]. Il. Jeter Of Richmond, was
one Of our great men, and one or our
most influential leaders. poor noun
tain boy. with no educational advantages,
hut with strong native ineshect. ambi-
Hon 70 succeed intense power or apphca.
ton and large store OF cCnsecrated
sonlInon senae, ne became one OF our
best preachers, most graceful writer's.
ah,est thao&0eienA and most influential
teaders in all denom,nasi0nal affairs He
yves wise and conservative, put tenacious
and aexr~ssivc. and q ready debater. who
could hold his own against all corners.
As pastor OF largo CHURCHES, president Of
che Foreign Mission Board, the Board OF
Tr,istoas OF Richmond College. the Board
Of TrxsteoS OF the Southern Baptist Thee
logical Seminary editor OF the Religious
1ierald. and author 81 a number OF books
he exerted an influence ~ the deu0rnlna-
zion and In tho world scstooly second 10
chat OF any ono else smorS W.
One OF the southern leaQor IN the great
controversy which resulted In tho division
OF northern and southern Baptists In 1876
ne was yet always kind END frateml to-
wards his brethren across the border; de
obared In 1876 that there Is no Mason
ard Dixon's line running through the
Kingdom OF Christ" aud oxerted a potent
Influence in bringing about tho post-bel-