Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-15

REV. DIX. tOitNi-Ih 10 WELL i>A-''
LOYALTY aiG the donoroiuatioual sprt Of
irdepenGence r0ust be taken account OF
IN any movement 10 uaite Baptist youth
throughout tho Continent. WITH the az
ferences which actually exist a'n'nS bSP-
fists. In spite of the marvellous consen-
sus of opinion among them fellowship
and federation. rather Than any cGelclVe
union must be their watcnWorc
THE CONVENTION AND AFTER.
with The Chicago Convention. July Z
and S. 1891. the union began it's louG strug-
gle for life. which was quite as Tdirfn.
as the hirtn-pangs The convention was
y sunrise to all concerned. The 1873
enrolled delegates from tveniy-uiue
States. North. South, East and West the
District of Columbia, ana Canada, con-
stituted the largest representative Bap-
list gathering ever held on the Continent.
Young and Old tiicd and trusted denom'-
national leaders and novicea fresh irom
their first conventions ara assemblies, wed
i'm professions Of deN0tioo 70 tos nfoad
platform which the Committee on IA
tional Organization presented. But
among ali the surprises al or following
or than the choice Of leaders for the ne"
man Of tbs convention But It Was IL
tle thought that he would soon be nablep
also as general secretary, and hold that
Office through five still greater CONVEX
tions. Mr. John II. Chapman. OF chi
cago. was an unknown man, save 10 MS
Chicago associates. when he was elected
president of the Baptist Young People
Union OF America. But tho passing seais
have proved the rare quality of h. man
hood. and have eudcared him 20 q iupie
broadly scattered constituency than has
fallen to the lot Of any other officer IN
the Baptist societies Of the world. Many
pastorS and teachers OF eminencc baFd
stood as sponsors TO this movement, ac-
cording as one looks TO organization, de-
votional educational, Or missionary I'M
pulses. There Is a long list when one
undertakes TO name its Jealous support
ers among the capable young laymen Of
the country. But without inslitutns
comparisons It is right to say that the
union crvstallized around the two notable
men nut 10 the front at the Chicago Con-
vention. These were the men OF courage,
indomitable energy, and high executive
ability who carried the enterprise as iew
else could through its years OF trial, op-
position, and suspicion. These two YOKE
fellows dared where Others hesitated,
stood firm when others faltered, believed
10 the uttermost when well-nish all be-
side them doubted and despaired, ana
GnliiuCnlnElN Sultltu III ptiSOu anu b~i 90
for cause that was as dear TO them as
life itself. Outsiders looked on with a
profound respect for their devotion. but
they only could sympathize with each
others labor and pain.
GREAT AND GROWING WORK.
This chapter of beginnings would be-
come volume If the story we're told OF
the work Of extending the Organization
In all its countless ramiiicatons. OF the
purchase and transfer OF the paper from
Philadelphia to Chicago, OF the elabora-
ton of the educational scheme till it
doomed into its present form. as the
Christian Culture Courses, or Of the de-
ightfuI realization OF the dream Of a
thoroughly united North and South at the
| Chattanooga Convention. Some day these
events must be set down in their order
and significance. And IL may he that
n later historian will record Tor New
| England readers a tale Of Fellowship with
| the international Union after a fashion
| that still seems impossible. The present
| achievements. all of which may still be
| called beginnings forbid anything but the
most unbounded prophecies for the
achievements yet 10 come For the Bap-
list Young People OF the Continent are
! a giant. who has not yet begun TO feel
| his strength.