The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-16
AN INTERESTING ADDRESS
BEGINNING OF THE ORPHAN
AGE WORK.
GIVING THE GOSPEL TO THE CoNvlCTS
A Revival That Lasted Nine Weeks and Re-
suited in Hundreds of Conversions.
The Program for the Ser
vices Tonight.

| wees l0nlght.
DIR. Hnfnam the first pastor of the
| Tabernacle Baptist charch opened the
exercises of the twenty-ffth anniversary
| of its organization, in an address last
night that was worthy the man and the
pioneer in home missionary work for
which the Baptist church in North Caro-
lima is noted; it was fitting that he should
be the first to speak in comanemoration
of small beginning that has grown to
be a great power and blessing to the
city of Raleigh. He took no text, he had
no note or manuscript. He simply gave
"reminiscences in a simple way, inter-
spersing his remarks with quaint OBJ
servations. Wit and pathos, eloquence
and feeling were strangely mingled in
this discourse that somehow strangely
moved his hearers, at one time melting
them TO tears and again convulsng them
in merriment
At his best DIR. Hufham has no equal
on the PLATFORM among North Carolina
preachers. He was at his best last
night. No report can do more than
give a glimpse of his address. Those
who heard it felt their spirit burn within
them, and were moved to nobler resolves.
His allusion, delicate and brief, to the
drawing near of the day when his min
istrations viii end, brought tears to
many eyes unused to weep.
The first service of the twenty-fifth an
niversary was notable success. Other
n IpnGca will 10 fh., of
deep import to the religious life Of the
city.
DIR. Hufham's beginning was charac-
teristic
"Our Father in Israel" he began,
placing his hand upon DIR. SINNERS
head: ''the first referring to himself.
''and the last. but by no means the least"
pointing to DIR. Simms. Brethren and
sisters of the old guard" he continued,
brethren and sisters Of the Tabernacle
church,
when a boy upon my fathers plan
tation | often, on summer nights, listen
ed to the negroes singing in their quar-
tiers. What melody, what pathos, what
music in their plaintiye voicesl / would
sometimes drop to sleep and dream that
| was in heaven. And so tonight as I
uplifted worshipping faces just for one
moment the thought was with me that /
was in heaven.
Brethren and sisters, as | greet you
tonight let me say you are now entering
upon the celebration of one of the most
important events in the whole history
OF Raleigh. In saying this | am aware
that the city has witnessed many stir
ring events.
How well do / remember that even
ing in yonder State capitol when the
resolution Of secession was adopted!
How distinct in memory is the speech Of
Judge Badger. And finally when the
resolution was passed deafening applause
went the rounds Of the galleries. Ram
seurs battery on the outside volleyed
and Numbered while bells rang and
whistles blew. Men laughed and women
kissed each other
1T was a momentous event-the pass
ing of one civilization and the beginning
of new one. The swan that beauti-
fies and glorifies the waters of the east
sings its sweetest song on the eve of its
death. Even so it was in these last days
of slavery.
again / stood on Fayetteville street
anu saw I-osOVO lHtjl III Dluc UP
It. Horses were pcketed in every yard
and at every door was an armed man.
Old things had passed away That
April day when North Carolina had put
herself alongside her sister States meant
much. 1t meant strife and bloodshed-
it meant suffering and death. Graham
said he saw the end. Bragg saw it, and
Judge Badger had predicted it. How
different now! The things we gloried in
had passed away In blood the old
civilization had been washed away and
in blood new one had been reared.
'Yonder | saw the Republican party
organized. 1t, too, was a great event,
but it meant strife, bitterness, separation
of brother from brother-aye hatred and
malice.
But over yonder on Swain street,
not many years later, there was another
great movement started that had quite
a different significance. There were but
ten of us-five men and five women.
When we met and convened together
there was no strife no sorrow to grow
from our action. And that is why say
there has been no event so important in
the history of Raleigh.
you'll let me say Il in this little talk,
Won you. hllQH liz old WINS wiz
and it's no matter what the young ones
do. The young man thinks the old man
fool and the old man knows the young
mans one"
DR.. Hufham then told in that charm
ing way he has Of telling things, half
humorous and half pathetic, how he hap
pened to come to Raleigh in 1870, and
how he was led to take up the work on
Swain street, from which the Baptist
Tabernacle grew.
Il was coming to Raleigh in 1870
TO become editor of the Recorder. On
the train between here and Charlotte
the gospel promise that no one is so low
and so vile that he cannot be saved |
kept running through my head. And
yet somehow | couldn't realize it. i had I
been raised in comparative ease. know
ing nothing of the struggles of the Door /