The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-14
THE PRESS CONVENTION
Distinguished Assem-
blage at the Beach.
THREE SESSIONS YESTERDAY

Auspicious Inauguration Yesterday
Recommendations given a Royal Well
come by Mayor WaddeII-Maior Hale
Makes a Beautiful Response-Able
Report From President DOwd.
Ye Tar Heel scribes are now in full
bloom at Carolina Beach, devising
plans great and small for the advance
ment of journalism in North Carolina,
TO benefit both the people and the edi-
tors.
The quill drivers have assembled in
attendance upon the twenty-seventh
annual convention of the State Press
Association, and the convention is be
ing conducted on a most profitable ba-
sis. The opening sessions were held
yesterday and resulted most benefi-
cially.
There are eighty d of the Old North
States talented and patriotic sons in
attendance upon the convention, and
they are a fine looking body of men.
They can present a bold and conquering
front either intellectually OF physically,
and Wilmington feels proud hat she
has such an assemblage within her por-
tails.
Many of the editors are accompanied
by their wives and daughters, which
runs the sum total Of the party up to
about 125 They are all stopping on
the beach, guests at the Oceanic Ho-
tel.
Yesterday the convention accomplish
ed a large amount of business. Three
sessions were held, the spacious n
comfortable building of Sedgeley Hall
Club being used as the convention hall.
OPENING SESSION.
Punctuality was strictly observed by
President w. c. Dowd, editor of The
Charlotte News, as precisely at $50
o'clock, the our of meeting, he con-
vened the convention, and accomplish
ed his task in an exceedingly graceful
manner. He stated that not only was
it his duty, but his pleasure ito call to
order the twenty-seventh annual con-
vention of the North Carolina State
Press Association, and in conclusion re-
quested Rev. P. r.. Law, D. D., of The
Lumbe Bridge News, ITO open the con-
ention with prayer.
DR.. Law arose and offered up the fol-
lowing beautiful prayer:
80, God, Thou who dost Thy will in
the army of Heaven and amongst the
inhabitants of the earth, ~vouchsafe, we
beseech Thee, for Christs sake, now
upon this aSsemblage of citizens OF
great influence and great responsibility
in the commonwealth of North Carolina
that wisdom that cometh from above
and which is first pure, then ~peaceable,
gentle, easy to be entreated, full of
mercy and good fruits, without douDle
mindedness, without hypocrisy. Wilt
Thou not, Thou who turned the hearts
of men as the rivers of water are turn
ed, be present and preside and direct
the thoughts and feelings of every
member of the convention and so shape
every conclusion reached by 1t that It's
proceedings may rebound to the promo
zion of the material mental ana rellgl-
Gus interests Of our great state. Grant
we pray Thee, that such streams of in
f1uence may radiate forever ALL the
deliberations of the body under my
guidance as will hasten the coming of
the day when every knee shall bow and
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Aord
to the glory God the Father. Forgive
all our sins, sanctify our hearts and in
crease greatly our influence for Thy
honor and receive us for Christs sake
into glory at last. Amen"
The introduction of the welcoming
orator followed the prayer Of course.
to President DoWd fell this duty, and
he performed it by giving expression
as follows:
Il now introduce to the association a
man who is probably better known
to the association then l am; a man
whose name for the last twelve months
has been on the tongue of every one
the length and breadth OF
North Carolina. He has been delegated
to eliVe the welcome address and !
take great pleasure in introducing him
to you-Mayor A. NJ. Waddell."
Amidst hearty applause Wilmington's
chief executive arose and bid the asso-
citation a. most cordial welcome. In the
: offset he stated that 1T is
, for me that good taste and propriety on
this occasion prohibits long windedness
1t was only yesterday, amidst a multi
plicity of engagements, that L was III.
formed tina l was expected to eXtenC
to this association n hospitality o.
our community, but this did not keeI
a. Cane Fear man from coming and ex'
tending to you a welcome, and l bee
to assure YOU that words are least par
Of the performance of that duty. w
are heartily glad to see you ana WI
mington, of which Carolina Beach Is {
part, opens her doors to you and trust:
that your visit will be as pleasurabl'
to you as it it is to her.'
In reference ito the chivalry an
manhood of North C~arolinians, exem
pliied at Fort Fisher and during tn
last political campaign, the speahe
we'll aid
u cannot forget that within sight o
where we now stand a third of a cen
fury ago one of the most tragic scene
of human history was enacted; tn
most terrific artillery fire since tn
invention of gun powder, INT a oeSper
ate struggle in the dark and agalnS
overwhelming numbers took place. IN
hope of a brave and noble people PERISH
ed, and the last spark eXtingulshed an'
eternal night fell on a lost cause, pu
out of the wreck we preserved on
manhood, thang God Cloud applause
Since your last visit here you motto
a change of environments. We a
self government now (applause), whlcl
is administered by people whose fore
fathers established it. We intend It
perpetuate it. We are all expansionist
on that subject daughter and ap
plause). Nay, more, form a trust tina
no legislature OF courts can destroy o
tamna with and YOU gentlemen ar