The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1900-11-21
A TEXAS LETTER.
Rev. j. III. Gambrcll Writes q
Message to His Mississippi
Friends.

time to time and reply in this public
way because of the many demands up
on my time.
am just home from Waco, where
the Baptist General Convention Of
Texas was held, beginning Nov. 9th. i.
was agreed that for unanimity and
spiritual power no such meeting does
history record since the days of pente.
cost. In this opinion visitors from
Mississippi, Georgia, Kentucky, Vir-
ginia and several other States unre-
servedly participated. On Sunday
after DIR. F. II. Kerfoot, of Atlanta,
Ga, finished his sermon on Romans
S:2S, for half hour or more, a general
hand shaking occurred, during which
1000 people or more we're shouting.
The old hymn, "How Firm Founda-
tion,' was sung over and over. 1t was
a scene never to be forgotten by those
present. Denominational leaders and
elegantly attired women were as a
throng of happy children, under the
overmastering power of the Holy
Spirit.
Saturday afternoon DIR. S. A. Hay
den was denied a seat in the body with
only 3 negative votes. Immediately
followed the reading of the State Mis-
sion report, which produced general
demonstration of joy, seldom if ever
before, witnessed on earth. Though
under bitter fire the whole year the
Board paid its 1863 missionaries in full
and had a balance of more than $1,000
to begin the new year with. The Board
collected during the year over $4,000.
During the year Texas Baptists gave
upward of $4,000 cash to missions
and education. During the conven
ton about 10000 was given to educa-
ton and Buckner Orphans Home, be-
side a considerable collection for other
interests. 1t has been said that Texas
Baptists can take care of the
most unreasonable and merciless re-
ligious war of modern times, and do
more for missions and education than
any equal number of people on earth.
The truth of this broad statement
seems to be indicated by their record,
just recited. There is nothing little in
Texas except prairie dogs and some
men, who are exceeding small as to
any good they do.
On Monday, Nov. 18th, the conven-
ton expelled 7 men who, under leader
ship of bad man, had filed grievous.
slanderous charges against four of the
most noted Baptists in Texas. The
convention, by unanimous vote, re-
fused to consider the charges filed.
The meaning of all this is that the
convention is no longer to be used by
men who have slime and smoot pots
to unload annually.
DR.. j. B. Cranfill, on whom DR.. Hay
den has made outrageous war for many
years, was elected vice-president of the
convention by unanimous vote. j. B.
Gambrell, who has been the object of
Hayden's wrath for near four years,wa
re elected corresponding secretary and
superintendent of missions by solid
vote.
Doubtless many Mississippians have
heard of the suits Hayden VS.. Gran
fill ct al" some 80 or more Baptists, be-
cause he was not allowed seat in the
convention held four and three years
since. The recent convention ap-
pointed a strong committee to raise
money to defend the parties directly
involved, declaring that the suits are
really against the whole convention
and denomination. Answering in
quiries, let it be said, there is not the
remotest probability that the defend
ants will suffer in the end. AS the
cases are made up both the LAW and
the gospel are against the instigator of
the suits and his unholy methods.
Touching my own field may say,
am gratified with the upward trend of
my church. During my first year the
church gave $1,000 to missions and ed
ucation and other benevolent objects.
The second year over $1,000, the past
year near $1,000. Not everything is
just to my liking, but we are going on
to perfection.
Just now there is holiness y tent
meeting in progress here and we city
pastors are receiving lots of attention
and rounds of abuse because we do not
cooperate with the fad and the fadists.
am not losing any sleep over it, how
ever. Enough of this kind of thing we
have, to keep US duly conscious that we
are still in the flesh, and that there is
no perfection here below, not even
with those who claim sanctification.
have noted with tears to his memo
ry, that my old time friend, P Milan,
has entered within the vale. And Dr.
j. M. Martin, the gentle, tender hearted
physician, Elder Elisha Douglass, Alex
Reeves and many more have paid the
last debt they owed. Nor do forget
sweet Lou Decell Mcdaniel. How Wv
id and sweet the memory of the days
on which she gave herself to Christ
and baptized her. 1t must be,
SAT the crystal rivers brink,
We shall find each broken link,
Some sweet day."
In the midst of busy life,
charming memory brings faces
yet above the sod that shall ev-
ermore be dear to me. To namethem
would be to make volume. The
Lord gently bear them over life's fit
full sea aud when their boats shall
touch the everlasting shores, may the
gates of life eternal be flung wide open
to receive them
If were near enough l would see