The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-08
SPIRIT OF N. C. BAPTISTS.

w. N. JONES. Esq, President of the
Board of Trustees of the Baptist Female
University
The convention was a large and en-
thusiastic body. There We're about 500
delegates. The great amount of work
done during the year, the largest in the
history of the convention, and the reports
from the different departments of the
work We're inspiring. A spirit Of thank
fulness and devotion were manifested
throughout. The convention had dis
position to attempt great things and to
DO great things and it attempted them
and did them.
secretary johnson reported the largest
missionary work done duriE<, this year
than ever before accomplished in any one
year. He reported about $4,000 collect
ed for State, Home and Foreign Mis-
sons. He asked the convention for $500
TO cover deficiency for State Missions
and he was given over 5000.
The educational spirit are especially
strong in the convention Many high
schools and academies were reported es-
tablished in various parts of the State,
involving the expenditure of large
amount of money. This was particular
ly true in the mountain section of the
State. where it was reported that in two
years this work had grown from one
school with $50 students to nine schools
with an enrolment Of 1,600 pupils, and
property secured worth between 100000
and $4,000
The high water mark of the convention
was reached on Friday night, when the
report on the Baptist Female Univer-
sity was the special order for considera-
ton. IT was known that Governor Ay-
cock had consented to speak and there
was a great throng. Miss Hammond,
vocal teacher Of the University, sang
sweet solo. and President Vann report
ed that the school could not carry the
debt of 1900 which was upon it, and
that in all probability it would be fatal
to the school unless it were removed.
After DR.. Vann's report was read Cover
nor Aycock was given the floor. He said
he had promised DIR. Vann that he would
do what he could to help him end his
school out of their embarrassment. but
he could not make speech on education
without first of all pleading in behalf of
the boys and girls of the State who
must depend upon the common schools
for the education which they receive. He
then made an earnest appeal to repre-
sentatives of the largest denomination in
the State to do all in their power to rid
the State Of the stigma of illiteracy
which now characteriZes it. He was
very happy and effective in this part OF
his speech.
Coming to the report on the Univer-
sity, and referring to that part of it
where it disclosed that the University
could not exist with the present debt
upon it, in striking and earnest way he
declared in the name of all the Bap-
lists of the State that the Baptist Uni
versity, the pride of the denomination,
would not go down This declaration
produced round of applause from the
= convention, circumstance. unusual tc
this body. Others may falter he said
but the Baptists cannot fall from grace
at least in this matter. Let not the del
egates to this convention return to their
homes, to their mothers their wives ano
their daughters to tell them that they
love them with this debt unpaid. They
cannot do it and tell the truth. Give DR.
Vann room, and in my opinion, before