The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-18

We are glad to be welcomed to Savan-
nah. For months the eyes of the young
Baptists of the state have been turned
towards this city. We have thought of
Savannah; we have talked of Savan-
nah; we have dreamed OF Savannah,
and in our minds eye we have beheld
your beautiful city with it's busy fac
tories and stores, its elegant dwellings,
its shaded streets and majestic monu-
ments; we have seen the stately ships
with their richly freighted burdens
from all quarters of the globe anchor
ed at your wharves; we have felt the
breezes from the blue Atlantic, and
We have heard the voice Of old ocean
calling Us from afar. Dur desires, our
hopes auL our prayers have been d.
rected towards Savannah. Now our
hopes have turned to glad fruition and
the generous and kindly welcome you
have accorded us fills our cup of Joy
to the brim.
Came to Bring Glad Tidings.
1--WE do not come to you with emp
ty hands; we do not come bearing
withered leaves, but we come to bring
you glad tidings of great joy. We
come to report a years work that has
been crowned with abundant success;
we come to tell you that our banner.
with it's motto of Loyalty to Christ
has been planted In village after viii
lage and waves even over country
churches, and hundreds of earnest
young men and young women have
Joined our ranks, and with Culture for
Service as their watchword have en-
tered the conflict with a determine
ton not only to hold the fort, but to
press forward until our banner shall
be placed in every Baptist Church In
the state of Georgia.; we are here de-
termined to make this the best con-
vention ever held by the State Bap-
fist Young Peoples Union and to gain
inspiration for another year of labor
and effort greater than any that is
past.
There is no city in our fair South
land that could afford greater insplra-
ton to the young people OF Georgia.
There is inspiration in your welcome;
there is inspiration in your generous
hospitality, your genial smile and
hearty handshake, and there Is double
inspiration in meeting in this city, the
home Of Duffy Street Union, whose
loyalty and faithfulness have brought
to the South for the first time IN its
history the ALI round banner to the
best all round state in the American
Union.
"Our key word for this convention Is
Christian Citizenship and where can
we find 1t better exempli6ed than upon
this spot where Oglethorpe with ncbler
triumphs crowned. than ever were in
camp or sieges found 1rst pushed his
way into the savage Willis of Georgia,
where the gallant Pulaski poured ont
his life's blood in defense uf American
liberty, and where Barlow went forth
to so nobly illustrate '7eorgia' on the
field of battle?
In this place so rish with glorious
memories and so fraugnt with splen-
cId examples of citizenship may the
vast throng of eager and enthusiastic
young people assembled here to. night
be animated by that patriotism, which
catching its inspiration from the i'm
mortal God, prompts to deeds OF Felf-
racrifice and lie yotioa and leaves below
all groveling personal interests and
feelings. May we be so filed with the
spirit of Christ. that his influence and
power--a force mightier than intellect
and greater than all worldly honors--
may inspire and lead US to nobier
deeds, higher thoughts and greater
achievements.
May the light that never was on
sea or land the light of the knowl-
edge of the glorious gospel of jesus
Christ so guide and illuminate us, that,
dominated and controlled by the SUBJ
lime ideals of citizenship inculcated by
our Great Leader, as his subjects, COM
missioned by him. we shall return to ev-
cry city and country place. looking into
the future not with shaded eyes of ter
ror. but reaching upwards with hands
of faith. standing firmly for country,
God and truth, boring our part in the
conflict between truth and error, be-
tween Christ and Belial. until the VIC
tory shall be won. until our state be
one vast Christian commonwealth, and
our Leader crowned king of kings and
lord of lords