Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-09
REV, JN0, 4. BROADUS.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

appear to have stood alone, receiving III
tie assistance from other religious par
ties. whether in Virginia or elsewhere.
Mr. Madison. who to Baptist votes owed
his election to the First Congress pron'pt-
Nv introduced into the lower mouse zen
several amendments to the Consututloh'
the first Of which, provided that Congress
shall make no law respecting an estab-
lisiment of religion. or prohibiting the
freedom of speech or of the press, or
the right of the people peacefully 10 as
scnlble and petition the government loi
a redress of grievances.
1.-THE Virginia Baptist General Com
mittee by means of a Skllful ana ea1Hest
address presented in the following month,
also succeeded in gaining the favor OIL
President Washington for this measure
and that incident, combined with the high
standing of Mr.. Madison in the public
councils procured for them the victory
This achievement. by which the SUD
stance OF the Virginia statute of rellslous
freedom was e11grafted upon the consul
tuition of the United States, is the hlgh-
est title of the Baptists to the gratitude
of mankind. BY that process they intro
duced on a wide arena new experiment
in the art Of government and conferred
an inest;mable benefit upon the world.
They have accomplished great things IN
many fields. but the first amendment to
the Federal Constitution is the broadcast
mark that Baptists have ever made upon
the history of oar race. 1t introduced the
golden age of the Baptists of America. S
a DAY OF GIANTS.
Andrew Broaddus, of Caroline, had en-
tered the Baptist ministry in the very
year when this great marvel was enacted.
The glory and conservation of it were still
frensh upon the Baptists OF Virginia when
John a. Broadus was borr. in 1927. The
best ambition Of both men was to walk
worthily OF a denomination which had
accomplished such a rare task, and to
bless the world by earnest labors in thu
eye Of their Lord and Leader. Certain
ly it was no slight matter for John A.
Broadus to reach up to the standard of
his high calling in his family, his State
and his denomination. There were giants
in the earth in those days; none but
giant could wear the mantle that had fall
en- upon his shoulders
At 10 years of age he experienced the
st serious trial and faced a great cloud
II witnesses, when he began q course of
study at the University of Virginia. That
was the seyerest test, I fancy, to which
a lad of the Broaddus name had yet been
exposed. Well was it for the young man
that he had inherited genius for work
Nothing else could answer the demands of
his situation. The issue was tremendous
but he met it firmly and moved steadily
to the front rank Of scholarship. Ere
long his name was upon every lip, and
the eye of the Old Dominion rested proud
~ on her son. Who in the forties was
doing Drawer work? He shares with Ed
gar Poe the honor of being the greatest
alumnus of the school. Such a work for
the Baptists had not been enacted since
the days when Craig and Waller went to
Jail. He interpreted to them their better
selves; he introduced them to their worth
lest ideals. There are few finer arenas
than great university may afford a gift
ed young man to serve God and his peo-