The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-18
BOOKER WASHINGTON FRIDAY
Will Address the Convention Then and Other Prominent Negroes VIII Speak Today-President
 Harris Is Reelected.

Wnicn met In the Shiloh Baptist church yesterday morning and will continue in session Until Monday night. The conven- tion is presided over by the Rev. E. c. Morris, D. D.. of Helena, Ark.
 The national Baptist convention is per haps the largest negro organization in the United States, having a following of 1,S00000 and missionaries at work in Af- rica establishing churches and schools and trying to clvilize the natives.
 The sessions are held annually and large numbers of negroes are brought retaries of the departments and to dis cuss the work. For several days they have been coming into the city. and when President E. c. Morris called the convention to order yesterday morning 1t was impossible to get standing room. Seated on the rostrum on the right of President Morris was Mayor W. M. Drennen, who delivered an address of welcome.
 pr. Morris. in calling the convention to order. said
 pr. Morris Speaks.
 Tt gives me unspeakable pleasure to announce that the time has come to con vene the national Baptist convention in its twenty-second anniversary meeting. A kind Providence has directed that we should meet in this great Magic City, the center of the great manufacturing inter- ests of the south, whose spirit of prog ress and industrial activity rivals that of many of the older and larger cities of the FafI fa in inspiration for renewed activity in Chris tan work by coming in contact with the publie-spirited citizens of this metropolis and in looking upon the blazing furnaces which surround you. The great denomi- nation which you represent has no mean standing in this city. There are several strong churches which have at their head able and scholarly pastors, and they number among their followers doctors, lawyers, teachers, bankers and business men. It is appropriate that we should meet at such a place and among such n people. I bespeak for your sessions peace, harmony and happiness. Many grave questions affecting the race and denomination will claim your attention. I em sure that In the discussion of these questions you will exercise moderation and all matters will be considered dis rassionately. Let each one remember that we come here to represent strug- gling race which has everything in life to gain. Let the spirit of Christ, our great Leader, be seen in every messen- ger. Let every man do his duty for God and his race while here.
 Prayer Service.
 The Rev. J. r. Thomas, D. D., of Chi cago was next introduced, and conducted the song and prayor services by reading the scripture lesson and lining the hymns Music was rendered by a choir of 100 voices under the direction Of Prof. William Roseborough of Nashville. The Rev. pr, J. B. Green of Shreveport made the opening prayer. He asked God to guide the convention during the week and to raise for the negroes friends in this southland in order that the much talked-of negro problem could be solved. Short prayers were also offered by the Rev. s. E. Smith of Owensbcro, Ky, and w. A. Creditt, D. D., of Philadelphia, Pa.
 we have reached the place." said Dr. Morris, where we will have addresses of welcome. I .ake pleasure in presenting to you the pastor of this church, Dr. T. w. Walker, who will deliver an address"
 pr. Walker in delivering his address spoke of the negroes who were present from every section of the globe repre- scnting the progress made by the race in the past thirty-elght years. He said that Birmingham had the brain and sirew of the negro race present, men and women who believed in doing something, and not so much in talk. Dr. Walker then turned the church over to the convention for the week.
 The following letter was read from J. K. Jackson, private secretary to Gov ernor w. D. Jelks;
 "Rev. c. L. Fisher. Birmingham, Ala:
 Dear Sir-The governor IS this morn- mg in receipt of your invitation Co be present at the opening session of the na- tional convention of colored Bapt.sts on the 17th of this month.
 '.IIe directs me to thank you for the Invitation and to express hls regrets that his engagements will not permit him to accept it."
 Mayor Drennen's Address.
 At this point Dr. Morris stated that the convention was honored with the mayor of the city, who would deliver an address. Mayor Drenn was given an ova- tion by the large delegation. He com menced bis address by stating that upon hearing the convention of more than 2000 delegates was coming to the city he com municated with the president of the street car company, asking that ample provis- ions be made to accommodate the dele gates, ard had the assurance that 1t would be done. He ssid:
 "For the second time during my term of office covering a period of almost four years, I have had the pleasure of ad- dressing a national convention of your race. Owing to the fact that our city is young, and is now On what is termed by some of our citizens a boom, 1t is impos- sible % provide suitable and comfortable accommodations for you, as we would like. or could furnish under ordinary con- ditons, but what is lacking in comforts hope will be more than made up in hospitality During the past year I have had the honor of welcoming quite a num- Der of organizations and conventions to our city. Included in this number was Q delegation of republican congressmen Who came to Alabama to investigate tie actual condition of the negroes in this state. l am glad that can say to you here today that they not only enjoyed our southern hospitality. but were sur prised and eratifed at the kind asd feeling which exists between the white and colored throughout this state.
 The Negro Problem.
 "The negro problem which Is worrying some of our friends in the east and es- pecially in the New England states, where there are scarcely no negroes, Is today being solved by such men as Book
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