The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-15
Fourth Day.

8ECS HtuEu DE the DdpAt>l 1OANtA4N-oA w
day.
Another statement bordering on tie
sensational was made by a delegate. who
asserted that the reading OF the Biblical
A.ecorder was as essential TO North Caro-
lima Baptists IS the reading OF the Bible
Editor j. W. Bailey was the first man %
protest against this U~tterance.
The convention this morning prayed FOR
more laborers to enter the foreign mis-
sion fields. Several young men in the
! congregation said they were waiting Tor
the voice OF the Lord 10 show them the
way.
After some discussion a resolution was
adopted pledging the support OF North
Carolina Baptists for the enlargement OF
the faculties OF Wake Forest College. The
necessity for thorough and scientific train
ing for the young people OF the church
was stressed.
Steps We're taken 10 instil new energy
into the Sunday School work. a resolu
tion was adopted TO the effect that fifty
ministerial students be engaged to prose
cute the colportage work during the Va
cation period. The pledges to assist N
raising the debt of the Baptist Female
University, made last night amount to
SO, 565.
The convention closed tonight with a
big temperance mass meeting in Tryon
Street Methodist church. The next meet
ing Will be IN Elizabeth City the first
Wednesday in December.
One CT the most enthusiastic meetings
of the convention yet held was that in
Tryon Street Methodist church last night.
when by voluntary contributions, the
settlement of a debt of $42. 900 was pro-
vided. In two years and up to last night.
enough donations had been made to re-
duce the debt to s14, 500. DR.. r. T. Vann,
president of the Baptist Female Unlver-
sity, gave the convention this PROPOSE
ton: He had agreed to raise SO, 900 ii
the convention, or Baptlsts, would give
money to cover the remainder of the debt.
OF this S $500 had already been contribut-
ed. Would the convention, before it lett
1.-The church, free the college from debt?
And the convention, with joyous unani-
nifty expunged the debt. Rocky Mount led
off with a 800 subscription and quickly
other churches olloWed. Whenever there
was a brief pause in the announcement
of contributions some speaker, with ferVld
oratory, would arise and eloquently ask,
or command, further gifts from the au-
dience. At the end of giving enthusiasm
was SO manifest that a spectator might
easily have been led to believe that if DR..
Vann had asked for $1,000 or 800. 900
either amount would have been cheerfully
forthcoming.
The contribution for nome missions for
next year was increased from 81. 200 to
$12, 600.
The greatness and the needs of Wake
Forest College were discussed at length.
and the trustees stated that $50. 900 are
needed for necessary improvements.
DR.. Galley, of Chicago, delivered a force
full address on the young peoples work.
The work of the Southern Baptist Sun
day School Board was endorsed.
1t was reported that the Historical So
ciety Of the State Baptist church had en-
gagged the services of Rev. DR.. i. d. Hut
ham.
How do the Baptists manage to make 50
many folks attend the conventiOn?" a
young man asked me a few months ago in
Asheville while the thousands were pouring
into that city to attend the great. South
eIn Baptist Convention. His idea was
that where there was such d gathering
there must be some ~compulsion. Perhaps
some outsiders here in Charlotte have
had the same thought. But il any com
pulslon is ever used regarding a Baptist
convention 1t VIII be to compel some OF
the people to stay at home lest we do
not have a city big enough to entertain
it. Every Baptist preacher and his wife.
and every well-Intormed layman and his
wife know that a state convention is a
place Of good cheer and fellowship, and
the young people know it, and SO the
tribes all come up, the young and tne
old, the sedate and the vivacious, all full
OF good nature and manifesting a great
degree OF interest in the affairs OF the
kingdom Of heaven.
OF course 1t sometimes happens that
there is friction in our convention but
is very unusual. 1t is admirably organ
lied to avoid unpleasant happenings. No
anxious preachers go to it wondering
into what corner OF the moral vineyard
the good bishop Will send him, for there
are no pastoral appointments, and there
is no presiding bishop. No man goes to
a Baptist convention with a grievance
to De adjusted, tor the convention has
no power to try cases, only local churches
have judicial authority. So at our con
ventlons there is seldom any anxious
hearts or bitter contests. The atmos-
phere Is almost always sweet and peace
full. And when conventions are over
there are seldom any unpleasant recol-
%lectlons and the delegates and visitors
GO home declaring each convention to be
the "grandest in the history of the de-
nomination in the State" And they are
right about it, for the tide Of Baptist
influence and endeavors is continually
swelling, and every years reports leave
the high water mark of the previous
years Tar behind. 1t is glorious to be
a member OF such a body, one that is
not forever lamenting the good old times
that are gone, though they were hon
orable and glorious, but which is living
IN the hight and splendor of present op.
portunities and trying under God to meet
them according to ability.
Baptist preachers as a rule are harder
to recognize in a crowd than any other
denomination. They have no. uniform
way OF dressing or shaving. The mao
who sits next to you IN a gray business
suit and whom you take to be a prosper
Gus merchant or banker may be the
pastor OF a leading church in the State.
while the man in the neat prince-alber.
coat whom you are sure is a preacher
may be a lawyer or school teacher