The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-01
Twelve Months of Labor
and Glorious Results.
THESE BEHIND THEM
A Record Upon Which Rests the Smile
of the Master and Which Should
Inspire the Church to Fresh
and Stronger En-
deaVor.

tury, the North Carolina Baptist State
Convention has never seen a better
twelve months in every department of
its work. Not a storm-cloud as large
as a mans hand above the Baptist
horizon; not a hereto or busybody
or vinegar-tongue or bursting egotist
in all the ranks; on the contrary,
general desire and effort to move out
Of the Sleepy Hollow of the past; the
spirit of individual fidelity. local
evangelism, general enlightenment
and world wide missions striding on
ward in every part of the State. A
good year, but it has meant hard
work for faithful pastors, active lay
men and interested wol&en; hard
work for Professor Carlyle raising his
thousand dollars a week for the
Science Hall at Wake Forest College
for General Manager Boone with
fever epidemic at the Orphanage-for
Editor Bailey leading the anti-Salon
forces to repeated victories and bring
ing the Recorder within speaking dis
lance of the ten thousand mark--for
Secretary Livingston Johnson, Strug
Cling in the whirl of the associations
and in the rush of the office for State
missions, trembling at the prospect of
debt, but rounding up with the thirty
1 n
all along the line and all during the
year, but when the gavel of President
Marsh last month called the conven-
ton to order at Elizabeth City, all felt
that a Hill of Difficulty had been
climbed, and they were now at the
Porter's Lodge from whence they
might obtain glimpses OF the Celestial
City.
And yet good as was that seventy
fourth annual meeting of the Conver-
ton, ii did not rise TO the heights
sometimes attained and certainly was
not fairly indicative of the year be-
hind it. In the very beginning
shadow was cast by the announce
ment of DR.. Marsh that he was serv-
For fourteen years he has occupied
the chair and he has shown himself
a splendid presiding ofticer-hrm.
courteous, kind and forbearing, al
ways with the business well in hand,
adhering to the best parliamentary
practice, rendering his decisions
promptly and with great satisfaction.
The delegation was not as large as
usual not as many great speeches as
at times kindle into fame the Goals OF
interest: not so much incentive in the
way of debts to cancel or large enter
prises to undertake; and while there
were moments when the body seemed
on the hill top, yet 1T never reached
the mountain peak OF spiritual inter-
est and enthusiasm. Good discus
sions and wise plans, and all that; but
evidently the late convention was not
the convention at its best
Yet from the viewpoint of that
meeting we may get a few glimpses
of the denominational status in North
Carolina at the beginning of the New
Year.
The Fellowship of Saints.
Mark first of all the free, sweet,
delightful fellowship of the Baptist
brotherhood today. In the homes of
the people, along the streets, In the
side rooms of the church, in the main
auditorium between services, where
they come together YOU see 1t every
where--interchange of experience, re-
hearsal OF conscience, rippleS of
. mirth, messages TO loved ones. NO
matter if a brotherly schoolman IN
fraternal embrace SmaShes the foun-
tain pen of a Wake Forest Professor,
endangering a spotleSs vest; no mat
ter if q vaccinated arm Is occasionally
stroked by an affectionate brother; no
matter if an assistant secretary insists
that the sun is rising in the south in
stead OF the orthodox east; no matter
II a delegate, accustomed at home to
coffee only at breakfast, abroad ac-
meal. All. who could be otherwise
than exuberant in the presence of
say, Aydlett turkey, Gregory's goose,
or Dukes chickens? And IL in few
minutes debate some electricity is
generated, what matter? The air is
cleared, the soil is refreshed and no
harm is done. No bitter personali-
ties, no manifest divisions, happy
oneness of aim and action: Behold it
and YOU will think of the PsalmistS
word. "How good and how pleasant it
is for brethren to dwell together in
unity"
The Stranger Within Our Gates.
Again, note quality ascrbed by
Paul to the ideal bishop
the charming grace of hos
pitality. The stranger is al
ways coming among us and gener-
ally gets a genuine Tar Heel welcome.
Who could fail to be interested and
edited by such men as these? Gray,
the Home Mission Secretary and ora
tor: Frost. the Sunday School Secre-
tary and leader; McGlothlin. the
Seminary professor and thinker; Boz
mar. the Foreign Mission representa-
tive and assistant TO the eminent Will
lingham: Seymour, the honored Mis-
sionary and Bible Secretary; Editors
Prestridge, of Louisville. and Mitchell
of Richmond;i Pastors Blackwell, Saw
age and others. Besides, North Car
olinians have made some fine inroads
upon other States during the past
year and among the famous captives
are men like Lunsford, of AshevilIe.
Hale. Of Wilmington; DunaWay, of
Oxford; Hall, of Fayetteville; Cox, of
New. Bern distinguished accessions to
an already able ministry. May their
work abound and their tribe increase.
Laymcn to the Front
Another thing. true all along. but
manifest today more than ever:
Strong as the pulpit is or can be. the
pew is fully worthy Of it. The time
has come when the preachers cannot
do all nor perhaps even the best talk
ing: and they are by no means enyf-
GUS. Witness Ivey Aliens plea for
the old ministers: Van Buren, Mar
tins address of welcome; Professor
Poteat's model response; Editor
Bailey's clear-cut speeches on various
subjects, and many others. Note also