The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-03
S1.OO PER YEAR

Ccnominational affililtions. As mayor,
l therefore speak for the city and our
people Of all denominations when /
say that 4 committee of leading citi-
zens has been and stands ready to CO.
operate with DR.. Hale and the enter
tainment committee OF the church here
TO find and provide comfortable homes
and pleasant surroundings for unr
Baptist brethren throughout the state
who are 10 be our guests here next
week
In this connection. 81 is only fair
TO say many Of our reople had over
looked te date for the conven-
provide homes for the visitors. feel
sure that with this explanation they
will be acquitted OF the charge OF any
lack OF hospitality on our part 10 chris
tan visitors in our midst While
there has been some friction In minis
teral circles here in connection with
local issues, 1t does not follow that
this carries with IL eny forfeiture or
sacrifice OF predominating character
istic or our people and those who have
past, can best speak as To the hos
ptality they have received At our
hands. Those who come among us
next week will be accorded the same
cordial welcome to our hearts and
homes"
The above expressions from Mayor
Springer seem To dc the sentiment
as expressed by dozens OF the promi-
nent business men and citizens OF VII
mington, WHO regretted exceedingly
the unfortunate incident which reflect
ed so strongly on the hospitality OF
Wilmington people
During the day a signed statement
was issued which resented In no un-
certain terms the intimation that the
citizens OF Wilmington were derelict
in their duties, the statement having
been signed by a number of represent
|ative business men, reading in part as
follows:
"As citizens of Wilmington, 10 the
oring its fair name and hopeful of its
continued prosperity and helpful in
fluence, We protest against the unwar-
warranted structures OF the Rev. r ID
Hale in his local communications AMI
|telegraphic dispatch. Until his remark
ably indecorous article ~ our evening
paper of Thurs sday appeared, We were
not aware that our Baptist friends were
not able to take care Of the convention
themselves and this impression was
strengthened by the fact that We had
OF been approached By any one in the
matter OF entertaining delegates. IL
has always been the custom in VIII
n.ington, on occasions Of this kind. TO
appoint a local committee whose duty
1t was to cali on the citizens and So
licit their support in providing for
delegates, and our people have never
failed to respond most literally 10 the
needs of the occasion. III such a COM
mittes has been appointed by the
Baptist churches of Wilmington the
fact has escaped our notice aLd un-
doubtedly had such a committee been
lappointed and publicly announced,
there would have been voluntary Of.
fers to entertain delegates. and the fact
that We knew OF no such committee
confirmed the impression that the Bap-
tists were able to take care Of the con-
vention without outside assistance.
Under these circumstances aad with
out any knowledge on our part that
assistance was needed. Dr. Hale i'm
pugnes the hospitality OF Wilmington
| in a most unwarranted manner and
right in the face OF his daily admo-
milton for christian fcrebearance, love
and charity. We think that the char
acter of Wilmington's hospitality Is
too well established 10 be destroyed
| by the aspersions OF one who Is COM
I.arative stranger in our midst, and
! whose opinions on many subjects
some of us do not care 10 espouse.
"tSigned) J. a. Taylor, S. Jewett,
lC. w. Worth, Il. G. Worth. James I.
Metts. JAS II. Waters, Walker Tay-
lcr, H. l.. Vollers. r. c. QeRosset. L
c. Holt, J. w. Carmichasl, James
Kyle, S. +. AIcNair, q. J. Boney. JaA.
e. Barrentine, J. W. Freeman. G.. W
Chestnut, w. F. Robertson, Iredell
Meares and r. c. Cantwell"
one Of the incidents in connection
with the matter during yesterday was
a statement made by AIessrs G.. L. Left
witch. W. G. Peterson and c. c brown
the committee on hospitality for tho
approaching convention. In which they
stated that the committee was respon
sible for the telegram sent Out TO th'
papers. signed by DR.. Hale. as he sen
ii by instruction after the committee
, had exhausted the las. resort TO suppl
homes for the guests
the annAaTanra of MayOr