The Washington bee., 1907-06-01

instance of the assembling together on
Southern soil Of the white and Negro
Baptists of the country. As varied as
the mixture was, the utmost harmony
prevailed throughout, and American
Christianity went to a premium. Ex-
Governor Edwin w. Stevens. of Mis-
souri,. presided with great dignity over
the international and inter-racial thrOng,
and the speeches, discussions and legis-
lation enacted were highly Illuminating
and intensely practical. The immense
Convention Hall was filled at each ses-
sion with attentive listeners, and the
numerous colored visitors were seated
without reference to race lines.
Unquestionably the oratorical honorS
Of the occasion were carried off by DR..
E. c. Morris, the scholarly and magnet
ic president of the National Baptist
Convention. He was introduced to the
body in a most felicitous speech by ex-
Governor Stevens, and was given dis
tinct ovation when he took the floor.
AS the duly accredited representative
of a church which includes in its mem
bership and sphere of nearly one-thlrd
of the entire colored population on the
American Continent, he was the cyno-
sure of all eyes. His truly brilliant ad-
dress of three-fourths of an hour held
the audience spellbound, and the senti-
ments suggestive Of unity of denom-
national purpose and Christian coop
Grafton were greeted by the heartiest ap-
plause He was frequently interrupted
by demonstrations of approval, and at
the close of his speech, hundreds of
white delegates rushed to him and ex-
tended the warmeSt congratulations.
DR.. Morris told in earnest tones of
the great work the Negro Baptists are
doing for the evangelization of the race,
and showed by statistics the marvellous
progress the denomination has made in
the acquisition of real property, the
building OF stately edifces, the eStab-
lishment and maintenance of schools,
the development of business enterprises,
and the gratifying results it has been
achieving in the domain of government
al thought and morals as the militant
champion of civic righteousness. DR..
Morris address was conceded to be the
very best delivered during the sitting
of the convention, and his eloquent and
well-tempered plea for a closer Chris
tian brotherhood between the Baptists
of both races and for a deeper spirit
of sympathy for the needs, trials and
painful disadvantages of the Negro in
his struggle upward, made lasting inn
preston upon the vast assembly. There
is no doubt that the entire race has
been materially benefited by DR.. Nor
ris' able presentation of its case before
the united Baptist Court Of North Am
erica. and it is certainly a feather IN
the cap" of the Jamestown Exposition
that it furnished the opportunity tor the
Negro's Brief" to be so effectively pre-
sented at a tribunal of such widespread
influence. In the election of officers for
the ensuing term, DR.. Morris was hon-
ored with place on the Executive Com
mittee.
The colored delegates to the conven-
ton, as far as could be ascertained, were
as follows:
Drs. E. c. Morris, Helena, Ark; R.
H. Boyd and E. H. D. Isaac, Nashville,
Tenn; J. P. Robinson, Little Rock. Ark.
L. G. Gordon and c. H. Parrish, Louis
vile, KY; George w. Lee, M. w. D.
Norman and A. Willbanks, Washington,
D. c.; G. B. Howard, Petersburg, Va;
A. J. Stokes, Montgomery, Ala; A. A.
Cosey, Helena, Ark; A. M. Johnson,
Vicksburg, Miss. R. H. Bowling, Nor
folk, Va; w. F. Graham, Richmond,
Va; T. J. Searcy and T. o. Fuller,
Memphis, Tenn; Robert Mitchell, Bowl
ing Green, KY; F. Franklin Walker,
Cincinnati, Ohio, and c. F. Johnson,
Indianapolis, Ind.
While on the Exposition grounds the
delegates paid visit to the busy Ne
gro department, and, without exception,
they expressed themselves as greatly
pleased with the magnificent exhibit of
the races manifold resources, soon to
be thrown open for public inspection.
R. w. Thompson.