The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-05-30
MORRIS !.
OF National Baptist
Convention
Carried Off the Honors at tho
General Convention of Bap-
lists at Jamestown Last
* Week


Convention of the Baptists Of North
America, which has been in session,
here for the past TWO days, was one
or the most remarkable religious
gatherings ~eYer-held- in the United
States. There were 5000 delegates
present, white and colored, repre-
senting every branch OF the great
Baptist faith on this continent.
There were delegates from the South
ern Baptist Church, which organiSa-
Mon has history dating from 1851,
representatives from the Northern
Baptist Convention, now five years Of
age, ENJOYS from the Canadian Bap-
tfst convention, and a particularly
good-looking, and numerically strong
delegation from the National Baptist
convention, the largest colored relig-
1ous organization in the world. Free
ly these thousands Of representatives
OF the great sect, ffailing from 80
: 81 ates and territories, commingled in
Christian fellowship, the northern,
southern and Negro delegates and
even Indians, greeting one another
as brothers in common cause->hs
friends and co-workers in a common.
faith. AS one speaker expressed it,
the feeling of sectional strife which
years ago rent the church asunder,
was buried yesterday in watery
grave in historic Hampton Roads. !,
II is the first.t time the Baptists Of the
North, East, West and South have
united In national assembly since
their lamentable separation more
than half a century ago, ON account
Of disagreements on the Negro and
other distressing ante-bellum ques-
tlons. Likewise, it is the first in
stance Of the assembling together on
Southern soil of the white and Negro
Baptists Of the country. AS varied
as the mixture was, the utmost har-
mony prevailed throughout, and
American Christianity went to q pre-
mlum. Ex-Governor Edwin w. Ste-
vens, Of Missouri, presided with great
dignity over the international and in
ter-racial throng, and the speeches,
discnsatons and legislation enacted
were highly Illuminating d, and ,InE,
'tensely? practical ,~ The ,sinlfpeI1se,
Convention Hail was filed at each
session, with attentive listeners, and
the numerous colored visitors were
seated without reference to race
lines.
Unquestionably, the oratorical
honors Of the occasion we're carried
off by Dr., T. G. Morris, the scholarly
and magnetic president OF the Ma
, tional Baptist Convention. He was
introduced to the body in g. most fe-
lfcitous speech by Ex-Governor Ste.
Vens, and was given O. distinct ova
tion when he took the floor. AS the
duly accredited representative of a
church which includes in it's mem
bership a sphere of influence nearly
one-third Of the entire colored popu-
latiOn on the American Continent,
he was the cynOsure of all eyes. His
truly brilliant address Of three
fourths of an hour held the audience.
spellbound, and the sentiments sug-
gest1ve Of unity Of .denominational
purpose and Christian cooperation,
were greeted by the .heartiest ap-
plause. He was frequently interrupt
ed by demonstrations Of approval,
and at the close of his speech, hun
dreds Of white delegates rushed to
MIN and extended the Warmest con-
gratulations.
Dr.. Morris told in earnest tones OF
the great work the Negro Baptists
are doing for the evangelization OF
the races, and showed by statistics
the marvellous progress the denomi-
nation has made in the acquisition
Of real property, the building OF
stately edifices, the establishment
and maintenance Of schools, the de-
yelopment OF business enterprises,
and the gratifying results 1t has been
achieving In the domain Of govern
mental thought and morals as the
militant champion Of civic righteous
ness DR.. Morris address was con-
ceded to be the very best delivered
during the sitting of the convention,
and his eloquent and well-tempered
plea for closer Christian brother
hood between the Baptists Of both
races and for deeper spirit of SYM
pathy for the needs, trials and pain
full disadvantages Of the Negro In his
struggle upward, made O. lasting i'm
preston upon the vast assembly.
There Is no doubt that the entire
race has been materially benefited by
DR.. Morris able presentation OF its
case before the united Baptist court
Of North America, and it Is certainly
a Feather In the cap" Of the James
town Exposition that it furnished
the opnortunity for the Negro's
"brief" to be so effectively presented
at tribunal Of such widespread In
fuence. In the election OF officers
for the ensuing term, DR.. Morris was
honored with a place on the Execu-
tive Committee.
The colored delegates to the con-
vention, as far as could be ascer-
tanned, were as follows:
Drs. e. G. Morris, Helena, Ark;
r. II. Boyd and T.. w. d. Tsaacs,
Nashville, Tenn; J. P. Robinson,
Little Rock. Ark; i. G. Jordon and
G. II. Parrish, Louisville, KY; Geo.
w. Lee, NJ. w. D. Norman and A.
Willbanks, Washington, D. c.; G. B.
! Howard, Petersburg, Va; A. J.
, Stokes. Montgomery, Ala; A. A. Co.'S
ey, Helena, Ark; A. M. Johnson,
Vicksburg. Miss. r. II. Bowling,
Norfolk. Va: w. f. Graham. Rich.
I mond, Va; r. J. Searcy and r.. o.
Fuller. Memphis, Tenn. Robert