The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-18
CONVENTION HEARS REPORTS AND ADDRESS BY REV. HAWTHORNE
VENTURE CONVENTION
EXTENDS GREETING TO
VENERABLE MINISTER
Dr. Hawthorne Delivers Great Address Before Body
and Receives Ovation. His Last Formal
Speech to Southern Baptists

"A year ago, when the Southern Bap-
list Convention was In session in Chat
tnnooga Tenn, n resolution was passed
unanimously. requesting Rev. Or. j. 3.
OF this city probably the
best known figure In the body, to de-
liver an address before the convention
ut this years session on such subject
as ho might sec proper to select. In
response to that resolution the vener
able minister was on hand yesterday
morning ut II o'clock, and tho con-
vention received him in manner that
was betting. There had been all the
morning complaints Of loud Talk, de-
sultory conversation, and other things
to aid the imperfect acoustics in inter
ferlnE with good hearing, but when
DR.. Hawthorne arose to address the
convention there was silence.
At the opening DR.. Hawthorne spoke
In something of a low tono and kept
his eye closely upon his manuscript:
but as he proceeded, tho old-timc fire
took possession OF his soul. and the
old man eloquent" asserted himself. In
spite OF the teebleness that might
naturally BIO expected in one who has
passed the SEVENTEEN year In his pill
grimage towards n glorious reward.
LIZ oia ClOducilt UCShliic u
young man again. and when hc Incl
dentally remarked that he was not
just ready yet for the chloroform
treatment advocated by distinguished
scientist. the audience could not re-
frain from applauding. notwlthstand-
ing the .cast-iron rule that had been
set by the presiding officer.
Notable Address.
Dr.. Stephens, the president OF the
convention. had been called in commit
tee-room. and Hon. II. r. Pollard was
presiding. when DIR. Hawthorne took
tho floor. Mr.. Pollard gracefully In
troduced the speaker, although he
needed no introduction to q Southern
Baptist Convention. Mr.. Pollard re-
ferred to him as the peerlos,s preacher
of the country.
DR.. Hawthorne had been given carte
blanche by the convention to select
his own subject. Hc did not take any
particular subject, but simply talked
gospel as understood by Baptists and
at times he had his vast audience In
tears. He said in part:
''In the published proceedings of the
last meeting of this convention, find
a resolution requesting me to deliver
an address befonn the next meeting, on
i such theme as, in my Judgment, may
! seem timely and appropriate. Through
i Gods goodness and mercy I am here
| this day To- respond to that request. My
subject Is, Some Things on Which 1t
i Behooves tho Baptists OF This GEN
era ton to Put Supreme Emphasis"
Not On Same Level.
i 1--WE hold to many doctrines and sup
port many interests, but In respect tc
Il their Importance they are not on the
Il same level. Some of them deserve moro
frequent and fervent consideration
4 than others There Is time for every
thing under the SUM- There is a tide
in the affairs Of men which. II taker
4 in the flood, leads on to fortune, This
is Just as true in respect to religious
undertakings rs 1t is In political OF
commercial affairs. Nothing is more
i real than what modern science has
1 named the psychological moment
.There are some things which we
ought to render less conspicuous than
we have boon won't to make them. and
| others which we could well afford tc
4 releEate to oblivion. Emerson speaks
4 OF the "sciencc of omitting' There Is
such a science, and Baptists have been
N strangely neglectful OF It.
! SIN our denominational lifo the
science OF omission must have large
4 place. We have come to a period ir
4 our denominatlonnl development, and
to crisis in the progress OF the wor d
4 when there must be wise and sterr
: selection of principles to be nccentuatet
and OF interests to be specialized
During the last half-crntury the
Baptists OF this country have, in my
humble Judgment. Displayed vast dea
OF misdirected activity In attempting
to prove a succession Of Baptis
churches through all the ages since
the apostles. With the utmost respec
and Kindness venture to suggest t.
to my brethren who have wasted theil
energies in supporting this claim. +
I 1t could be traced 1t would In no degrc,
strengthen our position. and the vail
attempts to accomplish the task be
tray misconception OF the great prin
/, c1ples which are most fundamental ant
vital In our creed.
Real Succession.
"There Is a succession that is ren
and provablc. It Is q succession of thos
principles that distinguish Baptist
from all other Christian sccts-princi
pies which arc destined TO revolution
!, lie the world rcligiously and political
: ~, and advance it to that Ideal stat
OF purity. freedom and happiness o
which the seers have prophesied, til
sages dreamed, and the poets sung.
For everything that Is peculiar an
: ,distinctly~ In the faith of Baptists w
4 claim divine origin. s
eve arc as truly Protestant as IIpis
3 copalians, or LE.fcruns, or Presbyte
0 rlans. or Congresa tionalists. We nf
G lfliate with these denominations /
{ maintaining and spr-<|ing the vita
s doctrines of tho gospel. All of us stan
d against Rome. and standing togethc
: we have mnrvelously diminished lie
e resources. and emancipatcd million
), from her despotlc rule. Wo differ fro,
Q other Protestant Christians in that W
Il are vastly more radical than they. w
& borrow nothing from Rome, OF
4 emancipation is complete, while thail
II Is only partial. Infant baptism Is
h feature OF r..manism. We repudlate
# and pract'1e only the baptism OF be-
1 llevcrs
. .ew months ago two notable ac
i dresses were published In the Religion
@ letald--one BY Rev. James Buchanan
J. y. D.. OF this city, on Personality |
J. Religion, and the other by DR.. Il. :,
II Mullins, president of the Southern Ear