The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-20
.LAYMEN HOLD
BIG MEETING
Distinguished Visitors Deliver
Addresses In Interests of y
New Movement.

a notable gathering of the iaymen
in attendance OH the Southern Baptist
Convention and Of the Baptist laymen
of the city was held yesterday after
noon at 8 o'clock. entirely flliog the
large First Baptist Churcn. The meet
ing throughout was notable for the deep
spiritual tone and the earnesrness, both
OF the prayers and speeches. depth
OF religious conviction. seldom exhlb-4
tied, was felt throughout the body.
the meeting proving quite the climax
oe the convent ton series. Ex-Governor
Northern, OF Georgia, preaided, and
among the speakers were Hon. N1ornay
Williams, OF New York City; Hon.
Joshua Levering. Of Baltimore, and Mr..
J. Harry Tyler. of the same city.
The Injecting was opened by the
hearty singing of "All Hail the Power
OF Jesus Name" led by large male
choir. The whole audience rose and
sang, the great roll OF mems voices
even eXcelllns the singing in the con-
vention. The galleries as we'll as the
main floor We're filled with men. double
rows standing at the back Under the
lead of the powerful organ Of the First.
Church. the roll of the great hymn was
somethlng to inspire any audience.
Mr. VIII d. Upshaw. editor Of tho
Golden Ago. of Atlanta, Ga., led in a
MOST moving and manly prayer, which
took hold Of all hearts.
Keynote of Meeting.
| Again the great organ pealed o,lf mi.
tlme, without announcement, the whole
audience rising to the strains OF on
ward, Chriat!an Soldiers" Truly the
pody was, as Mr.. Upshaw expressed Il.
powerful as an army with banners"
Prayer followed, led by DR.. Hender-
/ nraNiHnnf rP To,,I,x =
Institute. 1t was ar earnest thanks
giving for the blessings of a Chris
tan nation. Special thanks were given
that the Chief Executive of the ma
| ton, and those In authority were men
1 OF profound religious convictions
Another strong battle hymn follow-
! ed:
THE morning light is breaking.
The darkness disappears;
/ Tho sons Of earth are waking,
i To penitential tears"
The hymn proved to be quite the
4 keynote OF tho meeting. The belief
that the morning light was indeed
4 breaking, that the light of the gospel,
was spreading throughout the earth.
pervaded every speech. and every
prayer OF the meeting.
4 President y, G. Lowry, Of the Blue
Mountain College, Mississippi. led In
:. prayer, after which Mr.. lowering took
the platform and. after announcements,
set forth the objects OF the meeting,
stating that the leaders We're thinking
only of the coming of the Kingdom In
. tho Hearts OF men, The chairman said
that 1t was not intended to make In
i vidious distinctions between the min
Il istry and laity, or between home and
foreign missions. The movement was
broader. and deeper than these limlta-
tlons and embraced all classes.
l Governor Northern told of the cele-
! brstion OF the famous Haystack Gem
tennial on the l3th and 14ln OF last
November, He stated that the meeting
was most fortunate to have with 1t.
the Baptist layman who had caught
4 the conception and had Issued the call
for that meeting,
II MIR. Wiiliuma Speaks.
A Here Governor Northern stated that
he saw In front of him a layman who
was giving $4,000 Il year, supporting
!, ten missionaries In Japan and ton In
I, China. besides educating scores OF
young men for tho ministry. This fact.
Governor Northern said, was known tn
but one other man iE the convention