The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-23
DENSON IS AGAIN
 NAMED PRESIDENT Alabama Baptists Meet In An-
 nuaI Convention REPORTS ARE ENCOURAGING Howard College and the Orphans Home Are Put Down for Special
 Consideration This Morn
 lng-Union Adjourns.
REPORTS ARE ENCOURAGING

In9-Onlon RolournS. Roanoke, July 22.-(Special.) )-The | eighty annual convention of order at 9:SO o'clock this morning !. the Baptist church, with the large . attendance in the history of the or~ | ganization.
 The following officers were elected; I Judge N. D. Denson, reelected presi- I dent the Rev. J. P. Shaffer and J. B. l Ellis, vice presidents, and the Rev. M. M. Ward Furman, secretary. The devotional exercises at the opea- | ing of the first session were conducted | by the Rev. A. S. Smith. The address of welcome was mads l by the pastor of the church, the Rev. | T. J. Porter, and the response by the Rev. J. M. Shelburn of East Lake, ] The report of the board of directors was read by N. D. Denson, sh owing the organization of the Alabama Baptist | Historical society, with J. R. Tyson IS president, and the sale of the Scotts- 1 boro school property for $3000, which 1 Is now in the hands of the treasurer The Rev. w. B. Crumpton read the sions in Its history.
 The convention sermon was preach sd ! by the Rev. Austin Crouch of Wood lawn from the text: My God, my Go l. why hast thou forsaken me?"
 Afternoon Session. The reading of reports continued al the afternoon. The reports of Judson college, Newton and Healing Springs academies were good. Judson had mo e than 300 pupils, Newton S74, and large classes of graduates have gone out | from their commencements. | Each report plans for enlargement i'll | equipment and attendance The Or phans' home report shows good condi- tions prevailing, with many boys and girls converted. A debt of $S100 is re- ported, and the Baptists are asked for | $20,00 another year.
 All the reports and discussions con- cerning Howard college are set for 10 o'clock tomorrow. The Orphans home is made a special order for o'clock. ] The address of the secretary on stat .. missions and several missionaries in heir sections were much enjoyed and greatly beneficial.
 The night session was given over to a great home mission rally. The Rev. s. A. Cowan of Montgomery read the | report and Dr. B. D. Gray, secretal / home mission board, and w. J. E. Cox of Mobile both made great addresses on the subject.
 1 The Womans Missionary union closed .a~l,4 {.ox-. and reports have been quite satisfaH | tory, and the women go back home D do larger things another year..
 Benefit Society. The Ministers Benefit society elected ! as officers w. B. Crumpton. president, and w. J. Elliott, secretary treasurer; ex- ecutive committee c. A. Stakely, J. w.. ! O'Hara and J. H. Bush The society mas 1 21S active members and 27 honorary mem bers.
 The Woman's Missionary union ad- i journed this afternoon to meet in No vember 1908, thus changing the time from ] the summer months.
 The Rev. Gholston Yates of New De- ] catur made ai strong address on home missions The Rev. w. W. Hamilton, evangelist of the home mission board, made a strong address on Soul Evan gelism."
 Routine of the Day. The convention was called to order at 9;30 by President N. D. Denson, associate 1 justice of the supreme court of Alabama The Rev. M M. Wood, secretary, was l in his place, and large number of dele l gates were enrolled.
 The devotional exercises were conducted 1 by the Rev. Arnold Smith of Alexander City.
 The programme as prepared by the 1 committee was adopted.
 The following new pastors and visitors were recognized: Visitors, J. M. Frost of Sunday school board; B. D. Gray and w. w. Hamilton of home board, J. N. 1 Prestige of Baptist World, J. G. Bow of l Western Recorder. New pastors, l.. l.. l Gwaltney Prattville; J. S.. Dunlap, Huntsville; J. M Thomas Union Springs; Preston Blake, Southside, Birmingham; S. H. Campbell, Troy.
 The convention heard the reading of re- l ports of the different officers and com mittees The secretary, the Rev. w B. Crumpton, read his report which began with profound gratitude to God for the i success of the past year It chroniced the sad death of Maj. John G. Harris, a true and tried member of the board. The board has had the blessings of God dur ing the year. The totals for missions are | as follows: State missions, $20165; home missions. s1S,016; foreign missions, BPS, ,5l3; total, $66,694.
 This is more for both home and for eign missions, but little less for state missions. A small debt of about S4OO0 is reported The report brings no censure for any, but praise to al1
 The report calls attention to the grand dash for home and foreign missions in April, wherein more than $20000 came in In the last few days. It deplored the let down afterward; hence the state missions suffered. It urges the denomination to adopt a regular systematic plan.
 It commends highly the schedule and urges its adoption.
 l A Suggestion.
 The suggestion is made that the centen- nial year close October 31, and that dur ing that month the denomination raise $S5,000 for home missions. It calls atten- ton to the great opportunity to use the students of Howard college during the summer.
 We have heretofore been ashamed ot the Sunday school situation among Bap- lists, but Secretary Crossland is fast removing this shame, and will almost l reach the aim set last year of 100000 pupils. A well deserved compliment is paid to Secretary Crossland for his faith full work.