The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-11-04
HISTORY OF BARACA CLASS
MOVEMENT WAS STARTED BY A
BUSINESS MAN OF NEW YORK.
Ilree Hundred Thousand Young Men
FROM the Atlantic to the Pacific
Marching Under Its COlors.

'"'n Iile Atlantic to the Pacific
Marching Under Its Colors.
FROM the Savannah Morning News
Organized in 1890 and gaining a
toothold by reason of it's own value,
inc Baraca-Philathea movement for
the Sunday schools of the Christian
churches is now well-known through
out the christian world. A story of
the movement, as prepared by Mr.
Luther NJ. Tesch, field secretary, fol-
lows:
Marshall A. Hudson, a busy bust
ness man of Syracuse, N. Y, being
oeSlfous of rescuing young men from
the paths of sin and death, and of
/ bringing them into the kingdom of
Christ organized in the First Baptist
church the first Baraca Bible class
on Oct. 10, 1890.
Mr.. Hudson firmly believed that
by sympathizing with young men.
lmpressing them with the manliness
OF the christian life, providing for
them elevating and refining amuse-
ments and allowing them to know
OF the love of the church for them.
he could thereby interest them in the
Sunday school and the study of the
Bible and thus bring them to the
Master.
Inc history of the first Baraca
class would make an interesting vol
uLle' IL mas been a great success.
and over 300 were converted. Young
men of the world found the "Baraca
boys kind and sympathetic and filled
with a peace and JOY they longed to
possess. When cordially invited ,bv
''one of the fellows" to visit the class
many responded and, having been
given such warm welcome, they
caught the Baraca spirit and united
with the class. Over 1000 young
men have been members of this
class, and members have gone out of
this class to become ministers, mis-
sionaries and christian workers.
Mr.. Hudson's idea-put in OPERA
t1on-has solved the problem of how
to reach and hold young men in the
church. Young men at work for
young men, all standing by the Bible
and the Bible school, was the plat
form adopted, and with this ever in
mind Mr.. Hudson has, by constant
study and trial of methods, brought
forth the Baraca Bible class, which is
! a power against evil
Syracuse could not hold the new
! idea. Other men saw in Mr.. Hud-
sons methods many virtues. The
Secret Service which has been very
| helpful in deepening the spiritual life
among young men; the prayer meet
ing for men; the Bible training class:
the social and literary feature-all of
these excellent advantages were rec
Ognized by pastors and workers. and
from all points Of the compass came
letters of inquiry Mr.. Hudson will
ingly placed before inquirers the
characteristics of his class, never
dreaming that Baraca-the child of
his mind-wOuld be accepted by
prominent workers all over the ma
ton, Eighteen years have passed
since the organization of the first
BaraCa class, and now from the At
lantic to the Pacific and in foreign
countries the Baraca pin is worn
and over 800, 900 young men are now
marching under the class colOrs-
blue and white, which mean honor
and purity"
In June, 1898, representatives
from the various classes met in con-
vention at Utica, n. Y. and organ
'zed the Baraca Worldwide Baraca
Union. This union is composed of
all classes taking the Baraca name
and methods This union now has
| 100000 members and will soon
reach million men in Bible stoudy.
Mr. Hudson is now working for a
million men," and is known
I throughout the world as millionaire
Hudson. -
The word Baraca is an abbrevia-
ton of the Bible word "Berachah,"
shortened in order to get it into
| class pin. 1t is taken from II Chron.
| 20:26, and means happy or blessed.
Just as the word indicates the young
men strive to be, making every one
happy that comes within their circle.