The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-28
HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
 OF cHURcH'S BEGINNING
HospitabIe Welcome by Local
 Baptists Is Extended.
Judge Denson is In Chasr--Flrst Das Produces Papers of Interest Traeiss wonderfuI History
 of church in state.

Earnestly and impressively the Ala bama Baptist State Convention. aJ- journed from the Roanoke meeting. re-assembIed in Montgomery Friday morning in the auditorium Of inc city hall. the session being opened by Jus.s tice N. D. Denson of Lafayette, presi- dent of the convention. In q few sim pie words Judge Denson called the, meeting to eorder. and gave out the first hymn. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" The reading of the Ninetieth Psalm and a fervenf prayer, by J. P. Schaffer followed, and then Rev. J. ". O,F5ara of Montgomery de- aliyered the address of welcome In place of Judge Jonathan Haralson. who was absent pr. OfHara's ad- dress was bubbling with hospitality and rang with sincerity that was felt and appreciated by a3L
 In behalf of-the visitors. Dr. w c. Bledsoe, of Lafayette responded to the hospitable welcome, taking the place of pr. Preston Blake, of Birmingham. who was unavoidabiy detained.
 pr. Thomas M. Owen of the Department of Archives and History of the state, in the pname of the other denornina- ~ tions. greeted the members of the convention Tn his speech he outlined the work of the development of the state from the begi1ning and spoke Of the prominent part the Baptists had played. He extended a hearty greet ing from the other divisions of the Christian faith. I
 Tn response Dr. Thomas ". Palmer. of Monteyalio. expressed the keenest gratitude for the helping friendly hand of the various churches and spoke of the most cordial relationship of the Baptists with the other churches. He spoke of the T.. M C.l A and r. w. c. A, organizations and the close, Relationship that iss growing between the different denominations through this co-operatiou. and tenta- lively touched upon the subject as al universal solution of the time when possibly there may not be so many divisions of the Christian faith.
 pr. Palmer said that the old fear of less enlightened people. that their children might be hurt by the lack of home influence when sent away to college. was disappearing. and that now the conduct of the denominationai educational Institutions was such that the students were possibly under bet ter influence, than amid the tempta- tions of city and town life.
 pr. stakely Outlines Meaning.
 Dr. Charles A. stakely, of Montgom- cry, began the real work of the ses- sion introducing the meaning of the centennial and outlining the life of the Baptist faith in Alabama from its infancy. He presented the program of the session which was adopted by unanimous vote as part of the official record. Further he said:
 .srhe Baptists are no better nor worse than others, no more educated, no more cultivated, but substantially are a folk capable of a great love of country, home and faith"
 In concluding his talk he present. ed to the Centennial Association gavel made from wood of the old First Baptist Church of Montgomery. He spoke of the sentiment attached to the 1 relic. telling of what the old church l had stood for, and what its work had stood for, and what it's work had 1 meant to the faith in this state.
 President Denson accepted the gift | from the First Baptist Church con | gregatlon and ordered it to be used | as the official gavel of the Associa- 1 ton.
 The services of the first day were interspersed with worship. many hymns being sung and prayers olter- ed.
 pr. L. o. Dawson, of Tuscaloosa. fin | his paper. that concluded the morning | session, "Our Sisterhood of Alabama" l held the fixed attention of all present 1 He spoke at some length on the sub feet of sermons. saying he was entire ly out of sympathy with the modern | idea of curtaiAng this form of devo- l ton. '"rhe Christian Faith" he said l twas spread by sermons, Christ's work | was a series of sermons. it is the key | note of our form of worshipping God | and should stand pre-eminent before l any other form"
 Later in his address he depicted the | scenes of open service in the country, | stepping from the previous exalted | theme to a humorous picture of the | "re-cess" Che insisted on pronouncing | if that way) between devotional exer- 1 cises. The vivid picture he presented l brought out rounds of applauseA One i feature he mentioned was:
 "Oh, you benighted city folks | whose knowledge of things worth | while is bounded on the north by pink l teas. on the east by potted ham sand viches tied with blue ribbon, on tho 1 south by cheese straws and lettuce. 1 and on the west by striped ice cream; | what do you know of rows of cakes | stacks of pies and custards, piles of | biscuits, heaps of fried chicken. baked | chicken, roasted chicken. boned | chicken, and chicken pie those Npious | birds, so many of whom are destined 1 to enter the ministry (O
 Part of the plan of the Assembly | is to raise the sum of Sl0o, 900 for the | use of mission work. To this end the | following committees were appointed | at the Roanoke session:
 Committees Appointed.
 Historical Committee-Charles A. 1 Stakely, Paul V. Bomar, c. W. O'Hara. 1 Nj M. Wood. R. E. Pettus and J. N | McCord.
 Missionary Committee W. R. | Crumpton, c. L. Yates and J. w. l Sandlin.
 Press Committee-Austin Crouch. A. | J. Dickinson J. M. Shelburn, J. II. Eos | ter and Frank Willis Barnett,
 Campaign Committee-Richard Hall. | W J. E. Cox. R. c. Patrick and A. | Montague.
 Centennial Committed.
 As appointed at TalladeEa in 1905: