The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-29
MANY BAPTISTS
 AT CENTENNIAL One Hundredth Anniversary of Church In Alabama N. D, BENSON PRESIDES A Number of Interesting and Important Papers Are Read and Speeches Delivered In Montgomery
 Meeting.

J of the organization in the state It is a fact of interest that more than 10 years before the state was admitted into the union there were Baptists at work though a church was not organized until 1SOS Since that time 1t has become the most populous religious organization in the state, and has made in the last 10 years marvellous strides, according to the re- ports of the speakers.
 It is matter of regret that Justice of the Supreme Court Jonathan Haralson who was assigned the duty of welcoming the visitors on Friday, was not able to do so. His place was taken by the Rev. J. W. OHara. The Rev. Preston Blake of Birmingham. to have responded to the welcome address, was absent, his place being taken by the Rev. W. c. Bledsoe of Lafayette. Dr. Thomas M. Owen, 'di- rector of the state department of archives and history, and member of the Court Street Methodist church. spoke for other denominations, with response by Dr. Thomas ". Palmer head of the Girls school at Montevallo
 
 standpoint an adjourned sesszon of the state convention from Roanoke last sum mer It is presided over by Judge N. D.. l Denson of the supreme court and att 1 tended in the main by the men and the women who were at the convention It seeks to assemble interest in church activ- ities, one of which is to raise this year,
 
 missions Special work is to be presented in the line of educational uplift His tory research is also to be encouraged
 In the introductory address Dr. C. A. Stakeley, pastor of the host congrega- tion, took up the progress of the church in four periods, and these will be devel- oped from time to time by others. They are: 1908 to 1873, the admission of the state into the union; 1919, to the separa- tion from the northern body; then to the days of reconstruction, and then to the present. History, legend and story made up the address of pr. Stakely, which was one of the best presentations of the sub ject every contributed in the state.
 The meetings are held in the splendid new First Baptist church, we'll on to completion at cost of s5O,OOO to the con- gregation. It is a beautiful marble edi- flee.
 unique address was that of pr. L. O. 1 Dawson of Tuscaloosa, on the "Ssterhood of Associations" The speaker dwelt at length on the freedom of the Baptists and their lack of oversight of the bishop kind. He said that the association just came on as a result of a demand for rallying ground, and to break the long way from the church to the convention.
 Among the historical papers of inter- est will be one by Chief Justice J. R. Tyson of the Alabama supreme court head of hte State Baptist Historical so- ciety. H. s. Halbert of the Alabama department of archives and history will discuss the work of the Baptists among the Indians. He is said to be among the best posted men of the country on the h. dians. Dr. J. M. Frost of Nashville had paper on Friday on the Southefn Bap- tist convention, and Dr. B. F. Riley of Houston, Tex, on the triennial conyen- ton.
 Dr. B. D. Gray, home mission secretary. spoke of ''The Great Commission on Friday evening. Dr. Gray was for a long time pastor of the First church in Bir- mingham and a man of wide acquaint- anoe in the state. On Sunday John R. Sampey of Louisville, Ky. will have talk on the Baptist seminary located there. Rev. w. J. E. Cox on the same date, will have a sermon on the state ment of the Baptist faith. Other pa pers will be by H. J. Willingham of the Alabama educational department and pr. A. r. Montague, president of How ard college.
 Tonight the session was on education as related to the Baptists of Alabama, of the Baptist centeniary convention. The fact that God made man in His own image, and the conviction of the fathers based upon this. led them to found How ard and Judson colleges for the devel opment of their sons and daughters.
 The beginning of the state convention was August 1T, 1883, when Halcomb Mo Call, Ryan and Thomas met at n conn try church. Others came next day. but if was small beginning. It was the result of prayers of these four men that tbe Howard and Judson were founded school for indigent ministers near Greens boro of short duration was the stepping stone to the Howard and the property was sold in 1857 for debt. At conyen- tion at Talladega In 1S41 Howard col- lege was planned and the school opened in 1S42 at Marion with nine students.
 Dr. s. s. Sherman now 90 years old. at Chicago, was it's first president A sue cesson of presidents and their admins trations and its struggles through the years were noted and the heroic achieve ments of educators and devoted trustees in its behalf marked It's suspension from 1863 to 1865, it's reopening under J. l.. M. Curry in 1865, it's final removal to East Lake in 1887 with connected his tory and its huctuating experiences with it's present successes were emphasized.
 Dr. Patrick asked, as the hour was late, that his paper be printed and ae be allowed simply to talk briefly The personnel and character and achievements fin a general way graphically told es- pecially of the founder of the institution Milo P. Jewett, constituted in the main the substance of the speech.
 MT. Wilingham, as the last man on a Saturday night programme, made a hu- morous' and telling speech, asking that his paper be printed also. Quite an ef- fectve presentation was his of the part Baptists had played in the services to the state in the several presidents of the institutions. as well as in the rank and file of the schools of the villages and the country places.
 Rev and Mrs. Ray of Japan and Miss Willie Kelly of China returned mission aries were introduced to the convention The missionary talk was made by MT. Ray.
 A motion by Dr. J. R. Sampey of the Southern Baptist Theological seminary was adopted. that Drs. Montague and Joa+r;cl, write a letter to, for.mer prasi