Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-09-04
The CONVENTION
COMES TO CLOSE
RAPTIsTs END INTERESTING SEES.
sioN-PRoaRAM CARRIED OUT
INSPIRED THE AUDIENCE.
A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING
Brotherhood Gave Banquet Last Night
Splendid Sermon BY Dean sev-
ern on "the Layman's
Opportunity"

The Baptist convention has closed.
From beginning to end it has been a
great success, and those who have
attended have caught the true inspira-
ton which will help them during the
| remainder of their lives. The con-
Guiding day was entered upon with
just as much desire and energy as the
opening. and yesterday afternoons
session proved rich treat to those in
terested In mission work. The climax
of the convention was reached last ev-
ening when the Brotherhood held their
banquet 1t was in every respect de-
ltghtful affair and although the
1 speeches were only personal testimon-
ials, those present were deeply i'm
pressed. Following the banquet came
the closing meeting of the session. A
strong and eloquent sermon was
preached by Dean H. H. Saddler, Of
Pella college who spoke on the neces-
sity of men being loyal to themselves
and the church, and made strong APP
peal that they would lead stronger and
better lives.
The Banquet.
One of the best social functions ever
given at the First Baptist church WAS
certainly that banquet by the Brother
hood. Fifty were present to enjoy a
sumptuous repast which was provided
by the ladies of the church. The ta-
bles were beautifully decorated with
flowers and each was lighted with can
rles which had much to do with the
effectiveness of the surroundings. Dur
! ing the banquet an excellent orches-
| ira, under the leadership of Prof. B.
| o. Worrell rendered a delightful pro-
gram Of music. After the covers had
been removed a male quartet com
posed of J. J. Trenneman, Walter Nc
Elroy, Harry Henness and w. G. Mar
style, their harmony being very pleas
| ing. A short program Of speeches had
4 been announced, but owing to the
lateness of the hour which was intrud-
ing on the time of the service in con
nection with the Baptist convention,
only brief talks were given. Dr. E. T.
Edgerly, the worthy president of the
| Brotherhood was postmaster Of the
occasion, and short talks were given
by w. H. Cooper, John Hansell and
Rev. A. LeGrand. Altogether the
banquet was a delightful affair, and
|
Dean Severn Gives Address.
Following the banquet the conclud-
ing service of the convention was en-
tered upon. After short song ser
vice. the address of the evening was
given by Dean Fl. H. Severn of Pella.
Taking for his subject "The Layman's
Opportunity" Mr. Severn urged upon
| the men Of the church to be faithful
and enterprising: to stand shoulder
| to shoulder and help each other fight
the battles of life. 1t was an earnest
and impressive address and was par
! ticularly addressed to the Brotherhood
who received much Inspiration from
1 the message. The afternoon session
was given over to mission work, open
| ing with prayer service conducted by
| Deacon A. B. Phelps of Competing.
This was followed by discussion on
Our Young People" This was very
interesting. The foreign and home
mission fields were discussed at
length and an inspiration meeting was
held.
The Layman is Awakening.
"The present age" said the speaker,
sis crisis Radical changes are before
the American people and the church
| as an institution is involved In these
| changes. 1t faces the forces OF social
| ism and commerce and must define
its attitude toward them. This is what
| the Christian church has always done
land we cannot yet say with any show
Of fairness that Christianity is a dying
religion and that the church is NOR
ibund institution. For there has come
| of recent years n change in the church
ind fne ORC ito Nv nd mr.
ises great things for the future. This
change is an awakening of the laymen
| of the church to their responsibility
and work. Hitherto women have dom
| mated the church and religion has be-
| come feminine Christianity. But the
new movement among the men Of the
church, such as the Baraca classes, the
Agoga classes and other mems classes.
mean that Christianity will return to
the new testament ideal in that ell its
adherents, men and women. young and
old, will work together for the COM
/ mon good. 1t means that the social re-
| demption Of the entire people Will be
the rallying-cry and more rugged,
masculine type of Christianity will
take the place of the present somewhat
effeminate and individualized type of
religious life.
Men Will Aid Pastors.
This means that the ministry will
return to its proper place of leadership
in the life of the community, that men
will be trained as lay preachers who,
while not regularly ordained ministers
will have yet enough of the ministerial
training to make them efficient lead
ers in the church and co-workers with
the pastor. And it means that men
will join forces in the mighty work of
Outstanding the American people
a stupendous task involving the fusing
into one Of the chaotic masses of clan
nish, dissimilar and discordant ele-
.nents Of our population, and the sim
plifying of our highly artificial and
n1aterialistic life. Mans life CONSISTENT
not in the abundance of the things
which he possesseth.' To the laymen
of our church we look for the accom-
plishment Of this heroic task and the
new movements among men indicate
that they are ready to hear the cali to
battle and that they win come up to
the help OF the Lord against the
mighty The iayman's opportunity is
one Of conquest Let us SO up and