The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-17

With more than 1000 of the leading laymen of the Southern Presbyterian church, fine, strong, prosperous look
 ing fellows seated in the Hippodrome,
 with the map of the world staring them
 in the face, and their motto, '-rhe
 World for Christ in This Generation" i"
 hanging before their eyes on every side,
 the convention began it's work at 3
 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
 The money the power and the spread
 of country represented in the gathering | is inestimable. Bankers and business
 men from every section of tile south
 are here, and their one purpose seemed to look from every eye as they lis- tened to the speakers.
 | The great spech of the afternoon was 1 that of J. Campbell White, general sec
 retary of the movement. The Rev. D.
 Clay Lilly also delivered a strong in-
 spirational address.
 The meeting was opened by ". D. | Nesbitt chairman of the local arrange
 ment committee,- who welcomed the | engagements of the committee, and
 turned the town over to their service.
 Governor Glenn Takes Charge. l Gov. +. B. Glenn then took charge and said that it was great to be in | such city as Birmingham, and with a | few appropriate remarks introduced 1 Governor B. B. Conner who delivered the address of welcome.
 Governor Corner made the laymen | perfectly at home, turning over to | them the keys of the state. He agreed with G overnor Glenn that Birmingham | is a great city, and took occasion to 1 tell something of her big buildings, and
 something of tie educational and legis- lative accomplishments of the state "This convention is like the great | American fleet" he said, which is tB C power and support of the peace of this 1 country. You are here to show how powerful you can be when you get ' together under the Masters hand to conquer the world
 Governor Glenn returned thanks to
 his excellency," and paid tribute to l MT. Comer's strength of character. He ! took occasion to say few things
 
 | about my state because I was paid to | dos it, but even if I were not the things
 were so true that I would have had ! to do it in spite of myself.
 Introduces Mir. White.
 gro be, rather than to seem to be, is | still the precept of every true born Tar heel Carolinian' In speaking of the states represented he said that his mother
 was a Tennessean, his father Texan, 1 and his uncles came from as many other 1 states. q came from everywhere, any where, and am here today standing for my southland as it stands for Gods 1 purpose and the right" He then intro | duced J. Campbell White, who spoke with an earnest assurance which captivated | the audience. There are four things | that bind men together" he said, "a | common hope, a common work, delv erance from a common peril and loyalty | to a common friend. We have a common l work in spreading the news of Jesus | Christ Our common hope is centered in Jesus Christ
 "That which will bind this nation to- gether is to have all her churches and all her forces welded into great spirit ual army for the conquest of the world" Can Do It If We Will. He told of the inspiration of mission
 
 grouped together many years ago and originated that now famous saying, We can do it if we will Since that time the work has grown, the missionary forces of all the churches have united and we are coming to realize that re- ligion is a commodity of which the more we give away the more we have left MT White declared that it is time that the laymen of the church rise up and answer the challenge of the student world and say, ''If you are willing to go, we are willing to send you" He recalled the prayer meeting in November, 1906. when a few men praying and conferring to- gether decided to send the gospel to every community on this planet in this generation, and then called attention to America's world opportunity of eXtend- ing the kingdom of God. Taking up the spread of the movement since that little meeting he said that it has reached all parts of, America, Canada and England; that it goes almost supernaturally into the lives and the influence of thousands of men. He took time to narrate the campaigns that have been waged through out Canada and the United States, but while it all seemed wonderful he believed that there is an explanation to be found. because the movement ''voices the great est problems that confront the men of this world.
 Worlds Greatest Problems. "One-half of all the human race couldn't read a telegram if they got one. That half has just as much ma terial, just as much latent power as the half already civilized and educated. This s the outstanding problem of the world, and it is being solved by the Christian Iavmen. The word of God has been trans lated into 534 languages of earth, which is the most astonishing literary achieve ment-ever accomplished, and it was done by our missionaries.
 "One-half of the people of the world have no scientific relief from disease and suffering, and the only agency which is making any effort to help the sufferers ->~~-~~~~~>~
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