The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-08-05

of the south are leading our people all over the world. We desire to get closer to you in this educational work which you are conducting, and I feel that we will"
 letter was read from President E. H. Borden of the Wood River Sun day school convention. Dr. E. c. Nor ris of Helena, Ark, president of the national Baptist convention, the largest negro convention in the United States sent greetings. He wished for the con vention successful prosperous ses- sion.
 Rev. D. M. Coleman of Selma re- sponded to the address. He told more about the work of the negro Baptists in the state. He said that there were estimated to be 10000 of them in Ala bama, but no man had been able to count the negro Baptists. There were many unknown, he contended, and would not be counetd until the final day He asked the delegates to carry back to Illinois kind message, tell ing them that the Baptists were striv- ing to take the state for Christ and the Baptist convention was succeed ing. Dr. Coleman sh owed his interest in the young people and their devel- opment by his large contribution to Selma university.
 "hTe Origin of the Negro" was the
 
 Rev. Dr. s. N Vass of Raleigh, N. c. He declared that all the races of the earth came from the three sons of Noah Ham, Shem and Japhet the darker races coming from Ham and the negro being the origin of Hams son Cushi. Me declared that the negro had never been cursed, that Noah cursed Canaan and not Ham, who DOT trayed the negro by laughing at what he considered funny. The speaker de- clared that the negro had glorious past behind him.
 An injustice has been done tho ne- gro by a book which has been sold over this country declaring the negro was beast. That Is why we have been treated so shamefully because we are looked upon as beasts and not human beings" At this point high compliment was paid Dr. Riley of Bir- mingham and the mention of his name brought forth round of enthusiastic applause. l Nimrod, the hunter, came in for his share and connection with the negro | race, and it was said that Roosevelt had gone to the land of Nimrod to hunt.
 Rev. R. H. Boyd, D. D.. of Nashville, Tenn. the practical business negro, was introduced and delivered an ad- dress. Dr. Boyd is at the head of the national Baptist publishing board. which has the largest negro printing plant in the world. He is graduate of Swamp university, the practical schol of experience, and is an ex-slave He declares that while he is not a college or university graduate he is able to get them to do his work.
 Rev. William Beckham, D. D., field secretary of the national Baptist con- vention, spoke. He urged the negroes to do something; be of worth to the communities In which they lived. He incidentally referred to his trip abroad.
 Rev. James A. Martin, president of the southwest district Sunday school convention, said that the Sunday school was doing much to lift up the negro. We are in this method training the | young negro to look up, to stay away from gambling hells and dens of vice and attend Sunday school and from there to the church, and become useful Christian young people"
 l In the session yesterday the officers reported for the year. showing an ln- crease in Sunday schools since the last session, and a large collection for the educational work Short addresses were delivered by A. M DeYampert of Bir- mingham, Helen A McAlpine of Sel- ma, who Is a teacher in Spelham sem mary for colored girls. located in At lanta, Ga. She made an appeal for the young negro girls, asking that every possible effort be put forth to point them up In life. She referred to the hardships and the progress made by the race.
 William Jenkins of Birmingham, J. | W. Webb of Uniontown, J. H. Greer of Kingston, William Black of Vivian, conducted the opening last night. Some time was spent in hearing reports of district presidents.
 The Rev. A. F. Owens of Tuskegee institute, dean of the Phelps Bible I school, preached the annual sermon to | the convention The sermon was full of good advice to the young people. Dr. Owens is one of the leading preach CTS of his race.
 The Rev. Dr. N H. Plus of Nash vile Is to speak this morning, and Dr. s. N. vass will continue his discus sion on the origin of the Negro" There will be many addresses deliv- cred.