The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-31
BARACAS CONDUCT
 CHURCH SERVICES To Build Up Membership of Southside Baptist Class ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT interesting Paper Traces Beginning and Growth of Great Baraca Work.
 Special Musical Programme
 by Class Choir.
ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT

by Class Choir.
 The Southside Baraca class conducted the services at the southside Baptist church last night at 7:3O o'clock and the programme was an interesting one. The service was largely attended, especially by young men interested in the move ment. and the departure from the usual order was no doubt beneficial step. The object of the special service was to pro- mote interest in the Baraca movement and thereby bring about an enlargement of the membership of the Southside class. The Ramsey class of the First Methodist church attended the service.
 The programme, aside from the wor- ship, dealt almost exclusively with the Baraca work. T. H. Johnson, teacher of the Southslds class, made an instructive address on "The Possibilities of Baraca." !" J. A. schaefer. president of the class. made a short but interesting talk on the Baraca work in the Southslde church.
 The paper read by Thomas J. wingfeld on '"rhe Origin of the Baraca Movement. was ably prepared and was both interest ing and instructive. The paper deals with the Baraca movement from It's beginning and was highly enjoyable expose of the subject. The paper follows in full;
 A few days ago upon receiving the re- quest to write this paper, l asked a friend who lives In Syracuse, N. r., the birth place of the Baraca movement, to tell me about its origin. He replied in rather disparaging tone: Marshall Hudson, a plain business man, simply struck an idea and began the thing" Exactly said I, stthat was all Columbus did, and the world Is ready to honor you, as soon as you give us an idea" My friend un- willingly summed up the basis of all history. A man and an idea are the foun- dalton stones of every movement. so let us review briefly these facts in the Ba- raca movement
 The Man.
 Marshall A. Hudson in 1890 was a busy business man of Syracuse, N r. He had three large crockery stores located in as many cities. and these interests, which were exceedingly prosperous, demanded most of his time; yet he was not too busy to teach Bible class at the First Bap- tist church.
 The real turning point in MT. Hudson s career had come when. he first realized his responsibility as a Christian to his neighbors and friends.
 A few months ago he spoke in Roches- ter and described in a graphic manner his first experience in soul-winning. Prior to the time of that experience he, like many tO6aV 1nokad ha foc ofS di,,rr the gospel through personal contast as a work for preachers and their assist ants. But there came a change. Mar shall Hudson became deeply concerned in the salvation of close friend He sent a good personal worker to talk to him about the matter, but to no avail MT, Hudson was told that the fact that he was burdened about the welfare of his friends threw the responsibility upon him. and that his duty could not be per- formed by proxy. He himself must face his friend.
 The crookery merchant was in the midst of the battle of his life On the one hand were entrenched the perfunctory religious habits of lifetime. He could go to church, contribute to her interests. perhaps even make a talk at the mid week prayer service. but But here habit ended and the realization of new duty assaulted his old position. He felt the call to do something he had never done-to talk personally to friend about Christ- But duty won the day.
 Marshall Hudson experienced strange feeiing of dissatisfaction and uncertainty as he went down the street to the office or his friend. He reached the place. hes itated at the door, then passed on. Up and down the street in front of the building he paced. going through the old struggle again. But finally the door was opened. he walked through the store with his heart in his throat, and stood in front of his friend. whose eyes chased his pen up and down long column of ledg- CT figures The two men grasped hands heartily, then Hudson, confused and em- parrassed, plunged into the subject of his visit He talked rapidly and dis commercially as he eagerly scanned the bookkeepers face for reply. but he was silent. He could talk crockery, but this was new line. The task was hard and seemed hopeless. He looked away, then at the ledger and there. spreading out over the page. was Bllison's reply. Hud- son glanced at the tear-stain, then his hand found the bookkeeper's. Another victory had been won; Ellison gave his heart to God
 MT. Hudson declares that walking back to his office he seemed to be treadng on air He was the happiest man in all the world. He went into his private de- partment and locking the door behind him, he thanked God for the victory and pledged himself to win ten men. He thought that would take q lifetime but the remaining nine were soon brought in
 The Idea.
 With this glimpse of the man it Is not hard to understand the idea He had learned the Joy of winning mem he had experienced the results of business meth ods applied to religious work, and now he was anxious to give the world his new vision in dEganized form.
 So. October 10. lss0, MT. Hudson organ ized tho first Baraoa class with IS mem bers. in the First Baptist church of Syra- cuse. The IS men were speedily infused with the founders enthusiasm and tho class grew rapidly. News of its phe- nominal success reached neighboring cities and similar classes were organized Six years after establishing the first -~~-~>>~~e-~~~~~~~