The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-19
GREAT CONVENTION
 FORMALLY OPENED
The Rev. A. P. Sims of Georgiana Is Elected Chairman and A. s. Cowan Secretary of Min
 isters' Conference

Blackwelder, who was to have charge oi this part of the programme. After the helpful devotional services were finished Dr. Crumpton nominated the Rev. A. ? Sims of Georgiana for chairman of the meeting. In spite of the Rev. sims polite refusal he was unanimously elected and escorted to the chair. The Rev. Cowan of Montgomery was elected secretary of the meeting.
 w. F. Marlborough gave a short address on the Minister and the Sunday school . He stated that to be successful pastor one must realize what a splendid oppor- tunity presented itself in the work in the Sunday school. He must understand the work thoroughly and know more about it than any one else in the school, must have an ideal and work toward that. Above all else he must understand child nature and be able to reach and interest the children in the work To be per fectly successful pastor he must give time, work and loving interest to the Sunday school.
 The Rev Richard Hall of Evergreen very ably and forcefully handled his sub feet "The Minister and Missions. The Rev. Hall has devoted a great deal Of time and study to the subject of missions and has his whole heart in the subject. He was given only 15 minutes in which to deliver his address, yet he managed in this short time to impress on the hearts of his hearers the great truths which he uttered and to convince everyone pres ent of. his interest and knowledge of the subject.
 Compliments Rev. Hall
 At the conclusion of his address Dr. Cox arose and complimented the Rev. Hall upon his splendid discussion of this important theme. pr. Cox also suggested that it would be a splendid thing for the Sunday schools to have large pictures of missionaries and their field of labor in the school room, so that the work would then be brought vividly before the eyes anu minds of the pupils and consequently i'm press them more profoundly.
 Dr. Crumpton made this humorous re- mark in connection with this discussion, ..that a man who believes will go in his pocket and pull out his pocket handker- chief but a man who is under conVlc- ton will go into his pocket and pull out his pocketbook.
 "The Minister and Church Finances was treated very entertaningly by the Rev S. A. Cowan of Montgomery. He stated that it would be discredlt to minister to leave a community in debt. but that ministers must remember they are preachers and not money Eatherers They must be careful to guard against gaining the reputation of church builders, for should they do this they would never get beyond it. He must realize that all Gods people are his and that no one should be sighted when it comes to the question of giving. Christ himself was giver. People cannot be made 10 give willingly when forced, but should be shown that it is a blessing to be able to give and that Christians deem 1t Q priyi- lege.
 '"rhe Minister and Woman's Work" vas the next subject on the programme, naDIled by tee Rev. Arnold $. Smith cf Alexander City. He spoke very in- ltrestiDgly on this subject, insisting that Womans work was often under esti mated. In many instances, he said, worlen are asked to do more. than is their share. thereby spelling the pastor and his helpers by willingly doing all they can, for no undertaking is too agY eat for a woman. He used the two beD utiful Illustrations of the faithful devotion of the women to Christ even unto the bitter end on the cross, and ule case of the women being the first al the sepulcher and to receive the slad tidings.
 After he had finished his topic an open discussion was held. followed by Il very able and beneficial sermon, de- iivercd by Dr. w. J. E. Cox.
 Afternoon Session
 The afternoon session opened at 2:3O G ocl 1ck with prayer by the Rev. G. w. McRea of Mobile, after which the sub iect The Minister in His Study was discussed by J. L. Rosser of Selma.
 Tne Rev. E. NJ. Stewards discussion, ''The Minister and His Prayer Meet ing brought forth the most interest ing discussion of the meeting. His subject was left 10 open discussion and the Rev. J. l.. Rosser of Selma was the first to reply. When he had closed his remarks Dr. A. J. Dickinson of Birmingham was recognized by the chairman.
 Dr Dickinson caused a ripple of sur prise to run through the assmbly by stating that you ought to always use ;le eyes. and face the facts as they are" T was very much surprised, said the distinguished minister, ito hear that the prayer meeting had been abolished in Atlanta by Dr. Broughton. dI1 not abolish my prayer meeting,' continued Dr. DlckinSOn, put my con- gregation abolished it for me-" Ev- ery ear of the assembly was turned to pr Dickinson and a pin could have bee1 heard to have fallen, so intense was the silence, while his statement brought forth expressions of surprise and disappointment from the assembled ministers
 The Rev. A. D. Glass of Birmingham made practically the same statement The Rev De Witt of Mobile, Dr. w. B. Crumpton of Montgomery and pr. Cox of I Birmingham also spoke very nearly on ihe same lines as did Drs. Dickinson and Glass.
 At the conclusion of the Rev Dewitt Professor Brown of Dpthan a layman severely rebuked the ministers upon thelr statements that their prayer meetings were failures and set Dothan tip as an example for successful prayer meetings. stating that his church a. that place had an attendance of 250 on prayer meeting nights.
 A. T. Sims gave Q ! minute dis crssion on Minister and Pastoral Work |" w. M. Anderson followed him with discussion on "The Minister and thc Young People
 The Rev. R. $. Gavin of Huntsville concluded the meeting with discus sion on Bleaching the Masses With the Gospel"
 Colonization Bureau Formed