The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-10
One Thousand of Them
Attend Y. w. G.. A. BIZ
ennial Convention.
BRILLIANT SCENE
AT OLD ST. PAUL'S
President of Richmond .Associa-
ton Welcomes Delegates Here
From Every State in Interest
Of Broader Womanhood.
Daughter of President
Wilson in Attendance.

From nearly every State. 1000 wo-
men. including a daughter OF President
Woodrow Wilson. have assembled here
to attend the fourth biennial conven-
tion OF the Young Womcn's Christian
Association of America, which opened
It's sessions In ST Paul's Episcopal
Church yesterday afternoon
Not since the convention Of tho
United Daughters Of the Confedera cy.
more than year ago. was the city
host to SO distinguished a gathering
OF women. With them there arrived
In the Etaid old capital OF the Con-
fedcracy, the unseen spirit of the w'H-
man movement which the big conven-
ton tyDif"s
There was not absent the color and
life which accompanies the gathering:
OF women from many states for what
ever purpose. The auditorium OF st
Pauis never In It's history held a CON
vention. for business assembled, so
gay in color and dress. For. oe It
known. that while Young Womens
Christian Associations lay stress on
uplift and service. their members as
their very name implies. arc far from
being too old for wholesome respect
for the fashions. There was the sub
du1d air of mighty gathering III
serious conclave. but there was also
striking hats
Welcomed 10 Richmond.
Miss Katherine II. Hawes, president
ot the Richmond association welcomed
the delegates 10 a city which only
last year raised $4,000 by popular
snhscr'Ption with which TO build a
permanent homo for it's young women.
Rchmond's gates, shc told them were
opened wide 10 rccciv. the sisters from
near and far. and the heart Of Rita-
monds people welcome them. Mrs &.
J Buchanan Of indianapolis first vice
president OF the national association.
responded for the delegates. paying a
tribute 10 the courtesy and ospitality
FOR which tho South and Richmond IN
particular is known.
TWO addresses featured the opening
day The first. on the subject Re
lISior." came at 2 o'clock in the after
noon, and was delivered by Rev Cor
nclius Woelf<in. y u. pastor OF the
Fitth Avenue Baptist Church New
YORK His address followed ~ vel
coming ceremonies and the report OF
tho nominating committee Tho even
Ing address was made ny Professor
Graham Taylor president of the Chica-
go school OF Civics and Philanthropy.
on the subject The Responsibility of
Christian Workers for the Retirement
of Social Conditions"
Convention Formally Opens.
Tho convention was called 10 order
at 2:3o o'clock by Mrs. Buchanan Rev
w Russell Bowie. rector of St Pauvs
formally inaugurated the meeting with
2 reading from the Scriptures and
prayer
Mrs. Stephen B. l. Penrose. OF Walla
Walla. Wash. was elected convention
president, being the unanimous choice
OF the nominating committee. Mrs
Penrose is president of the assccia-
ton in her home city, and has been
active in association work for about
fifteen years. Her husband is Dresi-
dent OF Whitman College, in Walla
Walla. and is first cousin OF Scra-
tor Boies Penrose, OF Pennsylvania
Miss Katherine II. Hawes, president
of the Richmond association, was elect
ed first vice e-president. Mrs. Kendall
Emerson. OF massachusetts,. second
vice president. and Miss Lillian Sher-
man, of California. and Miss Anna Nc
Clintock. of Colorado. national secre-
taries.
The principal address was delivered
by Rev. Cornelius Woelfkin, pastor OF
the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, New
York who spoke on "Rcligion." He
preached the religion which Is the
strength of conviction derived from tic
experiences of life. and which IS IN
dependent of creeds and theolog!rs.
Fashions are the grace of God" he
asserted. Think now monotonous ;lte
would he If we all dressed alike. The
old time Quakers, who expressed their
conformity by wearing q set costume
have disappeared, even from PhiladeI-
phia- Men have learned that mere uni
formity Is not unity; and it IS the
same with creeds IT is right that
they should change, and that each man
thould believe as he chooses.
TOIcrntes No Idols
True religion tolerates no idols.
The man who accepts a creed in place
Of real experience of life and reai-
zaton of the truth. Is an idolater
He who accepts a theology In lieu of
the brain-swe of working out his
own belief, is an idolater. Even adora-
ton of the cross may become idola-
try.
Religion does not come like tho
dew at night. nor does 1t brighten IN
the mind like a dawn in June. kel'g-
ion Is born of storm and stress. When
life Is passing. and doubts and the
sight Of death and pain, and all .>e
other negatives OF the universe beset
one. religion is born as the one posi-
tive thing. defying all OF these.
Religion is thus the base line OF all
human unity. and binds all humanity
together, for while men differ in the
accidents and circumstances of life.
they are all similar In these funda-
mental experiences.
'Meekness and sentlencss and long
suffering should not be taken as tho
primary qualities of Christianity 1T
Is true that these were characteristics
or Christ; but 1t should be remembered
that his was the peace of conquest and
the gentleness of power. and that He
died because He had the strength to
give up life
"Religion is to the souY what genius