The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24


friend was right. but only in part,
while the people are good, yet there
are other good things in this part OF
the world. not so far from the Magic
City. where good people ana good
things also abound. still it is far enough
away to feel decided change in the
climate.
After a Journey of several hundred
miles one welcomes the early morn
ing eall of the Pullman porter "All out
for Asheville; change cars for -----
and so on" Again, l am travelling and
again the Pullman porter announces.
"Blacl Mountain next stop" over Is
passengers get off at this station and
when / asked If 1t was an excursion
seme said, "Oh, no; Just our regular
summer visitors" and then L under
stood: and still again I was whiffel
off in an auto to my rnal summer rest
ing place, a beautiful summer home
situated high up on the side Of a big
mountain. facing the east and anoth
er mountain even larger than our own
firm foundation, where one can in tho
early morning watch the rising of the
sun, peeping over the mountains and
gradually filing the whole valley with
sunshine-truly restful place; but you
are asking, why SO many people go
to Black mountain2'
Well, Black mountain is 16 miles
east of Asheville and is the central
point of a great religious center Ev-
cry one knows who keeps up with what
the church of the world is doing that
Northfeld. Winona Lake and Oceon
Grove are all wonderful developments,
but they are situated widely apart.
Such is not the case with this great
religious conference point. Black noun
tain is the central point from which
these religious points emanate. The
great religious development is a mar
vel. The four great religious centers
around this little station on the South
ern railway are interesting, where
thousands of people from all Cver the
world assemble Recently the Episco-
pal church received a donation of 200
acres of land from Mrs. James Wealth
erly, wife of our own commissioner, for
the purpose of establishing the future
home and chautauqua of the combined
Episcopal denomination OF the entire
south, thus adding fifth religious
home TO this already we'll known re-
ligious colony. movement is on foot
to interest other religious bodies in
this combined religious center work.
MONTREAL.
Montreal is the summer headquar-
ters of 100000 Presbyterlans. 1t is To-
Gated one on three-fourths miles from
Black mountain, far up in the noun
tains and has a. splendid macadam road
from the station to Montreal hotels.
The two large hotels are well
equipped, one executive building for
80 or 40 ministers; large auditorium.
over 125 cottages are occupied by the
summer visitors and many beautiful
permanent summer homes add great
ly to the attractiveness of Montreal,
among them being Mr.. j. Elwood Cox
of High Point. n. c., Mr.. c. Il. Gra-
ham of Greenville, s. c., Gen. S. r.
Keesler of Greenwood Miss, Mr.. d. A.
Thompkins of Charlotte Mr.. u. Y. Coop
er of Hendersonville, the late Maj M.
c. Humphrey of Greenwood, Miss, Mr..
Lord of Montreal and many others The
association owns about 5000 acres and
has a scenic railway running on the
crest of the mountains through Mon.
, treat to Mount Mitchell. This famous
mountain is the highest point east of
the Rockies--6711 feet in altitude This
railraod will be in full operation next
summer. Mount Mitchell is known as
the Pixies Peak of the east and Mon
treat will be eventually known as the
Colorado Springs.
RIDGE CREST.
But for a great big mountain separ-
ating Montreal from Ridge Crest the
| Presbyterians and the Baptists could
shake hands every morning as they
journey to their respective auditoriums
| for religious intercourse. Ridge Crest
| is the official home of the Baptists of
the south. and has been officially in
dorsed by the southern Baptist con-
vention, representing over 100000
people. A 100-room hotel is being built
by the promoters of Ridge Crest and
| many beautiful cottages are already
occupied by summer visitors The
Southern railway has a handsome de-
| pot at Ridge Crest splendid roads
| makes the drives very attractive and
the large auditorium adds another
charm to this delightful place
| Ridge Crest is different in one way
| from most any other organization. 1t
has no debt hanging over its efforts,
and while it is younger than some of
the other religious organizations in the
central meeting point it is in splen-
| did financial condition. 1t Is located
| right on top of the Blue Ridge noun
| tains. L had the pleasure several sum-
mers ago of attending a game of base :
| bal between these two places My at
| tention was called TO tho fact that
one half the team played in one coun-
/ ty and the other half in another. The
pitchers box was on the line and the
pitcher would start his delivery OF
/ the ball in one county and as lie fin
| ished was in another-rather queer
| incident. wasn't it? But this wonder
full place has all sorts of interesting
| things to entertain and instruct one
| Rev 3. w. Spilman, a noted Sunday
| school worker, is at the head of the
| Ridge Crest association, and United
States Circuit Judge j. c. Pricnard Is
giving active support to the material
development of this splendid work of
the Baptists and 1t Is only u ques-
tion of a short time when Ridge Crest
Will he a great central power for the
advancement of Its work.
Y. M. c. A. AND Y. w. c. A.
When we speak of the work of the
Y. M. C. A. and that of the Y. w. c.
A., we touch the handspring of the
effectual work among the youth OF the
land and no work is so we'll organ
lied, so much appreciated and carried
on so successfully as this work.
This work is undenominational and
its power is great
The association is situated about
two miles south of Black mountain and
as one hurries along enrapt in the
beauties of the Land of the Skies"
and suddenly comes upon the associa-
tion grounds with all it's splendid
buildings and artistic arrangement at
the foot Of huge mountains, one is
amazed with its splendid achievements
1t is electrically lighted, with power
from It's own streams: has every avail
able facility for comfort and progress
The Robert p. Lee hall cost 500 900 !;
an auditorium has already been built
separate from the large main build