The Denver star., 1915-08-07
GREAT ADVANCE
IN CHURCH WORK
New England Baptist Convsn-
ton Makes Rapid Strides.
ANOTHER MILESTONE

In MastsrIy Address at Convention
Held In New York Or. w. Bishop
johnson Says the Church 10 Still the
Supply House For Racial Integrity
and Enterprise.
New York.-The New England Bap-
ust missionary convention begins its
forty second year under favorable cir
cumstances and with new vigor The
work Of the convention under the en-
larged plan inaugurated three years ago
has passed the experimental stage. and
the whole territory Of the convention
strengthened in its work. The aspira-
tions and achievements of the conven-
president. the Rev. DIR. w. Bishop
Johnson of Washington, in his annual
address at the forty first annual meet
ing of the organization held recently at
the Mount Olivet Baptist church in this
city.
DR.. johnson in part said:
Once more in the silent revolution of
time We are assembled In tho annual ses-
sion of the grand old New England mis-
sionary Baptist convention. The Com
mander in Chief of the redeemed of earth
halls US from the skies. and across the
centuries waves his crucifed hands and
cries In tender. loving tones 'Watchman.
what of the night?" We stand upon the
threshold of another year. Looking back
ward We see much for which to be thank
full. The churches have enjoyed unusual
peace and prosperity. Great revivals
have characterized the life of our denom-
national family and many thousands have
been added to Gods holy army. while
equally as many have been Quickened to
do more for the extension OF the Masters
kingdom.
Never have we been confronted with
greater evidence that the church life of
the Negro 10 still a potential factor in ra-
cial development. The fact still remains
that the church Is today. as 1t always has
been. the supply house for racial integ-
rity and enterprise All the great moral.
social, business and educational concerns
that have added 80 many chapters in the
volume of race deficiency have been born
In our churches. and we would be the
basest ingrates IL we attempted to deny
1t. 1t was within the sacred confines OF
the church that we caught the vision
God and race. Since then we have pressed
our way to the mount of fulnllment
through the wide. deep valley of sacri-
1ce suffering and service. singing
sure j must n8nt II WOulO reign,
Increase my courage. Lord"
No matter how we climb the heights OF
human greatness. no matter how distin-
guished the seat of honor We may occupy.
let US not forget the church. Let US en-
shrine her in our deepest and best affec-
tions. This has been a year Of unparallel-
ed significance in world history and pro-
phetic fullfllment. Never since Calvary's
struggle has this old world rocked and
trembled under imperial revolution. under
the unloosing of military war dogs.
under the destruction of the toll, strength
and beauty Of the ages: under the turn
ing OF the tide. not OF civilization, but
OF falsely conceived intellectually
which cried like the Babel builders, Go
to: let US build US city. and tower
whose top may reach unto heaven: and let
US make US name"
The most civilized and enlightened of
tho nations of Europe are graphing with
each other II In a death struggle. They
are sacrificing the best and bravest OF
their sons on the battlefield: they are
converting their gardens into cemeteries
and their homes into houses OF mourning.
they are taxing the wealth of today and
laying a burden Of debt on the toll of the
future: they have filled tho air with
thunderbolts more deadly than those OF
Jove. and they have multiplied tho perils
of the deep. Adding freah fuel to the
flame of hate. they have daily devised new
horrors until one side is endeavoring to
drown noncombatant men. women and
children at sea. while the other side seeks
to starve noncombatant men. women and
children on land. War y Gods test of a
nations soul. The Lord OF hosts has
made righteousness the path of victory.
In the crash OF conflict In the horrors Of
battlefelds, piled with dead and dying.
great moral and spiritual lesson may
be learned. 1t establishes the rule not
that might is right. but that right always
creates might. Men have tried to con-
duct civilization without Christ. They
have ignored the church and tho religion
for which 1t sta nds as an exponent. Chris
tianity always succeeds whero material
ism falls.
Education and missions should be the
warcry Of this body. But we can never
get due credit for our work. nor form a
self respecting idea of tho magnitude Of
what we doing until We arc really
convinced Of tho demand upon US and the
urgent need OF united effort in making
this the dominant call to the loyal sup
port of our convention. No department OF
denominational work can suffer when the
educational and missionary spirit is alive
The Christian religion is missionary
religion. Its founder was the author Of
missions. He took the longest missionary
journey known to men-from heavens I'm
peral throne to earth's Highways and
hedges: from celestial heights, with min
istering cohorts of angelic spirits. hurry
ing to do errands for the king Of kings.
to earths lowiands strewn wibh the
wounded by sin and the lost of oil ages.
Olivet's command. go teach all ma
tions." links education and missions into
an Indissouble union. and What God
hath Joined together let no man put asun-
der" Every educational institution plant
ed is fountain Of living water. whose
streams make glad the city OF God: 1t is
the oasis in the desert life OF the people;
It is the voice In the worlds wilderness.
inspiring and heartening: 1t is the bull
wark OF strength in the worlds best and
highest civilization: II Is the open door
of usefulness and efficiency for all the
future until the death of time.