The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-03
MALLORY PRES|DES AT FIRST MEETING Baptist Men of State in Ses-
 son Here
 WELCOMED BY BLACK Dr Hendnrcon haIc. Iufo-.....~
Dr. Henderson Makes Interesting Speech on Element of HerOism in Christianity-Timid People Can't
 Be Christians, He Declares
The Programme Today

MORNING.
 ''rhe Baptist Household in Alabama, w. B. Crumpton presiding. aioo-Prayer and praise service, Prof
 Stephen Allsop
 9:50-"Who Are the Baptists in Ala
 bama ?'' pr. c. A. Stakely Montgomery
 10:2o-"A Worthy Objective and an Ade quate Policy for Alabama Baptists," Dr
 L. o. Dawson.
 l Il 11:00-Voluntary expressions on proposed policy.
 l AFTERNOON. l Stewardship, J. B. Ellis presiding l 2:l5-Prayer and praise service Prof 1 Stephen Allsop.
 l 2:3O-"Relgion in Business" Darby II l Brown.
 2:45-"The Stewardship of Life.- pr 1 Eyland Knight, of Tennessee
 S:15-"The Tithe a Mnimum,' H. z Duke, of Dallas, Tex
 l 3:6-Open conference, H. Z Duke.
 NIGHT.
 Missions in the Home Land" P. w. James presiding.
 1 7:15-Prayer and praise service, Prof. Stephen Allsop.
 1 7:i5-Home missions, Dr. B. D. Gray, Dr. Charles $. Gardner and pr. l.. B. War l ren.
 l N'eh OOi. II. A's U. Ol otlufd III the chair the first convention of the mel, of the Baptist church of Alabama was ! called to order at 7l5 o'clock last night at the First Baptist church. There were present upwards of 200 among them sev- eral ladies, who occupied seats in the gallery It was announced that ladies would be welcomed to the meeting the only restriction being that they occupy seats in the balcony Solicitor Hugo L. Black welcomed the visitors and bade them feel a, home. He said that not only the Baptsts of Bir- ningham welcomed the out-of-town visi- tors, but the entire city was glad they were here. MT. Black said that he be- | lieved the present convention was the forerunner of great things to be accom- plished by the Baptist men in Alabama, things which will wield a great influence over the civic, moral and commercial ele- ments of the state
 ''The organization of the forces of good is necessary in order that the forces of evil may be successfully combatted,'' sad Solicitor Black. "I believe in making re- ligion practical and the only way to make
 
 10 understand that it is their duty to practice in their every walk of life the same brand of religion they exemplify." Tuscaloosa Man Responds E. l.. Dodson of Tuscaloosa responded to Mr. Blacks address of welcome He expressed the belief that no better place | than Birmingham could have been se- Iected as the meeting place of the con- vention. He said that Birmingham may have welcomed larger conventions. but, in nis opinion, she never welcomed a more ccnsecrated body of men than the Dap- tist laymen.
 Colonel Mallory followed MT. Dodson and outlined the course of work to be followed today and tomorrow. One of the most interesting speakers of the evening was Dr. J. T. Henderson of Chattanooga, general secretary of the laymen's missionary movement Dr. Henderson's subject was, "The Element Of Heroism as a Factor in Christian Progress He began with the life of the Apostle Paul and carried his hearers on world-trip through the ages to the present time, mailing his points with clev- erly told stories pointing convincing morals. He said, When we look upon religion as a flowery veo of ease, I am sure we miss the Bible conception, for it is taught that the way of Jordan Is most rugged; yet, we find at the end of the rough journey q most enchanting home, and the route, although narG gIyes views of entrancingy beautiful land scape.'
 He pointed out that the life of Chris tian in whatever time of history. from the dark ages to the present day, had been warfare and that the warfare con- tinued with unabated vigor today. He expressed the belief that if religion was made harder; that if men could see the heroism necessary to be real Christian there would be more real men in the ranks of Christianity, fighting the battles of the Sor of Galilee us they were fought in the days of the martyrs, when men gave up all that life held dear, and even life itself. rather than deny their belief in the Supreme Being. He showed that strong men liked hcroics; that mana real man-did not want to select the easy tasks, but that he preferred to do something that re- qured energy and the exercise of all his faculties to accomplish rather than the puny little tasks that could be done by ordinary lnortals.
 Christians Not Timid ",rimid folks can't be Christians" he declared. "The job is so big that it takes | stalwart men to undertake it successfully. | I don't believe that any soldier in the I history of the world has shown as much courage as the soldier of the Lord, or | is any more deserving of the plaudits of | the multtude
 I Dr. Henderson received an ovation when he had done.
 1 The Rev E. w. Rucker. pastor of the First Baptist church at Roanoke. com rleted the evenings programme. His sub- | ject was "The Redscovery of the Lay man." MT. Rucker based his address mainly on the lack of work done by the | laymen of the Baptist church, as com pared with the laymen of other denomi- aions. He exhibited a chart prepared in 1899, showing that up to that time l the Baptsts were the most backward nomination in the United States in the matter of giving and of work performed. The chart gave the United Presbyterian church the highest rating as to giving. ] showing that donations amounted to something more than g for each member | of the church in the United States. It is expected there will be many dele | gates arriving from points in the state | this morning. The attendance to the con- vention was expected to reach 1000, and it is believed there will be many registra- tions today.
 It was announced last night that the speakers for tonight will be among the mort important of the entire convention They are: Dr. Charles l.. Gardner of the