The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-09-23
BAPTISTS Meet
AT KANSAS CITY
Missouri Town Gives Religious
Body Royal Welcome.
THOUSANDS IN ATTENDANCE

Uninoorporated Wing of National Or
sanizaton Scores Big Success at
sources = President Jones Explains
Cause of 1915 Trouble and Defends
His Course.
Kansas City, Mo.-Profuse was the
welcome that was extended the thirty
sixth annual session of the unincor
porated national Baptist convention
held in this city from Sept 8 to II. in
elusive, The scene of the big meeting
was the Armory hall. at Fourteenth
and Michigan streets, which had been
secured for the occasion The local
committee, headed by three dlstin
guished Baptist ministers and made
up from members of the laity from
every section of Kansas and Missouri.
had made splendid arrangements.
The committee on homes, the recep-
tlon and the general committee deport-
ed themselves admirably, and when
President e. P. Jones, d. d.. of Vicks
burg. Miss, called the meeting to order
he paid tribute to the citizens OF
this city that was royal indeed.
Among the first things to be an
nounced by President Jones was "a
constructive program from beginning
to end" Three well known divnes
one from Alabama, one from Missis
sippi and one from Louisiana, led the
devotions ON the first day, their theme
being "The Work of the Holy Spirit"
while the entire convention threw il
self as a whole into the work. because
of the excellent music under the direc-
ton Of chorister who had been train
ing the chorus of 100 voices for two
weeks.
President {. p. Jones' Annual Address.
Ringing true to the principles of the
unincorporated wing of the Baptist
convention, President b. p. Jones. b
D., of vicksburg, Miss, delivered his
first annual address in the presence OF
thousands of delegates and visitors.
who listened to the president with al
most breathless attention.
President Jones said in part; up
from the hills and prairies of my ma
tive state twelve months ago | went,
as have often done before. to the
great national Baptist convention
which convened on Sept. s, 1915. in
Chicago. a city whose marvellous
growth staggers the most optimistic
! had the honor there of being ap-
pointed by the president presiding to
one of the most honored positions In
the gift of the convention. | refer TO
the tellership, handed me without so
licitation of the then united conven-
ton.
"You will distinctly recall that
went about the discharge of those du-
ties not unmindful of the great re
sponsibilities that rested upon my
shoulders. / did not seek nor covet
the distinction. | presumed that in a
great convention composed of breth-
rem gathered from the four corners of
the earth that there could be but one
intent and purpose. and that ewas to
see that even handed Justice was melted
out to all. irrespective of their convic
lions or position upon the great ques-
tion which hung like pail and threat
ened to rend asunder friendly relations
that had existed for years.
Unfarness Resorted to at Chicago.
"As we proceeded to pursue the du-
ties assigned to us 1t soon dawned not
only upon me, but upon every fair
minded individual present, that steps
unfair, unjust and void of every sem
blance of Christian motive were to be
put in execution to stife and thwart
the will Of the majority. Volumes
have been written in defense of the
actions of the majority on that mem
orable day. Energy which # nroeo'