Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-03-02
ROANOKE IS BECOMING
CITY OF CONVENTIONS
Annual Meeting. of State Sun
day School Association There
Was One of Largest And
Best Ever Held.

The Virginia State Sunday School
Convention met in annual session last
week in the city of Roanoke, continu-
ing through part of three days. 1t
was pronounced the largest in attend
ancc and most interesting session the
convention has held in its history
The first Baptist church was de-
signated as the Convention church, -
but number of extra sessions were
held in other churches in the city.
Somebody called it "a whirlwind COIL
vention." The program was long
one with n large number of speakers,
all of whom with one of two excep-
tions were present and filled their
places on the program. No speaker
was allowed over Is minutes to "speak
his piece" with ono or two exceptions
and the presiding officer held tight
rein and run on schedule time.
AS everybody knows. the State Sun
day School convention is interdenomi-
national, and hence the different de-
nominations were represented. They
There was Il gratifying attendance
from the counties of the Southwest.
A number of the Southwest coun-
ties being represented for the first
time in the State meeting, Tazewell
being one of these.
The Personnel of the Convention.
No attempt will be made here to
give n detailed account of the sub
jects embraced by the program, nor
the discussions. Every phase of the
organization, working and needs of
the Sunday Schools was discussed by
experts for the most part, and exper-
fenced men and women, and were of
great interest and benefit.
One was struck by the, intelligence
and high standing. of the speakers
and delegates. There were distin-
les, lawyers, judges, professors, bank
ers and other prominent men of af-
fairs. Ex-Governor Tyler, who has
been Sunday school teacher nearly
all his life: was an interested attend
ant, and made good speech. One of
the best speeches was made Ivy the
Commc nwealth's Attorney of Bath
county, (whose name I cannot recalD
who is president Of the county ass0-
ciatson and Superintendent 0f the
Sunday school in his town. His coun-
ty WAS awarded the banner, as the
hammer county in the State, winning
this honor from Fairfax county, which
has held the banner for several years.
Rev. DR.. Williams, of Philadelphia,
Rev. DR.. Brown, of Chicago, were
among the distinguished guests from
abroad, who made interesting and
Instructive addresses.
Prof. C. E. CrosIand.
One of the most unique and strik-
ing addresses was delivered by Prof.
Crosiand, President of Fork Union
academy. His subject was striking
one,-"From Bethlehem to Belgium,
and Roanoke" His address was lis
tened to with rapt attention from the
beginning to end. 1t was really a
great speech. But-comparisons are
unwise, etc.
The First Baptist Church at Luncheon
The city of Roanoke, we mean the
private citizens thereof, furnished free
entertainment for 500 delegates, ex-
cept luncheon, which was served ev-
cry day at ~ o'clock in one of the
large Sunday school rooms of the
spacious edifice, and heartily and
splendidly was it done. The good wo-
men of the Roanoke churches were
nntiring and ceaseless in their at
tempt to see that everybody was
served, and well did they succeed.
did not hear the number stated, but
there must have been something like
a Thousand people served every day.
DR.. Vines is pastor ,and he was untir-
ing in kind attention. / met Mrs.
Rector, wife of the former pastor
here, and Mrs. Montgomery, who
lived here for while. Both these
good women live in Roanoke and were
prominent in the "kitchen and din
ing room" of the convention with
hundreds of others who were "busy
serving" was looking around for
Governor Tyler, when some one said,
"Yonder ne is," and I looked and
found him in the kitchen, too He
was busy Serving"
Thos. C. D:sgs.
The success of this great convention
was due largely to the administrative
ability and hard work of the general
secretary, Thomas C. Diggs, whom
Tazewell people know well. The con-
yention moved along like great ma
chine whose parts are well oiled
There was no noise except generous
and frequent applause, and inspiring
singing, led by Mr.. Hamilton.
MIR. Diggs is doing great work
but feels that his work is just now
getting q good, running start. He
asked the convention for an extra col.
lection of $500. They gave him $500
.as a starter for the year 1918, and
reelected him unanimously.
Tazewell was represented by Rev
&C. r. Browa, President Of the County
Association here for several years; F
III. Forbes, present secretary ane
another member of the county asso
citation, who is proud of having beer
its founder. The last named contin.
gent was on the program and made 6