The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-05-24

board reported business amounting
to over a half million dollars. This
board is the rich uncle of the con
ventioner, never asking for money but
earning it for other objects fostered
by the convention. The two great
Southern seminaries reported total
of nearly 700 students for the min
istry taking special theological train
ing. The women's societies reported
funds raised amounting to $40O 900,
a magnificent increase over, last year
of about $4,000.
There are 307 foreign missionaries
now on the field, with over 800 ma
tive missionaries. Baptisms amount
ed to over 5000 last year, not quite
up to the record of recent years. There
are nearly 10000 members in these
Baptist churches in heather lands,
and they gave last year about $780,
900. A large percentage of the for
eign, churches have become self sup
porting. The home mission board
reported nearly $4,000 baptisms bv
its missionaries.
The convention decided to appoint
an executive committee with limited
powers to adjust relations between
the different boards, and this ap-
pointment>>seems to have settled for
the time being the demand made in
some quarters for the consolidation
! of the town mission boards.
By a good majority vote the con-
vention voted to admit women as
members of the convention, but the
measure was lost because the consti-
tutional -thids vote of all enroll
ed messengers was lacking. AS it is
the women have their own conven-
ton meeting at the same time and
! in the same city with the main con-
The New Orleans session was har-
monious and constructive There were
one or two stormy scenes, especially
when speaker seemed to
be making a disloyal speech on the
war situation. For such the mem
bers would not stand, and the Offend
ing speaker had to modify his re-
marks before he was allowed to make
a brief conclusion to a speech which
had better been unspoken. But even
that served to exhibit the fact that
the convention was composed of pa
triotic Americans, ready to do and
die for country. There was a very
sane, Christian and statesman-like re-
port on "The Present Crisis, Look
for it in the UNCONVENTIONAL papers.
DR.. Gambrell Of Texas, 70 years
old, witty and vigorous, mind clear
and active, eloquence coming spon-
taneously from his lips, was the adj
miration of all present. He was
elected president by a tremendous
vote and ruled the convention on prin-
ciples of common sense more than
parliamentary rule. Fifteen hun
dred messengers were present.
New Orleans / found to be very
interesting city, Astounding in his
toric "reminiscences. The magnificent
Canal and ST. Charles streets were
pictures, of wealth and beauty. The
Old French and Spanish quarter
made one think of foreign city, so
different were the sights and sounds
there from those on the great thor
oughfares mentioned above. Even
negroes could be heard talking
French. The great river fronts of
! the city extend for over thirty miles,
SO they said, crowded with shipping
in spite Of the submarines. The Mis-
sissippi itself is disappointment at
New Orleans, scarcely a mile wide,
but dep, literally hundreds Of feet
deep, in mid channel. / gathered
moss from live oak under which An
drew Jackson placed one of his bat
teries in the battle of New Orleans.
and contemplated the spot where the
last British blood was spilled in
America, let us hope forever.
! Coming back I had a few hours
in Atlanta, and stood for an hour on
the ilatiron skyscraper and saw sew
! enty-five residence blocks burn. II
was most awful and never-to-be
forgotten sight. The wall Of fire ex-
tended across a large portion of the
: horizon, and the pail of smoke was
like the gathering of a mighty temp
: est. Men and fire engines were help
less and the streets were filled will
: dismayed and excited people. On,
5 could easily imagine himself in thu
European war theatre, for the dyna
| mite charges were like the jar O
4 guns, and there were soldiers every
where, thousands of them from For
!. Mcpherson, but in this instance ben
$ on salvation instead of destruction
!. All the way there, while there, an.
I all the way back, was the delightful