Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-02
PRESIDENT GALVIN'S APPEAL.

PRESIDENT GALVIN'S APPEAL.
Danvjllc, Va, February 25.-To all
the Brethren Of the Virginia Baptist
State Convention, Greetings: DO you
rcaliZo uhat just seventy one days
from date will find us seated in That
fine new brick, Baptist Church,
whose name is Zion and whose pastor
is the gentle, yet able and amiubc
Dr. G. T.. Jones? And whether we
realize THAT the meeting is so near
or not it is none the less true. And
this admoniShcs all of us to get in
Il hurry unless our preparations for
the convention are already we'll OH
tho way. And l am glad that some or
our churches have gotten splendid
amounts of their convention means.
This is true of some churches in my
section, Danville and vicinity And
it is not we'll to wait un,u e
days and hours to do anything That
is important. If we wait to collect our
convention money the last SUNDAY
prior to the convention, should that
day be foul, with shame, We will
come up to Jerusalem" short in our
offering for the Lord. So we should
at once, mobilize our forces and pre-
pare for the momcntouS occasion.
Our country, with other allies, is
engaged in the worlds conflict aud
even as colorcd citizens we are doing
our "bit' to our EXTREMIST ability i'll
spite of all the unnecessary dis
couragements and hardShips that we
are forced to face in this country
where we were brought against our
will about tnrcc hundred years ago.
Yes, in this indcScribablo warfare we
gladly lay ourselves upon our coun
try's altar III sacrifice and suffering
that truth. equity, fair play and JUS
tice may be enjoyed by all mankind
regardless of race color Of condition.
And it's SO gratifying to know that
hardly any of our young men have
shrunk in this demand of our gov
ernmcnt.
But brethren there is also another
war on. And its Importance ia alb
Solutcly indescribaDlc and this con-
flict engages all the constituency Of
the Virginia Baptist State convention
everywhere. We arc not drafted but
arc proud volunteers regardless OF
acc. This is an cngagemr ut against
humanit'y's strongest and bittercst
cnomies-sin, savagery and ignorance
with their awful allies. his conflict
started In Eden and has stayed on.
Tho enemies phvc stalkcd down
Through the ages playing havoc with
countless numbers Of the human
race; and in defcn.t OF ourselves our
wives and children and the rest Of
our fellow men, we must do our "bit'
and our best.
Every church connected with our
convention may hG considered n conf
pany. Every city in our convention
territory more or less. furnishes our
state body Il regiment; every district
association is II brigade inc: uding
cities and counties. Then our church
es in the large sections OF the convcn
ton territory form divisions, so the
forces are forming for service at New
port News.
The Virginia division, the West Vir
ginia division the Washington division
the great division including Penn,
and the several states East such as
New York, Jersey and others are go
ing to meet in the city by the sea in
grandeur and glory. Now the broth
rem are training their soldiers. For
every church and every schoo, is Il
training camp. In these camps train
ing is done for the highest and holi---
est service in reach OF mortal man.
Now brethren, to win in this mighty
conflict, we must OF necessity make
some sacrifice. for nothing great has
been accomplished without sacrifice.
We are to sacrifice, labor and means.
Suppose each Of our pastors would
take special interest in seeing that
his church makes raj show Of
which no will not be ashamed at the
convention. Suppose we would aim to
get every Baptist church in our sec
lions that has not represented in any
state body to meet us in Newport
News, May S-12? And suppose each
church and pastor strive for Il banner
and gold medal? Then We cannot
hold all Of our money and win in this
conflict no more than Unlcc Sam
could not do SO.
Dr.. Jones, his church and our 9th
er pastors and churches in Newport
bcrs, with $1,000. 90 We can easily do
this il the pastors will get their
churches to do their best and then If
each pastor will give personally from
five to twenty-five dollars and each
deacon from two to ten dollars and
each layman from one to five dollars.
Brethren, "On to Newport News,
with seven thousand dollars"
Yours for the work.
! A. A. CALVIN. President
! Virginia Baptist State Convention