Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-16
Pres. R. c. WOODS
AND THE BAPTIST
STATE WORK

1IAIE WUKk
} We have approached that period in
time where we turn our attention and
efforts definitely to the work and
meeting OF The Virginia Baptist State
Convellt.on, which commences with
the Zion Baptist Church, Newport
News, Va, Dir. G. IL. Jones pastor,
May SIN, 18th inclusive. This being
tho fifty-first annual session OF this
Convention and the Golden jubilee
having been celebra ed IN such re
marklble way, nothing short Of a
great meeting will be worthy of our
denomination. ID
This session begins the second half
century for this Convention. In
these years under this convention the
Negrc Baptist Church had had n new
birih of freedom and with all the
short comings That may be enumerut
] ed, Negro Baptists have made remark
able progress in the face Of great odds.
Zion now nwakes with new strength
and strides forward with Zest and
zeal.
A BRIEF RETROSPECT. ,s
In the fifty years of conventionu.
history behind us, there has been
growth in church life; both fin church
edifice building and In membership
building that challenges the ndmila
ton and evokes the earnest common
dation Of ali thoughtful minds. The
4 a Pro, tot n uao hu
developed from b,srren spiritual
wilderness to veritable Christian
Use Churches, district conven-
; Dbl istricts associations md State
conventions tell the story OF ~. ais
sion spirit OF the men who were moth
ing less than prophets and preachers
Of God who felt the spirit OF Him who
said, "The spirit Of the Lord God is
upon me-
In 1888, thirty years ago. they be
gan the educational work OF the con
vention and established that year the
/ now pslendid institution at Lynch
burg, the Virginia Theological Semi
nary and College. The writer dares
not make any attempt al detailing
the remarkable and glorious accomp
lishment of the men who stood at
their posts like mighty sentinels that
watch for the so,ts Of men. But SUI
flee it to say, o great heritage is
ours. .sa.
THE WORK. NOW.
When President Calvin drops his
gavel, Wednesday morning, May Sth
IN Zion Baptist church, Newport News
1t will be in the midst OF one OF the
most suspicious openings in its his
tory. And why? In the first place
because the world Is engulfed in the
most destructive war known to hui
man history. In the wake OF mighty
armies devastation and death follow.
Customs monuments and institutions
Of every kind tumble to dust like
mighty Babylon. The world is at its
maximum efficiency in human ID:
81. rction il seems that the Prince Of
Teacc has unsheatiled His sword anu
rides the conquerng ride. Auspici-
GUS then is the day.
In the next pace new moral condi
/ tions confront us. The church must
bring the efficiency of spiritual pre-
! paration up above the material. The
8Christian graces are appealed to earn
ysstay. The mental moral and spirit
n ual life Of the world clings to the
church as q crock Of Ages" Christ
wants to speak through the church
lin q greater way than ever before.
sWil1 we fail the world? Will we dis
appoint our Lord and Master? These
pertinent questions must be answer
He'd by each individual church and
8pastor first then by the convention
land denomination. The opportunity
lis ours to take our churches ana con-
mentions and make them powers for
8world regeneration This we owe to
|SGod and man to do. So we go for
#ward to the assembling Of mighty
lost in May.
n Our young men trained and ambi
#ious are being called to camp and
SbattEefields, their physical and moral
x conditions must be anXiOuay guard
! ed and in this the church must not
j be one whit behind. Our mission and
! Educational work make new claims
klpon us and justifably so. There
Ian be no respite from our duty.
OUR INSTITUTION.
Il Our educational work, the Virginia
Pathological Seminary and College
I las more than measured up to every
Righteous hope and expectation. In
he midst Of the most testing and
Critical year Of her history, she has
$ome forth in way pleasing and
worthy. A student body numbering
(hree hundred and twenty five repre-
IS enting our best homes, our leaders
- every walk Of life, now eagerly and
!! tudiouAy pursue their courses. A
= aculty, OF ninteen we'll trained, ex
erienced. con secrated men and wo
4 ion labor earnestly, devotedly that
hey may mako for our race and de