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

Danvlle, Va, February 25.-To all
tho Brethren Of the Virginia Baptist
State Convention, Greetings: Do you
realize that just seventy one days
from date will find us seated in that
fine now brick, Baptist Church,
whose name is Zion and whose pastor
is the gentle, yet able and aminblc
DR.. c.. Il. Jones? And whether We
realize THAT the meeting is 50 near
or not it is none the loss true. And
this admonishcs all Of us to get in
hurry unless our preparations for
the convention are already we'll OH
tho way. And / am glad that some or
our churches have gotten splendid
amounts of their convention means.
This is true Of some churches in my
section, Danyillc and vicinity And
1t is not we'll to wait unuI ,..c ..
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, wo 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 momentous occasion.
Our country, with other allies, is
engaged i'll the worlds conflict aud
even as colorcd citizens we are doing
our "bit' TO our EXTREMIST. ability in
spite Of ali the unnecessary dis
couragcments and hardships that we
are forced to face i'll this country
where we were brought against our
will about three hundred years ago.
Yes, in this indcscribable warfare we
gladly lay ourselves upon our coun
try's altar in sacrifice and suffering
that truth, equity, fair play and jus
tico 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
eminent.
But brethren there Is also another
war on. And its Importance is alb
solutely indescribnDle and this con-
flict engages all the constituency OF
the Virginia Baptist State convention
everywhere. We are not drafted but
arc proud volunteers, regardless of
age. This is an engagemr mt against
humanitiy's strongest and bittereSt
cnemies-sin, savagery and ignorance
WIN eaASii n"Auh kAhliSo. hlo SohhiA\I
started in Eden and has stayed on.
Tho enemies phve stalkcd down
Through the ages playing havoc with
countless numbers Of the human
race; and in defon.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 he considered "a conf
pany. Every city in our convention
territory more or less, furnishes our
state body regiment; every district
association is Il brigade inc. uding
cities and counties. Then our church
es in Tho large sections of the conven
ton territory form divisions, SO the
forces arc forming for service at New
port News.
The Virginia division, tho West Vir
ginia division the Washington division
tho great divisionl Including PENN,
and the several states East such as
New York, Jersey and others are go
ing to meet in the city by the sen in
grandeur and glory. Now the breth-
rem are training their soldiers. For
every church and every schoo! Is a
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 q raj show OF
which he will not be ashamed at the
convention. Suppose we would aim to
get every Baptist church in our Sec
tons that has not represented in any
News. May S-12? And suppose each
church and pastor strive for banner
and a gold medal? Then we cannot
hold all Of our money and win in this
conflict no more than Unlce Sam
could not do so.
DR.. Jones, his church and our 9TH
er pastors and churches in Newport
News are expecting lis in large mum
bers, with $1,000. 90 We can easily do
this if the pastors will get their
churches to do their best and Then IL
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