Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-02-09
THE NORFOLK BAPTISrS ARE
PROGRESSIVE
President IL. G. Woods Visits tho
City by the Sea-

inst, to spend the 10th and 21st as
tho guest of the Underwater Baptist
Minister'S Union, l arrived on the be-
lated train around three A. M. Sun
day morning, and was met by an au-
tomobilc escort and was carried to
the home of Rev. J. II Ashby to
spend the night.
This trip made it possible for me
TO see Norfolk Baptists from an angle
that l had not before. 1t afforded
the opportunity to view the church
life and church homes Of the Bap-
lists OF that Section. Norfolk has
the proud distinction Of having some
among the most beautiful edifices in
our denomination and one cannot
touch the life OF this people and view
their splendid work without feeling
justly proud Of them.
My program for Sunday at IL
O'Clock was an engagement with the
Queen Street Baptist Church, pas
torcd by Rev. T.. w. Williams, ID. ID.
Queen Street stands in the front rank
OF our State churches, as we'll as Nor
folk City. The church was erected
under the pastoratc Of DR. Williams
ana Is one of beauty. As well as
building IA splendid church home, he
has built more in that he has built
line church people in numbers,
spirit, devotion and work. DR.. Will
llamS Is, also, president of the Con-
ference. He is Il gentleman of excel
lent qualities and is highly esteemed
by the people of NOrfo k, without re-
gard TO church utilization.
On the evening OF Sunday, it was
my pleasure to be in a very beauti-
lul church home of the EbcncZcr Bap-
list congregation Of Portsmouth, pas
tored by DR.. G. G. Somcrville. The
EDencZcr Church is one OF first rank
and DR.. Somcrvillc, its pastor. holds
prominent place in denominationnl
ranks as preacher, writer and thinker.
During the pastorate Of DR. Somcr
vile Ebenczer has made rapid strides
forward and splendid work has been
accomplished. He, also. is hod in
nigh esteem by the citizenship.
On the 2lst, at the noon hour. I
was programmed to address the
Tldewater Ministers Union, in their
conference capacity. The Conference
nolds It's weekly sessions in the beau-
tiful ediflce OF the First Calvary Bap-
list Church, pastored by DR.. p. J.
wallace. Norfolk has the further dis
''hctlon OF having one Of Virginia's
very Ino conference presided over by
Dr. f.. w. Williams. The mon COM
posing 1h1s conference represent
wei trained, progressive, cnthusi-
astic ana inspiring body. They rep
resent the men who give standing
ana character to the Baptists of this
section OF Virginia and that make orr
race and denominational leaders
Through the splendid work Of these
men, they hep to shape our dcnomi-
national affairs in State and nation
The conference was well attended
and very interesting.
AT night, we came TO the c1imav
OF the program, which was a mass
meeting, under the auspices OF the
llaewater Baptist Minister'S Union
comprising Underwater and vicinity
! erected here in the beautiful First
Nai'arS church, n large and enthusi-
"stlc audience of Norfolk's represent
alive people. The Minister'S Union
was out in large numbers and thing,
generally were well staged for the
me meeting. The music for tho or.
caslon was furnished by the snlendid
cholr OF the First Calvary Church and
inc ministers Quartette. The choir
proved to be one OF eXccptionar oual.
ihcatlon and the quartettc proved to
!; DC very popular one. On every an
pcarance. they were encored Misc
EilZa Coppage read to the delight Of
the audience, '"rhe Old Fiddle ana
It's Master" The meeting proved 70
be most inspiring one
must mention the splendid work
or DR.. i. j. Wallace, who pastors tho
f1rst Calvary Church. Possibly no
one In our denomination deserves
more credit for the splendid work ac-
complishcd than DR.. Wallace. DR.
war ace took hold of the First Cal.
vary people at very diflcult period
ana stage in their life and has deyel-
opcu fine church people and has
punt Tor them as fine church edifice
IN every appointment and facility that
II usually seen anywhere.
while In Norfolk, I was the guost
III the homes OF Rev. and Mrs. 7. II
Ashby' DR.. and Mrs. r. w. Williams
Dr. and Mrs. G. G. Somervire. DR.
and mrs. p. J. Wallace, and DR.. and
MRS. X. II. Bowling. These friends
nlaoe my stay in Norfolk a very happy
one indeed: These persons that
nave named stand In the forefront of
our chlrch leaders and their good
wives arc rendering them the very
PooSlplc support IN all OF their
WORK In each home, the Madam. In
~ very queenly way, made things
happy.
1t was my pleasure to greet many
OF my friends in the Norfolk Confer
ence; among them, other than those
mentioned, were Rcvs G. P. Madison.
A. O. Bell, A. E. Jeffries. O c. Jones,
a. Hobbs. G. TT. d. Griffin and other
friends Of years Of acquaintance; and
had the pleasure Of greeting for the
first time, Rev. j. IT. Billups, Clerk
OF the conference; Rev. J. p. Reid,
OF Martinsburg, w. Va.
The ministers. Of Norfolk are to be
congratulated upon the splendid con-
dition Of things generally in their
city. The pastors keep the churches
responsive to the greater needs Of the
times and their work in the most
progressive condition. One visiting