The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-01
WILLIAMS Of NORFOLK
CHOSEN PRESIDENT
succeeds Rev. 4. ID. Lewis as Head OF
Colored General Baptist
Association,


Because of his physical condition,
Rev. Il. p. Lewis, D.. D., retired from
the presidency of the General Bap-
tist association yesterday afternoon at
the session held in the Sharon Bap-
list church, and the Rev. DR.. f. w.
Williams of Norfolk, was elected his
successor.
When Or. Lewis announced that
father time had infirmed him that he
could no longer look after the work
connected with presidency of the as
ISOLATION, n he must bow TO the in
e~vitable, there. were many who wept.
because he lives IN the hearts of the
men who make UP the general as
ISOLATION.
This work." he said must be
placed in the hands OF a youngster
and o active man than myself I
have tried to serve my people to the
best of my ability, and hold up TO
them the bright side Of life.
Il pray my race today TO keep up
their friendly relation with our
neighbors. Others may hate. but let
lis teach ourselves to love-loye as
did II mothers and fathers back in
the days OF slavery. No time for
firebrands. no time for race hatred.
race prejudice. rae antipathy. but we
u all work side by side. Make
friends and keep them. I have served
you for eight years, and now I must
retire"
a committee was appointed to draft
resolutions, and to secure suitable
memorial to be presented TO the re-
firing president at the close of tho
celebration.
The other officers elected were:
Revs. c. H. Johnson. Bristol: NJ. d
Williams, Manassas; j. \. Martin,
Middlesex county, +. NJ Long. Char
Ilottesville: W. II. Crowley. South Bos-
ton. vice presidents. J. A. Brinkley,
S~mithfeld, recording secretary; NJ. G.
Crux. Geysville. statistician; G. w.
IGoode, Danville, treasurer; r. J. Long
ston, Norfolk, corresponding secre-
tary; T w Cook. Cape Charles. audi
tor; 7. j. j. Mostly. chairman, educa-
tional board. w. T. Johnson, y. D,
Richmond. editor Baptist Headlight;
F.. Payne, Richmond, chairman
foreign mission board.
DR., w. Fl. Jernagin. OF Washington,
d. G, president Of National Negro
Race congress. addressed the asso-
citation in the afternoon.
Let the negro put down shot guns.
and b~ludgeons." he said. "and re-
sort tn the sword Of the spirit. and
fight his battles through the courts
Of the land. | believe that there is in
the hear of every man. white and
black alike n spark Of right and JUS
tice, and in the white man we intend
TO find it ] believe that our
brothers in white will no longer say
to the civilized world that he is in
capable of enforcing law and pro-
tecting accused criminals.
We have Just passed through some
trouble in our city, and we are pray
ing that IT Is the beginning of the end
| am just glad to see You. and to tell
you Just a few things about our lit
tie trouble, and At the same time in
vito you to our meeting October Z. then
we want 10 have "A heart to heart talk.
I'm his address before the ~associa-
tion yesterday morning, DIR. Lewis de
iclared that ignorance was a curse 10
Tthe negro race and a lihallty to the
country, and urged upon those ir
authority in Virginia to build NOR
and better school houses. employ com.
petent teachers for the rural schools
lay a better foundation for manhood
and womanhood. He declared tina
the negro must get rid of ignoranc,
and flliteracy.
There was much good sound com
mon sense in the report of the Rev
DIR. w. T. Johnson, dealing with tn,
educational question. in which h
urged the establishment of religion,
institutions. and the support of al
those already established.
Education itself" he said lis M
guarantee of moral character, bu
Christian education deals with tn,
highest development of manhood ant
womanhood. Whenever crime is com
mitted II is our duty as Christians [.
condemn and not condone 1t. TIL,
church is in business not only to brin;
men to Christ, but to develop tn
highest type of Christian characte
and usefulness. 1t is the business O
the church to help men live out tn
lives that God has given them. Witt
a Christian education our young PEG
pie care less for the frivolous thing
of life. and will have their eyes on tn,
sublime and uplifting"
Professor W. Z. Riddick, principa
of the high school of Ports
mouth, and president of the r. Y. F
T.. convention made an appeal for tn,
social entertainment of the young PEG
pie. He said that the church shout,
now look after the young people an,
II 1t failed then the devil would, an,
that would mean a downward road.
Eight hundred colored women wer
in Sixth Mt, Zion Baptist church yes
terday and heard from Mrs, w. I
Johnson, the president. who liz doin,
much toward the moral and i~ntellec
tual uplift of the colored girls in Vir
GINA. She is pleading for a highe
womanhood. urging the colore,
women to he modest in their habits
dress and department making ever,
day count for the higher things o
life. Not only did she plead for tn,
proper training OF the girls, but sh'
declared that the boys should b,
looked after also.
Much of our shortcomings toda'
is due to the neglect Of the boys. l
Is said that a boy or man ear do any
thing n still be a gentleman, bu
that is untrue, the infant deaths, hos
pitfalls and operations on women ar,
often due TO carelessness of men
Look after the boy and you will pro
long life,
"One yea e mothers. sister
and wives of Virginia of both race,
were sad, because our boys were go
ing to Europe by the thousands ant
some of them to never return to Ii,
again. They are going there 10 pro
tect Old Glory and win freedom fol
the civilized world. They have don,
their part and some of them ar,
now returning home, The price o
IiihaFfy has heap p3f1 with tba ShaA