The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-09

NN"H eHS SAtS lC the $f0VO,VUO BApllst campaign. but in spite of the downpour many of the faithful attended church and made subscriptions.
 
 | Early Monday morning my phone rang and when I took up the receiver heard | the cheerful voice of Dr. James E. Dill lard saying: Barnett, I have just had a telegram from. Dr. Lee Scarborough, the general director at Nashville and 1t is such good news that I thought you might like to hear it."
 1 I thanked him for calling me up and I asked him tc read it to me, which he did. 1 give it here. "Dr. J. E. billiard, Soutnside Baptist church, Birmingham, Ala At 1 o'clock Sunday night, as gen eral director, am happy to report more than ssG OO0,0oO Victory and still climb ing, several states not yet heard from to- day. To our Master be all the glory. [. R. Scarborough"
 l I got breakfast and hastened down to the headquarters at the First Baptist l Alabama had done. Soon Dr. J. R. Hobbs was called for from Montgomery, and Dr. w. F. Marlborough, state secretary of mis- sions, informed him that 300 churches l had reported s5,60O000, but that he hoped when reports came in from the re- maining 800 churches which had been cr- ganized that Alabama would go beyond | +b
 l Soon the pastors from all over the dis l trfct began to drop in and each one was able to report that his church had more than met it's quota, and the only thought was that if 1t should develop that there was the slightest danger of the states failing they were ready to get busy and, make whirlwind closing-up cam paign, for word had been received from Nashville headquarters that on account Of bad weather and impossible roads in large sections of the south it had been Idecided to extend the victory period to December 21. When the Baptist Ministers conference
 
 Scarborough announcing victory was read, t was moved that he send in the name cs the body an answer. The follow ing was sent: Birmingham pastors send congratulations. Philippians 1:iii-vi I thank my God upon every remembrance or you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for in in, first clay until now; being confident ef this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christi"
 There was general rejoicing among the brethren at the glorious news and they felt that the verses giving Paurs words to Timothy were most appropriate The conference was turned into an experience meeting and many highly interesting in cldents of the campaign were told. It was not always the large gifts which brought forth the most fervent amens for fre- quently at the recital of some self-secri. flee upon the part of deserving widow, Ia sed-supporting young woman, or the Ihberality of 2 workingman, or the un- selhsnness of a brother pastor, there was the greatest rejoicing.
 l
 While credit was given without stint to every church in the association, it was conceded that unless Drs. billiard and Hobbs, who had the two great city churches, had done their full part and more that Birmingham would have been unable to make a showing which put her in the first rank of givers in the south; the First church having passed the $10o 900 mark and the Southside the s20O, 900, each of them having raised more than twice the amount asked in order to raise the four millions in Alabama
 When George W. Connors, one of the biggest givers to the campaign in the state, heard that Crawford Johnson had added by wire s50o0 to his previous gift of $750o, he telegraphed from Washington, Bully for Crawford Johnson Hurrah for Southside and it's wonderful pastor, Dr. Dillard. His success in this campaign is nothing short cf marvellous Am hoping to be with the church Sunday" Tt was this snirit of fellowship and team play that made it Iossible,'' said pr. Dillard, flor the church which I serve to have made so great record. It permeated not only the wealthy but every member, rich or poor"
 The following telegram from Dr. Paul V. Bomar was greatly appreciated, tor every one knew that behind it were the gifts of many cultured and consecrated young women, who in spite of the fact that they were still in school, wanted to have their part in the thank offering: Hudson contributed s17,5OO of which more than $7500 was given through the Ann Hasseltine society" This being the mis- , sionary society named in honor of the , wife of Adinoram Judson, the great mis- , sionary, whose life and labors were the glory of the Baptists of America . | of some of the churches in the south which gave more than $200, 900 First. here | at home was the Southside Baptist, then came the First church, Macon, Ga. fol- lowed Ky the Eutaw Place church, Balti- more, Md; with the First church, Green- vile, s. c. The First church, Knoxville,