The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-14
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

| have had three busy but joyous days
in meeting my Baptist friends from all
parts of the state. And they have been
here; all conventions records for attend
ance being broken.
!
There is an old saying that you cannot
have a successful Baptist association in
town, but it won't hold good about state
conventions, for in spite of the fact or
may be because it met here last year,
there was a desire both among the
brethren and the sisters to take another
peep at the Magic City.
Now it has been a great pleasure to the
Baptists of the district to play host to
| the body, and the entertainment com
mittee deserves high praise for the way
in which it met the situation. Birming-
ham had expected a good crowd, but
for bit was swept off it's feet by the
great numbers arriving. 1 am sure that
voice the sentiment of every one who
had delegate that it was pleasure to
entertain them.
| l haven't had every close association
with the active work of any of the com
mittee but just took it upon myself to
stand around the doors and welcome and
direct those arriving. 1 never knew be-
fore that so many people knew me, for
when anyone wanted to know something
they would come up and say Brother
Barnett you have lived here so long,
won't you please tell us what to DOR
l soon became the bureau of informa-
ton.
AS / have had SO little part in the con-
vention on the inside 1 merely state the
failed to make my-usual number of
speeches. 1, took good care not to print
this until the body had adjourned, and
the delegates had left the city Other
wise, some brother might have made a
motion to make me a permanent door
keeper and in this way stop me from
talking.
But my voice was not missed, as there
were orators galore present ready to open
the floodgates of their eloquence at any
way, theirs were some tremendously far
| reaching addresses .made by men who
guide and shape the policy of southern
Baptsts. However, it was rather an I'M
usual thing for a state convention to pass
without the presence of the general sec
retaries of the boards.
| Drs. B. D. Gray, J. r. Love and I. ].
| Van Ness were all, for some good cause,
absent But this did not mean that the
work they stand for was unrepresented
L merely note their absence as being a
bit out of the ordinary. The convention,
however brought some distinguished Wis.,
itors. In the first place it was honored
by DR.. J. B. Gambrell, the president of
the Southern Baptist convention, a man
Of rare common sense and infinite wit.
Without having made note I recall DR..
P T. Hale, the messenger of the Southern
Baptist Theological seminary at Louis
Vile, who know will pardon me if 1
denominate him as an INSPIRED beggar,"
not however, for himself, but for the
work which is so close to his heart An
other man of note who made note
worthy speech was DIR. E. C. Dargan, ed
itorial secretary of the Sunday school
hoard at Nashville, at one time professor
of homiietics at the seminary and who
| filled the place of president of the South
ern Baptist convention most acceptably.
The boys at the seminary in my time
used to say because of his powerful voice
and of his small stature, HE is little but
he is loud" He has written some val
liable books which are widely used.
did not get to see my good friend,
Dr. J. T. Henderson, secretary Of the
laymen's movement. but 1 got to hear
a part of his magnificent address. He is
layman who. made a great name for
himself in Tennessee as an educator He
is tremendous worker and makes things
happen. DR.. C. c. Carroll, who spoke on
Tuesday night with such power, is fol-
lowing in the steps of his lamented father,
who by many was considered to be one
Of the greatest theologans and preach
ers in the denomination. Dr. Carroll is
doing fine work at the Baptist Bible in
stitute in New Orleans. Like his father
he just eats up books
DR.. Louis B. Warren, whose work with
the home board of Atlanta is having
telling influence, was another dis
tinguished visitor. He is one of the most
polished men in the south, and has |
charm of manner which is irresistible.
He speaks with force and always is heard
with delight DR. Charles w. Daniel, the !
brilliant pastor of the First Baptist |
church, Atlanta, one of the greatest con-
gregations in the south. and one that
will always be dear to me, for it was
this church which ordained me to the
ministry, captured the audience with his
magnificent discourse on the SIS, 900 900 /!
drive.
| was proud of the "old guard" as /,
Brother Brumptpn Lovingly calls the old
soldiers of the cross. There were num-
bers of them who had carried for years |
the banner of King Emmanuel in attend |
ance. Too many to be singled out. Then |
there were scores of those in. middle |
life, the pastors by whom the heaviest
UNCONVENTIONAL work is being carried,
splendid men. Lastly, it did my heart
good to see the younger men coming on
to take the places of those who would
bama is fortunate in having such a num-
on the Lords side.