The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-20
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

WiilSH Hlet III Atldnla last week. II was record-breaker in more ways than one. Take for example the question of at tendance; 1t nearly doubled that of any former one held. there being 41so regis tered delegates, and the visitors running l it up to- at least 10000.
 I am setting this out to show Birmng- ham what it must do to be ready to go after it in earnest. I followed pr. Hobbs in his effort to land it for next year, but if this city had won out over Wash ington, believe me those of us who live here and go by the nanV of Baptists would have been in sweat to get things moving to properly care for 1t.
 We are feeling the need of that long sought auditorium with the Kiwanis braves as our guests, but the tribes of Indians in their migrations to an inter national convention are but few in com-. parson to the horde of Baptsts which go up to their great annual gathering. It is claimed by some who appear to know that it is the largest delegated body. in the world.
 
 A convention may choose place for meeting, but it is by no means settled that it will foregather in the city desig mated, for the executive committee is given power to look over the situation and see if a suitable auditorium in which to hold it is ready to receive. If this condition iG ho n assurance from the hotels that they are able to care for it in conjunction with the boarding houses.
 I understand that at first the hotels of Atlanta said they were not in posi- ton to entertain 5000 delegates, but when they were told by Deacon Wolfe of Texas who was on hand that in that event he would visit other cities, they let him get a leading Atlanta preacher if he had power to recommend another place, they hastily summoned him back and asked for time to canvass the matter. and en- tered into written agreement to furnisth the required accommodations.
 I~want the convention to come to Bir- mingham, and that is the reason l am setting forth the way that we must walk in If we get it. Now it is worth mak- ing an efofrt to land big conventions. believe Atlanta got big dividends on account of the Baptists. I think I am within the limit when I say that from. s150,oOO to $2oo,oOO were spent in it by the delegates and the visitors.
 The convention made record in the on Saturday night when heretofore it has always run at least until Monday night. The sixty-fourth convention will go down in history as having witnessed the inception of series of tremendous movements along religious and educa- tional lines. The convention demonstrated the fact that southern Baptists have be- come thoroughly awake to the exgencies O. the present world situation, and to the opportunities awaiting them along the line of world evangelization. .
 A brief resume of the results accom- plished by the convention shows them to be something as follows:
 The inauguration of a s75, 900, 900 pro- gramme to be put on during the next five-year period embracing world cam psigns of religious and educational activ- ity.
 The establishment of new board to have direction of educational work un- dertaken by the convention
 The calling of an all-American Baptist conference to consider reconstruction problems and formulate plans for relig- ious and educational activity to be par ticpated in by all branches of the denom- ination.
 The reaffirmation of the denomination's stand ip>oppostion to any form of church union Or wiping out of denominational lines.
 An unequivocal declaration of the Bap- tist principle of unrestricted religious liberty and the absolute separation of church and state.
 The prime features of the final night
 
 rection of the s75,ooo,Ooo campaign pro- gramme and the apportionment of this huge fund in the hands of commission of 15 members to be chosen by the pres ident and the executive committee of the convention; the report of the work of the Woman's Missionary union during the past 12 months and the adoption of res- olution which had the privilege of in troducing calling upon President Wilson to call an international conference to take measures for the relief of the Jewish people in European and Asiatic countries
 Birmingham was honored by having Dr. J. E. billiard, pastor of the Southside Bap- tist church, elected a trustee of the Southern Baptist Theological seminary at Louisville; Dr. J. R. Hobbs was chosen as alternate to preach the conven- tion sermon at Washington next year; R. F. Manly was made one of the vice presidents of the body and presided with dignity, and I was put on as state rep resentative of the board of education. But the biggest thing was the landing of this board, but I will have something to say about it later
 Aos.N1MMAamtil
 IN FAR AWAY SAMOA From the Chicago Herald and Examiner.
 Far/aWay Samoa an island of the pe-