The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-19
MEN, w MEN
 AND T H IN G 5

lrSaeurSS IS fortunate, lnoSSus
 sse
 think I know the values of life, for
 l have read deeply travelled widely ana experienced greatly, and I unhesitat-
 ingly say that it's greatest compeasa- 1 tions are to be found in the loving
 hearts which one finds by the way as
 he journeys from the cradle to the grave.
 am frequently asked if l do not re-
 gret having given the best years Of my I fife to a. religious paper. I might pos siblV answer in the affirmative if be- 1 ing an editor had narrowed my sym pathies and made it hard for me to sec any good outside of my denominations but having always loved those of other faiths can trutnrully state that every ] day am reapfng dividends in the shane of good VIII as go up and down the state and joy in the fact that was permitted to serve so long' 4S Hare I am in Decatur having the time of my life for from every part 0i Inc state are men and women whose ! acaua,otance I made during the years i, which I covered Alabama in tho in- I terest of the Alabama Baptist. wi"' of course, get interest out ot the va rieus reports of the boards, co4ies o' l and other organized interests or the | denomination. l will get informa ton and inspiration out of the sermons l and adaresses; but the thing which gives me greatest pleasure is the iei- iowship.
 I have been conventioniee @iA ' 1 fife. just naturally liking to go where- 1 ever people assemble. l have aAso ooeN what is known as a 'jiner" and l ap- ! nrecia ted the desire expressed py my friend, pr. shelburne. formerly pEesi-
 dent of Howard college, but now In the i pestorate in Gadsden, who in ursihs the formation of Baptist rastor 1 council. said: Don't make 1t Just ,oo.e organization, but have 1t so
 fellov will have to Sine if he gets i's Lbenefits," l want always to De an ih- | alder with all the rights and entitie- | ments to talk and vote.
 1 never did like to stand on the side l lines, I have always wanted to DC Il" l the game. That's why am here m the
 ,riad,e of 1t ebutting in every chance ,here Is an opening left. The best way
 ta enjoy a meeting is to take part HI |. There was a psychological basis ,or the statement of the fellow wno 1 x,,sut to the midweek service or ms l rhvrch and reported on his return home | that it was the best prayer meeting ne had ever attended; and in answer tc his wife's query, 'and who tsakea: an : swcred T did"
 l ' think I know the color and com I n,exion of the various kinds or con ventions as I have reported them
 va,ore. but I'll hand it to a Baptist body for being the nearest to Tree for all affair." that is ever staged The l chairman of the programme committee
 sala in presenting the printed pro
 ~ramrne. .You will notice that between
 .varv tonic there is left time for dis cussion by any one who cares to pc heard" It was very nice of him to make the statement but everyone 1 present knew. that it was impossible to get by with "gag rule"
 1
 Every man gets up and states ms
 x,.,va syvithout let or hindrance, and the quickest way to transact Dusiness ia not to try and shut off debate' Tnere Ia one good thing, however, about sucn freedom, 1t makes no difference now hot the discussion may grow, the minority having had chance to aif their position do not go home with sore l toes if they are outvcted. think in
 this respect Baptist delegates are more like lawyers than any other class know. for it makes no difference what is said during the trial, it's all forgot ten when the Jury SosA1s ~
 Another thin. about Baptist con xention is the delegates are n2t play ing politics and shaking hands and forming combinations to put something over. It is teo we'll known fact thai !,f any one tries to bring in slate" Il
 yi,, he. smashed whether it be good
 or a bad one just 70 let it be known
 that the body will not stand for any put m jobs to elect certain men by we'll known cnques. I have seen favorite sons beaten just because over-zealous
 friends sought to force them on the convention.
 To illustrate the easy and natura
 ray in which an election can be made
 in a few moments I'll cite the one made at this session. Park Nichols oi Roanoke put Dr. William II. Smiths name in nomination for the presidency and as there were none other from the floor it was made unanimous. pr. W | F. Wilks of Albany titen nominated A D. Smith Of Birmingham for first vice president. when pr. J. R. Hobbs of Bir- mingham arose and, in seconding it nominated pr A. s. Smith of Alexander ECity for second vice president Ths
 ticket went through with hoop. but if any one had gotten 1t into his head
 that the smiths had conspired to cab
 page the offices some brother would T. a.