The Presbyterian of the South : [combining the] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1909-1931, February 24, 1909, Page 7, Image 7
February 24, 1909. THE PRESBYTERIA
elder of our own church, Mr. James Sprunt, of Wilmington,
N. C.
During the convention Mr. White spoke these words
and they have lingered with me: "The longer I live the
more am I amazed at what God is willing to do through
any man who is willing to let God have his way." I
believe we have here the keynote of his life. He was
the dominating figure in the convention, but we felt
all the while that he was enabled to be this because
Christ is the dominating power in his life.
Our own Dr. D. Clay Lilly followed Mr. White Tuesday
afternoon. His subject was, "Man and Master."
ne was up to his usual high spiritual standard. .
On Tuesday night Governor Glenn spoke on "The
Call for Laymen." Unfortunately I did not hear his
address, but it made a profound impression upon the
laymen. I heard them speak of it on every side. It is
an inspiration to see and hear a man likfc him who has
lain aside all political aspirations and given himself absolutely
"tq Christian work.
Rev. C. A. R. Janvier, of Philadelphia, but formerly
a missionary to India, made the closing address of th<?
evening on "The Providential Preparation for World
Conquest." This was counted one of the great addresses
of the convention.
On Wednesday.
This was really the great day of the convention. Rev.
W. R. Dobyns began the day with an address on "The
Biblical Basis of Missions," Mr. Robert E. Speer closed
the day with an address of great power on "The World's
Debt to the Missionary." In between these two speakers
came multitudes of others. Mr. Louis H. {Severance,
a multi-millionaire, told of his visit to mission
lands and his observations there. Dr. J. W. Bradley
brought an anneal frnm Phinn Uav 1-iJ
o r i ?iunc ?mi mi HJlU
of Africa. Mr. Charles H. Pratt spoke of "The Call of
Christ" to men. Mr. W. T. Ellis told of missions from
the viewpoint of a journalist, and many spoke on various
themes in the afternoon conferences. All of these
addresses were of a high order. There was not a poor
one in the lot. There were three, however, which will
stand out vividly in the minds of those present for years,
to come.
T\_ T ^
j-?r. j. vv. liradley simply swept the convention off
its feet by his passionate appeal for the medical work
in China. He had not gotten to his seat until men began
to jump up all over the audience and offer money
to equip the hospital in Suchien. In a very short while
ten thousand dollars were subscribed and the chairman
had to urge the men to quit giving. I had not heard of
the like since the days of Moses when he had to ask
the people to quit'giving.
Mr. Ellis also made an address'which we will not forget
soon. I suppose we all remember him as the jour?
' *
lansl who went out without any bias for missions and
investigated the mission stations of the world, as only
a newspaper man can do. He returned an enthusiast.
His command of the English language is almost perfect.
It enables him to tell clearly and beautifully his
wonderful story. He had many words of praise for our
Southern Presbyterian missionaries.
Mr. Robert E. Speer made the great speech of the convention.
His style is simple, chaste, direct, and forceful.
He throws no bouquets, he wastes no words, he
a. ? * *
lN OF THE SOUTH. 7
drives directly at the point with tremendous earnestness.
Nobody applauded while Robert E. Speer spoke.
I have heard him only twice. The first time was back
in my college days. But he ipoves me as no other man
has ever done. Some seventeen years have passed since
I first heard him, but the influence still remains. I expect
to carry the influence of this address in my life to
my dying day.
On Thursday.
This was the fullest day of the convention. Dr.
T i <' ? ....
j ainvo x. * ante ap?jis.c un xove as tne great dynamic tnat
is to save the world. Mr. J. Campbell White followed
with "America's Share in tHe World Conquest." Dr.
S. H. Chester pointed out the distinct responsibility, of
the Southern Presbyterian church. Mr. W. H. Raymond
defined the business of the Executive Committee.
Dr. J. 0. Reavis gave us a vivid picture of the immediate
needs of our mission fields, and Hon. Samuel B.
Capen, of Boston, took as his theme, "The Need of the
World, a Challenge to Business Men." All of this was
put in the morning hour.
In the afternoon there were four separate conferences
in as many different places. .One was for Pastors, one
for Church Officers, one for Sabbath School Workers
and one for Physicians.
At night Dr. S. M. Zwemer, of the Dutch Reformed
Church, who has been a missionary in Arabia, told of
the Mohammedans. This was an eye-opening address.
Mr. J. Campbell White followed him and made the closing
address of the convention.
There was one address on Thursday that we will remember
for many days to come. That was the address
of Rev. J. O. Reavis. He told of the immediate needs
of our mission fields. I was sitting where I looked the
audience in the face. Hundreds of strong men slipped
their handkerchiefs to their faces and brushed away the
irrepressible tear. I wish the whole Southern Presbyterian
Church could have heard that appeal. Here are
some ot the needs: A Boys' Industrial School in Mexico,
$25,000; a Girls' School in Mexico, $10,000; a College
Building in Cuba, $10,000; a Seminary in Brazil, $15,000;
a Girls' School in Pernambuco, $20,000; a School
Building in Lavras, $25,000; a Theological Seminary at
Nanking, China, $5,000; a Hospital at Hwianfu, China,
$10,000; a Hospital at Kashing, China, $10,000; Medical
Work, Soochow, China, $10,000; a Hospital, Kunsan,
Korea, $5,000; three schools in Korea, $5,000; at Kobe,
Tanon CAminir" ffrr?nr? A e? C41 ? * TS~ ^ 1 T ? O
^viMinaij giuuuuj, , cl L 1VUUC, JiipUIl, OCII1inary
Building, $5,000; in Africa, a Seminary, $10,000;
forty dwellings for missionaries, each, $2,500. When
Mr. Campbell White had concluded his address at night
a number of splendid gifts to meet some of these needs
were announced. Mr. James Sprunt, of Wilmington, N.
C.; Mr. C. E. Graham, of Greenville, S. C., and Mr. E. B.
Chester, of Brownsville, Tenn., each gave $10,000. Rev.
George H. Atkinson pledged himself to give or raise
$5,000. The convention had already pledged $10,000 to
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- . ?. iiusjnvai. i UV.lt. VYtlC 111(111y Silltllicr glllS,
amounting in all to five or ten thousand dollars. It was
not the purpose of those who were in charge of the
convention to take collections or subscriptions at all.
What was done along this line came as a spontaneous
outbreak among the men on the floor.
Walter L. Lingle.