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VOL. IV. RICHMONC
Impressions Of
It should be said that the speaker went to the
Chattanooga Convention, neither as much of a Convention
man as some of his brethren, nor as little of
a Convention man as some of his brethren; that he
went believing that he would see much to approve
and perhaps, see somewhat to conuomn; that he
went trying to carry a mind open to the truth that
might be brought out and a heart open to every helpful
stimulus; and that he went with the hope that if
error lurked in it he might note that, too, and ponder
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upon it, and, sometime, make the knowledge of it an
occasion of a stroke in the behalf of the truth.
1. His ixrat impression of the Contention was that
it appeurett to lie u contention of honest* earnest* enthusiastic
and christian men.
The speakers appeared to be honest, earnest, enthusiastic
and Christian men. Nobody, it is presum
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m taai vuol auuivuue oi me lusi eveuiag aouDted
the honesty, earnestness, enthusiasm and Christian
character of our Motte Martin. Some, perhaps, as
they heard his cold-ciacked voice, and looked on his
face and form, thought of Bernard of Clairvaux
When Mr. George lnnis, of Philadelphia, a man big
of form, with a head on him that suggested that
of Daniel Webster, was magnifying the importance
of missionary work, and effectively pleading that our
strongest business men should give themselves to
pushing missions?when he was touching the chords
of all hearts with resistless might?it was chiefly because
he appeared to be almost absolutely honest,
earnest, enthusiastic and Christian. Had he not
given himself at one time to the development of electricity
and succeeded at it? Had he not later given
himself to banking and merchandise with success?
Had he not, later, given himself to a colonizing
scheme in Canada and succeeded? Had be not,
(lowered with tue aptitudes and instincts of the
boin ag'tator, like Columbus, or Boniface, or Saul
of Tarsus, been drawn Into the cause of Missions as
into the one cause big enough to satisfy the yearnings
of his heart? Had he not bought him a ticket
around the world, filled a trunk with Mission books,
toured the field and studied the need and the work,
Dr. Johnson, after bis return from the Convention,
was asked to give his impressions of that Convention
in the Chapel of Union Seminary. The Student body,
by vote, the next morning requested the publication
of this address. "The Presbyterian of the South"
made the same request. Dr. Johnson had spoken
from notes; but complying with the double request,
he has written out "the talk" in substance, which is
here presented.
gjjgp
>. NEW ORLEANS, ATLANTA, FEBR1
The Chattano<
By Rev. T. C. Johnson, D. D.#
and come back to his own land determined to get millions
for Missions? Was he not giving 95 per cent, of
his income to the advancement of the Lord's work?
No speaker appeared upon the platform that did
not seem to be honest, earnest, enthusiastic and
Christian. The performance of the man who seemed
Intellectually the weakest was redeemed and ennobled
by an appearance of these traits.
The audiehce appeared to be honeBt, earnest, enthusiastic
and Christian. For it seemed to sympa
V.TT ANOOGA CONVENTION.
tliize with the speakers most just when these traits
were most manifest in them. It gave still more certain
tokens of its honesty, earnestness and enthusiasm.
and Christian character by tears, and by
certain acts on the part of not a few of its members.
V. hen fourteen volunteers stood forth for Corea, when
twenty-nine volunteers stood forth for Africa, when
hundreds of fathers arose, in response to a question,
to signify that they would gladly see their sons
as missionaries on the foreign field, men could not
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doubt that the audience was honestly, earnestly, enthusiastically,
Christian. When the volunteers for
Africa mounted the platform, it looked as if they
were going to storm a castle. The aud'ence was with
them In heart. Then came from some one a yell
that suggested the "rebel yell," a quavering voice
more appropriately raised. "Praise God from Whom,"
etc.
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westernpresb yter/am
?al Presbyter/an e"~
thern Presbyter/an
UARY 28, 1912. NO. 9.
3ga Convention
II. The Speaker's second impression of the Convention
was that it was u contention of honest,
earnest* enthusiastic, Christiuu and Presbyterian
men.
There were representatives of other ecclesiastical
families, excellent representatives of the Baptist,
Methodist and Episcopal Churches?amongst the
speakers of the opening session. Representatives of
two or three non-Presbyterian churches delivered
addresses at later meetings. But toe speakers were
generally Presbyterians. Even the imported speakers
who figured most prominently were Presbyterian.
Mr. J. Campbell White and Mr. Robert Speer were of
the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A., and Mr.
lnnis was of the United Presbyterian Church.
In the audience there were, no doubt, representatives,
many of other denominations, but the great
mass was Presbyterian?Presbyterian ministers in
large numbers, Presbyterian ruling elders and deacons,
and private members of the Presbyterian
Church.
It was gratifying to observe that the body was not
only nominally Presbyterian?a tiling to be expected
under the circumstances?but that it had a real
deference to some (Presbyterian principles. It was
gratifying, e. g., to hear the rights of deacons in regard
to both the "Benevolent Canvass" and the "Current
Expense Canvass," so ably and soundly vindicated.
The practical shelving of the deacons in regard
to the collections of the benevolent funds, which a
year or two ago seemed to threaten some of our
churches, has apparently itself been shelved. The
noble office of the deacon iB not to be whittled down,
but given nobler dimensions.
This deference to a Presbyterian and Biblical officer
will do the Laymen's Movement good.
IIL The Speaker's third impression of the Convention
was that it appeared to be a convention of
honest, earnest, enthusiastic, Christian Presbyterian
men, a fair proportion of whom were men of power.
Among the speakers, Mr. Doughty (not a Presbyterian),
was a man of surprising power. He did not
look as if he would do any great things. But once
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ne opened his mouth it became evident that he was a
man of uncommon power. Mr. J. Campbell White,
Mr. Robert Speer, Mr. Innls, Mr. Hudson, of our
China Mission, each made an impression of being a
man of vision and consecrated will power. Several
of the representatives of the Church here at home
also made a distinct Impression of great power. It
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