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'BAPTIST SOLDIERS CONVENED
What the "Baptists of Alabama Did in Conbention at Roanoke
By Jasper C. Hutto
HE greatest event of the year for Ala
bama's Baptists, the State Convention)
has just occurred, and marked enthusi
asm was shown in every gathering of
this great body of Christian workers.
To be in the midst of these people and
to note their works, we are assured of
Christ’s victory over the de-'il and his
host. It makes glad the heart of man
W
'and inspires him for higher and nobler things to
come among the workers of the Lord and learn of
the great good being accomplished throughout the
world.
The Convention this year was held in Roanoke,
eastern Alabama, July 22-25 inclusive. Roanoke is
a beautiful little city of a few more than two
thousand people, and I am correct in saying that
these people are among the best in the land. Never
has there been a more ideal host for any gathering
of people. Roanoke was “wide open,” and her
people did themselves proud in every respect. This
announcement was made on one of the “rush” days
by Chairman Nichols of the entertainment com
mittee: “If there are any here who have not been
assigned homes, go just anywhere in the city, to
any home, and you will be welcome.”
In this spirit, Roanoke, the city of beautiful
churches and good people, entertained about six
hundred visitors to their city.
Digressing a little from the Convention proper,
it is not amiss to speak of the beautiful scenery
viewed by the delegates who traveled over the
Northern division of the A. B. and A. Railway.
Along this line lies some of Alabama's most pic
turesque scenery. With the track winding around
the foot of a stalwart mountain, then across a yawn
ing chasam, you are now traveling eastward and
now westward. For many miles, you glide along,
giant mountains raising their peaks high above you
on one side, while on the opposite side flow the
waters of the rippling Tallapoosa, journeying, like
other waters, to the deep, blue sea.
Judge N. D. Denson of the Supreme Court of Ala
bama, over his protest, for the third time was
chosen to preside over the sessions of the Conven
tion. This was a signal honor, justly bestowed upon
one of Alabama’s noblest sons. The life of this
consecrated, Christian gentleman is worthy of
emulation, and, not to criticise, but to speak the
truth, the Bar furnishes few such godly men.
Upon the opening of the Convention, delegates
were enrolled by Rev. M. M. Wood, Secretary of
the Convention. The welcome address was made
by Rev. T. J. Porter, pastor of the Roanoke Baptist
Church. This gifted young man said, in part:
“Though the sun shines bright in my old Ken
tucky home, still I am proud to become an adopted
son of Alabama ... I have often visited conventions,
but never before have I been so signally honored as
to have a convention visit me . . . In the name of
my people and our town, I welcome you to our
church and to our town . . . for what you are and
for what you represent. May the God of peace be
with you.” For a response to this cordial welcome,
Dr. J. M. Shelburne, pastor of the East Lake
Baptist Church, was called upon. In his own genial
way, Dr. Shelburne thanked the people of Roanoke
for their hearty welcome. Though speaking for
the multitude, Dr. Shelburne declared it “a haz
ardous task to attempt to speak for a Baptist.”
The convention sermon was preached by the Rev.
Austin Crouch, the eloquent Missourian, by birth,
Texan, by preparation, and Alabamian, by works.
This noble man took “The Atonement” for his
subject, and the discourse was a masterful produc
tion. Among his beautiful and striking figures of
speech, we have, “As all the spices of Arabia could
not perfume the hands of Lady Macbeth, so could
not the waters of all the oceans and all the seas
wash from the hands of Pilate the stain of Jesus’
blood.” With inspiration from above, the Conven
tiop sang “How Firm & Foundation.”
The Golden Age for August 6, 1908.
A deep feeling for the love of God was shown
throughout the sessions of the Convention, and
some of the sweetest services were the prayer and
song services, held a few minutes before each Con
vention Session. At these meetings, the old hymns
were sung and prayers were offered, often by aged
ministers, old soldiers of the Cross, whose locks
have thinned and grown gray in the Master’s work.
We call them blessed and bow before them in
humble obeisance.
Howard college, the Baptist school for boys in
Alabama, was brought before the convention.
Encouraging reports were heard concerning this
institution. Dr. George W. Macon, newly elected
Dean and professor of Biology in this college, was
called to the platform. Dr. Macon is a native
Alabamian, and formerly held a professorship in
this same school. Tie was loaned to Georgia for a
few years, where he was a strong factor in the
success of Mercer University. But Alabama could
do without him no longer, and she had to call her
prodigal son back to his old home where he is so
dearly beloved. Dr. Macon is one of the foremost
educators in the South, likewise one of the noblest
characters. Howard college is to be congratulated
upon again securing the services of this prince
among men. Dr. A. P. Montague, the beloved presi
dent of Howard college, in a speech filled with
eloquence, told of the work of this grand, old insti
tution, over the destiny of which may he long
preside. The Convention did the handsome thing
by pledging several thousand dollars toward the
support of the college.
Judson college, for women, which goes hand in
hand with Howard college, was brought before the
Convention by its big hearted, noble president, Dr.
Robert G. Patrick, the handsomest man in the Con
vention. This institution needs no word of introduc
tion to the people, and in ringing speeches, this old
school was “glorified among men.”
The Trustees of the Baptist Orphanage, located
at Evergreen, made a report on that institution,
while Rev. John Stewart, the father of the home,
the man who has fostered it and worked for it since
its first establishment, told the people of the needs
in that home. In tears, this kindly hearted man
told of his love for the more than one hundred and
fifty children in the home. No man in Alabama has
a bigger soul or a warmer heart than this stalwart
man of God. When his speech was finished, many
eyes were filled with tears, and it took only a few
moments to collect several hundred dollars, which
was turned over to this brother for the children at
the Orphanage.
State missions was a topic for several good
speeches. What had been done was gone over, and
what should be done in the future, for the good of
this work, was widely discussed. Rev. S. 0. Y.
Ray told the convention of churches of the long
ago, and gave humorous sketches of “ye olden
times” among the pioneers of Alabama’s churchmen.
Rev. Mr. Ray said: “There is only one way to solve
the problem of what to do with the country church
man when he moves to the city, and that is to build
in the city a country church.”
Much time was given on the program for the
discussion of missions, and all of this time was put
to good use. The people were filled with the mission
spirit, and close attention was given to all the talks
on this subject. Rev. G. L. Yates, speaking on Home
Missions, said that “the rich man did not believe in
Home Missions until he reached hell, then he be
came a most zealous convert.” Brother Yates sees
in the future the South more throughly flooded with
the people from foreign lands, and he deplores the
fact that our people sit idly by, giving no attention
to the millions of pagans and heathen who are
rushing into our land, and living in vice and revelry,
He continues with the prophetic warning that, if our
people do not rise up and carry the gospel to the
celestials, rolling in upon us from the East, and to
the newcomers from European climes, there will
soon come a day when pagan and heathen prac
tices will drag Anglo-Saxon principles and the
true ideals of American manhood into the mire of
foreign debauchery.
Rev. K. H. Basmajian, a native of Constantino
ple, the old Turkish city which has seen kingdoms
rise, flourish, then crumble to the dust, was a visitor
to the Convention. This brother is one among the
few of that old city to forsake the ancient Koran
and follow the teachings of a Protestant faith. Rev.
Basmajian favored the Convention by singing
several of the old hymns, among them being “Where
He leads, I will follow,” which rang out beauti
fully, though sung in a foreign language.
Dr. Frash, of Nashville, president of the Baptist
Sunday school Board, was given opportunity to
speak at one of the sessions, and in his genial,
pleasing way he spoke feelingly on the subject
nearest his heart, that is, the Sunday school work.
Judge John R. Tyson, ex-chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Alabama, read a lengthy report
from the Alabama Baptist Historical Society. He
showed where much work was being done in collect
ing facts concerning the Baptist denomination in
Alabama since the organization of the first church
in that state. Much valuable data has been gathered
and several valuable historical documents have been
gathered here and there.
The discussion of Secondary schools was heard
with much interest. The Newton Collegiate In
stitute and the Healing Springs Institute made
reports on their work during the year. The Trus
tees of the Scottsboro Baptist Institute announced
the sale of that school to the state of Alabama, to
be used for a county high school. It is quite
probable that the Institute will be located at Bridge
port, Alabama, where the citizens have offered the
Trustees a considerable amount of cash and prop
erty. Education among the Baptists of Alabama is
becoming more and more a subject of considerable
discussion. It is not training along denominational
lines that they seek to give boys and girls of that
state, but they are endeavoring to give good moral
and religious surroundings to the many boys and
girls who are forced to leave their homes in order
to receive a college education. It is a sad fact, but
none the less true, that many of our state institu
tions all but forget that religious teaching should
be an important thing in the preparation for life
and in order to secure this teaching, it is neces
sary for denominational schools to be established.
Representatives of the Baptist Foreign Mission
Board were at the Convention, and talks from
several of these gentlemen thrilled the souls of all
those present. The woe and misery pictured from
foreign lands made men shudder. The conditions
in China and Japan were shown to be pitiable.
But thanks to the earnest toil of the several
missionaries in those fields, the word of God is
reaching thousands who otherwise might be lost.
There is a great field for work in the winning
over of the kingdom of men for the Kingdom of
God.
With the closing of the Convention on Friday
night, the delegates and visitors bade goodbye to
many of their friends and prepared to journey
homeward, after attending the greatest and most
successful annual meeting of the Alabama State
Convention. The hope is that next year’s sessions,
which will be held in Andalusia, Southern Alabama,
may be just as successful.
It
John Milton was born December 9, 1608, and
preparations are already going forward in England
to make the anniversary memorable. As having
some bearing on the event, it may be mentioned
that at a sale of autographs in London the other
day the poet’s signature alone realized the extraor
dinary price of sixteen hundred and ten dollars.
For “Paradise Lost,’ ? the poet himself received
twenty pounds in four installments,
