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158 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
with reference to the mission of Southern Baptists and confident through faith
in the leadership of the Lord; loyal to the principles for which Baptists stand but
cordial toward Christians of other groups—Dr. Moore has magnified his office
with devotion.
For thirty-two years Dr. Moore has served the Southern Baptist Convention.
Through his labor of love, the consecration of his skill, the fidelity of his life,
the vision of his faith, and the demonstration of beautiful Christian humility,
he merits the esteem and appreciation accorded him in the grateful hearts of
Southern Baptists. With unassuming dignity he has towered in personality with
the distinguished presidents of two and a half decades, names to remain foremost
in the history of Baptists. He has recorded the action of the Southern Baptists
Convention—volumes of glorious history. He has written with his life a record
in heaven that endureth forever. Through it all he has inspired a generation by
being an epistle of Christ, a good servant of the Lord Jesus.
Mr. J. Henry Burnett, successful and devoted Christian business man, was
elected assistant secretary of the Convention in the historic session in Atlanta
in 1919. His service in this capacity has been unbroken since that time. Thus
he has filled this important post for twenty-seven years.
Taking his place at the side of Dr. Moore, Mr. Burnett has given invaluable
assistance to the secretary and highly significant service to the Convention.
Through these years he has had charge of the registration of messengers. For
years he served with the secretary on the committee on arrangements. At the
request of the secretary he read the Convention journal and made the announcements
before the body. He kept the lists of committees and discharged every
possible duty to relieve the secretary during the annual sessions.
This noble Christian layman has been a worthy associate of the secretary in
serving the Southern Baptist Convention. With the same beautiful humility,
diligent attention to duty, fraternity of spirit, consideration for messengers,
cordiality toward the servants of the denomination, concern for our organized
missionary and benevolent work, and fidelity to the position of Baptists, as that
of the secretary, Mr. Burnett has been a fellow helper to the truth through
his unselfish service as the assistant secretary. By personal example he has
demonstrated the insight and faithfulness that ought to mark the Christian laymen
in our midst. In his constant travels as a business man he has borne a fearless
testimony for Christ, and through his loyalty to our denomination he has
spread respect and good will for Southern Baptists.
Mr. Burnett, like the secretary, asked that he not be considered for re-election,
and so has concluded his service in - the secretarial capacity. Southern Baptists
owe to him a debt of love. In his life we have seen again the truth:
"Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all."
And so to our secretaries for many years, we express our gratitude, our
appreciation, our esteem, our love, and the assurance of our prayers that the
years ahead may bring "widening reach and heightened power" as they keep on
serving in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Committee: WILLIAM HARRISON WILLIAMS
R. PAUL CAUDILL
CLIFTON J. ALLEN
Following the reading of the committee's report, Dr. T. J. Watts, in behalf
of the agencies of the Convention, presented beautiful sterling silver vases, properly
inscribed, to Secretaries Moore and Burnett. Dr. Moore responded with
happy appropriateness, and then, in the absence of the associate secretary, was
asked to deliver the vase to Mr. Burnett.