Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-22
sourHERN BAPTIST BIENNIAL CoNyENTIoN.

SODIhEhN ltol DAEtnlA1 COS v EN- AAOn-
The Montgomery papers contain full reports Of
the proceedings of this body which met in Mont
gomery last Friday morning and adjourned the
ensuing Tuesday evening. Its next meeting will
be held May, 1857, at Louisville.
We condense the following report from the
Montgomery Aaa. The following gentlemen were
chosen officers of the Convention.
R. B. G. Howell D. D., of Virginia, President.
Hon. Thomas Stocks, of Georgia 1st Vice Pres
ident.
Rev. A. A. Buck, D. D., of Mississippi, I'd Vice
Preside t.
Rev. ]. B. Jeter, D. D., of Virginia Sd Vice
President
Hon. W. P. Chiffon, of Alabama, 4th Vice Pres
ident.
Rev. W. G. Crane, of Miss, and Rev.. W. Watt,
of Alabama, Secretaries.
B. c. Presley, Esq, of S. c., Treasurer.
The Convention was called to order by Dr.
Howell, of Richmond Va, and the subsequent
choice of the members confirmed him in his seat
unanimously. Nothing was attempted in the fore
noon session except to organize and lay down the
orders OF the day. A part of the session was
spent in devotional exercises, and during their
continuance few remarks were made by several
gentlemen, among whom were DR.. Jeter, of Vir-
ginia, and Rev. Mr.. Williams of Baltimore, and
the specimens of their oratory were such as, not
withstandng their brief and unelaborate character
to excite a strong desire to hear them under more
favorable circumstances
In the afternoon the Convention proceeded to
the order of the day, which was first hearing the
report of the Bible Society read. 1t was short
but very satisfactory document. In it the great
field daily opening and required to be supplied with
Bibles was wildly presented to the Convention
and to the persuasion which they represent China
was especially dwet upon as afording demand for
| all the Bibles which could be procured, and the
| present state of awakened feeling amongst its
| population, and its vast number of inhabitants
| were considered to commend it warmly to the i'm
mediate attention Of christians through the world.
| The Board concluded by an earnest appeal to Bap-
fists through the South to form in each State
| Central Bible Society, communicating with aux
iiary societies wherever there is church, and sup
ported this recommendation by reasoning alto
| gether satisfactory. The report was followed by
| few interesting remarks from Rev. Mr.. Roberts, in
regard to the claims and fitness of China az field
of operations, and was then adopted. The Treas
users report showed the amount of receipts to have
| been some $4,000, and disbursements about
| $500. OF this much the heaviest contribution
| was from South Carolina.
| The Home Missionary report was then read. 1t
was long but interesting document 1t dwelt
| upon the well-known causes which have depressed
our whole section of the Union for two years past,
and congratulated the Convention that in spite of
| these drawbacks, the work done by the Board in
these years far exceeded that in any former period
| of the same duration. The report gave some ex-
ceedingy interesting Details of the missions Of the
| Board, their operations and condition, but our
space absolutely forbids our attempting to follow.
Most interest was PROFESSIONALLY taken in the
account of the progress of the Church at New
| Orleans. The Importance of that heart of the
! West cannot be overrated, and we are happy to
| hear that the church planted there by the Board
was doing its full share towards effecting much
| needed change in the moral condition Of that
| mighty city. May it continue to do SO, is the
| prayer Of every lover OF his country.
The receipts of the past year were in round num-
bers las well as we could catch the fgures) S2l,-
600, greater amount than was ever contributed to
this object before. Of this, Georgia contributed
the largest share, Alabama and Virginia the next
Nine agents have been appointed and ninety nine
missionaries, and seventy five of them have re-
T, ported to the Board. The number of churches
| under charge of the Board is $50. The number OF
| sermons preached in them over 1900. The uum-
Der of Sunday Schools 100; pupils 3409. On the
whole, the affairs Of the Board appear to have been
conducted with efficiency and success.
The different parts of theJeports read were re-
ferred to the proper committees
The Committee on the difficulties, between the
! Foreign Board of Missions, and Mr. T. B. Roberts
| then made their report, in which they fully sus-
tanned the action of the board in Withdrawing their
support from Mr.. Roberts as Missionary to China.
Rev. w. c. Buck, presiding officer of the Amer
| lean Indian Mission Association, communicated to
the convention that the association had appointed
| Board with instructions to meet committee from
the Domestic Mission Board, at Marion and make
the necessary tratiser of missions, property, &c,
agreed upon between the two bodies, which infor-
nation was ordered to be recorded.
The committee to nominate Boards made their
| report through Bro. a. De Vote report adopted.
The principal officers nominated, are
Foreign Mission Board Richmond, Va.-Rev.
] B Jeter, ID D., President; Rev. James Taylor
and A N Poindexter, Corresponding Secretaries;
| Thomas Treasurer.
Domestic Mission Board, Marion, Ala-Rev
| De Vote, President; Rev. Walker, Cores
ponding Secretary; w Hornbuckle, Treasurer.
Bible Board, Nashville, Tenn.-Rev W II Bay
| less, President; Rev. A Dayton, Corresponding
Secretary; c A Fuller, Treasurer.
During the afternoon session the President
with the permission of the Convention, proceeded
to introduce to the Assembly, two young gentle
men, destined for the Missionary Service. These
| were Mr.. Graves OF Maryland, destined for China,
and Phillips of Georgia. whose chosen field of
labor is Central Africa. Upon this introduction,
the President took occasion 10 make upon the sub
ject of Missions generally few most felicitous re-
| marks pregnant with the richest store of sugge'-
tive thought. The presence of the two young
men who had devoted themselves to this work,
| lent 10 the scene SnaQe OF deep SOlelnniIy, anu
we trust and doubt not caused the impressive ad-
dress of the President to sink deep into the hearts
| of all who were so fortunate as to hear them
The Convention then adjourn ed to meet at Louis
| ville KY, on the I'd Friday in May, 1857
The Montgomery 1iail, from which the foregoing
report is for the most part TAKEN concludes its &C.
count of the Conventions proceedings with the
following paragraph:
In conclusion let us bear our cheerful testimony
to the very high character of this body. Never
have we seen in any collection of men more dig
nifty, courtesy or disposition to do right. We are
free to confess that the high standard of talent and
conduct prevailing in the Convention, took US
somewhat by surprise. But few men spoke at all
whose remarks did not display very respectable
abilities and requirements, and many of them
evnced talents and accomplishments of a high
order. Their lofty bearing and general intelligence
have left most cordial impression of respect and
admiration, upon the minds of the citizens Of
! Montgomery.
| SENATORIAL.
Pursuant to notice the Democratic Convention